You know your work is worth more
You deserve to be taken seriously, seen clearly, and paid accordingly.
You’ve made strong work, but it feels like it’s gathering dust. You’re unsure if it’s still relevant to talk about … yet deep down, you know it didn’t get the recognition it deserved.
You’re exhausted from overworking and under-recognised, and you’re ready to change that. You feel overwhelmed not knowing where to put your energy.
You lack clear direction.
You want to stop waiting for permission.
You’re ready to expand.
Tell me if this sounds like you…
➽ You’ve poured everything into your creative practice but you're unsure how to get your work seen by the right people.
➽ You have a powerful project ready, but you don’t know how to take the next step toward visibility or impact.
➽ You’re tired of second-guessing yourself and feeling stuck
➽ You crave clear guidance, honest feedback, and a path that feels doable - not overwhelming.
➽ You see other artists secure exhibitions, residencies, or commissions and wonder, how are they doing that?
➽ You feel isolated in your creative journey and wish for a community that not only gets it, but actively supports your growth.
➽ You know your work matters- you just need the strategy, structure, and support to share it with the world.
WHAT
IS
THE
PROGRAMME?
➽ EXPANSION ACCELERATOR is a 14-week accelerator which will take your work to the next level. This could be getting your completed or near-completed project out into the world, or getting laser focused on your next steps.
➽ The programme focuses on one-to-one mentorship and coaching, community support and targeted professional development. It will provide the tools and tactics for real-world success. That is individually focused your needs.
➽ Expansion is about traction and transformation. Picture your work exhibited in a gallery, confidently presenting to curators and commissioners, or receiving that long-awaited funding confirmation. This programme will help you move from intention to action, and from isolation to visibility.
With the EXPANSION accelerator, you’re not just moving through a programme; you’re embarking on an in-depth journey of Self Awareness, Strategy, and Action.
This carefully structured programme is designed to empower creatives like you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to showcase your work on a larger stage.
Over the course of three distinct sections, we’ll guide you through understanding your artistic goals, developing a solid plan to elevate your existing work, and taking decisive steps to get your work out there and make an impact in the world.
Let’s bring your project into the spotlight it deserves.
Hear from past artists
Ania Ready
➽ Ania Ready: “Joining Work Show Grow has transformed my art practice. Suddenly, I became part of a large international group of artists with a shared sense of purpose – to create work and to develop professionally and personally.
➽ Whilst in the school I’ve used the monthly crit feedback to finalise my first artist book, launched a kickstarter, attended my first artist residency and pitched myself for numerous opportunities I would’ve never have been confident to do without expert mentors and other artists around me.
What’s included in the Expansion Accelerator
Orientation sessions
We begin with an introductory group session to meet the cohort, view each other’s work, and set intentions. It’s a chance to align on goals, understand the programme, and build connection from day one.
Focused one-to-one mentorship with Natasha Caruana
As the programme lead, Natasha will work with you across three monthly 1:1 sessions, plus a further final wrap-up session at the end of the Accelerator. These are focused on your visibility, creative direction, and strategy- designed to bring tangible shifts in your practice.
Facilitated crits with Natasha Caruana
Monthly peer critique sessions are a space to share works-in-progress, sharpen your presentation skills, and build confidence. Natasha facilitates these sessions with care, insight, and structure.
Access to the full Work Show Grow programme
As part of the Expansion Accelerator, you’ll get full access to all live sessions run through the Work Show Grow School during the cohort period. You’ll also receive on-demand access to our resource library of over 200 recorded sessions, covering topics from creative business strategy to portfolio reviews, funding, and commercial galleries and more.
Monthly professional development workshops
From getting clear on your audience, marketing strategies to funding frameworks, these workshops give you practical, actionable tools to elevate your professional life as a creative.
Peer-led connection spaces
Peer-initiated WhatsApp groups and co-working sessions emerge organically within the cohort- offering additional accountability, encouragement, and real-time connection on your terms.
Personal one-to-one coaching with Eleanor Robertson-Hatch
You’ll also receive three 1:1 coaching sessions with Eleanor, our dedicated coach. These monthly sessions help you clear mental blocks, overcome self-doubt, and stay grounded while you grow.
Dedicated Slack channel
Stay connected through a private Slack space where updates are shared and ongoing conversations happen. It’s your base for questions, feedback, and peer support throughout the Accelerator.
Final round-up and reflection session
In our closing session, we reflect on the journey, celebrate achievements, and map next steps. It’s a powerful moment to recognise your progress and lock in momentum moving forward.
In-person meetup (Spring 2026)
There’s an undeniable energy in meeting face-to-face. Share stories, deepen connections, and celebrate together—you’ll leave with a real sense of belonging. These are your people.
For those unable to attend in person, an online gathering element will be offered, so everyone can take part in this celebratory moment, wherever you are in the world.
Worried about balancing the accelerator with your schedule? Our flexible learning environment is created to support busy artists who are juggling multiple responsibilities.
NATASHA
CARUANA
MENTOR
Natasha Caruana is an award winning and internationally recognised artist and educator. She works across photography, moving image, and installation. She has had solo shows at the International Center of Photography, New York; Paris Photo; and Rencontres d’Arles, France and has been in group shows at Turner Contemporary, Margate; Institut pour la Photographie, Lille, France; FACT, Liverpool, UK, Nicéphore Niépce Museum, France; Science Gallery, London; and The Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney.
Natasha has been a passionate educator, and for the past 15 years has taught in universities across the world. She is a Senior Lecturer of Photography and holds a part-time post at University of the Arts London. Natasha has an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art, London and is a member of the Higher Education Academy. She was the first and only one to go to university in her family and has never forgotten the freedom education has brought to her life. She founded Work Show Grow in 2018 to educate and inspire creatives outside of the traditional educational system. Natasha’s speciality is her positive attitude, ability to bring people together, and telling it how it is.
ELEANOR
HATCH-ROBERTSON
COACH
Eleanor Hatch-Robertson brings extensive experience from her dynamic career in media and transformational leadership to her role as a coach supporting the EXPANSION ACCELERATOR. With a degree in Publishing from Oxford Brookes University, Eleanor embarked on her journey with freelance projects across television and advertising for leading fashion, food, and lifestyle brands such as Dazed, Hello!, and Vogue. This path led her to a creative production role at Stylist Magazine, before she moved to NewsUK in 2016. Within this organisation, she has advanced to her current position as Director of Development for Group Operations & Platforms. Throughout her career, Eleanor has refined her expertise in resilience, adapting to change, and navigating professional landscapes.
Eleanor’s coaching ethos centres on providing an authentic and nurturing environment for creatives to discover their inherent strengths and perspectives. She specialises in fostering resilience, guiding individuals through change, and offering actionable strategies to cultivate unbreakable self-belief. Known for effecting meaningful transformations, Eleanor enables individuals to achieve clarity, confidence, and personal growth. As an accredited coach with iCoach EMCC/EIA, Eleanor adheres to a strict code of ethics, ensuring a reliable and impactful coaching experience.
In their own words …
Anne Nwakalor
➽ “When I joined WSG, I was starting my magazine. WSG was the push I needed to put my ideas into action! The support I’ve received from the WSG community has been essential in being able to publish ‘No! Wahala’ Magazine and distribute it to various educational spaces and community centres across the world.
➽ I’ve learnt so much from the sessions from both Natasha and the guest artists, especially when it comes to being confident about my goals, applying for funding and networking with other artists and industry professionals”.
To maximise the benefits of the EXPANSION ACCELERATOR, it’s important to understand the commitment required both for scheduled contact hours and for independent work. The programme is designed to be flexible, allowing you to integrate it seamlessly into your existing schedule. However, to truly embrace the full experience, you’ll need to dedicate a specific amount of time each week to both contact hour sessions and independent dissemination activities.
The independent work hours are estimated, providing you with a guideline of the time investment needed on a weekly basis. Please remember, these hours are not about blocking out a full day or morning in one go; rather, you have the autonomy to decide how best to allocate this time around your other commitments. This flexibility ensures that you can engage with the programme material in a way that suits your personal and professional life.
Here will find detailed breakdowns of the required monthly overview for contact sessions and for independent work within the programme materials. This total has been broken down to a weekly estimate. Remember, your investment in time is crucial to unlocking the full potential of this accelerator. We trust you to manage this commitment, and our team is here to support you in organising and making the most out of every moment you dedicate to your growth through this programme.
Monthly Contact hours
1 hour – Mentorship
1 hour – Coaching
1 hour – Hot Seat
2 hours – Workshop
Monthly Independent hours
1 hour – Mentorship prep
1 hour – Coach prep
4 hours – Crit prep
4 hours – WSG school Resources
Library replays
16 hours – Dissemination activities
Weekly estimated commitment:
6 - 8 hrs approx.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Book an applicant call
Prospective creatives must book a call with Natasha to discuss the programme and their work. If accepted into the Accelerator, you will be asked to pay a £200 non-refundable deposit to secure your place.
👉 Book a call.
2. Portfolio submission
You’ll have until the start of the Accelerator to compile and submit your creative portfolio. This marks the beginning of getting your work into the world.
We ask all cohort creatives to submit details of their current practice and how they’re sharing their work. This gives us insight into your starting point and shapes your journey from day one - informing the coaching, workshops, and mentoring ahead.
Full submission details will be sent once your place is confirmed with the deposit.
KEY DATES
Applications open: Monday 23 June 2025
Application calls: Monday 23 June – Sunday 13 July (10pm GMT close)
Deposit deadline: Thursday 31 July
Payment deadline (Full or First Instalment): Thursday 31 July
Programme starts: Week commencing Monday 2 September
Programme ends: Friday 5 December
In-person event: Spring 2026
Access: Rewatch all resources until September 2026
To Join Our Programme:
To-Do Checklist:
Book an application conversation with Natasha
Pay the £200 deposit to secure your place
Complete payment for the Accelerator
Create and submit an artist PDF portfolio
Start!
The impact in action
Louise Francis Smith
➽ “WSG has been so valuable to my practice. After taking part in the Funding workshop I felt confident enough to apply for DYCP Arts Council funding and was successful! This totally changed how I was working and gave me a confidence boost to apply for exhibitions that I didn’t think I would have a chance of getting into but I was accepted for.
➽ Being part of the WSG community has been a brilliant and supportive experience (both personally and for my practice) and has helped me prepare for things like putting on my first solo show.
➽ I would highly recommend WSG to anyone who is wanting to take their practice further but is not quite sure how to make that happen. I’ve learnt so much more than I did on my Fine Art degree and it’s certainly given me more confidence”.
PROGRAMME COST & PAYMENT OPTIONS
Joining the EXPANSION ACCELERATOR is a transformative investment in your creative career. We recognise the importance of flexibility, which is why we offer several ways to pay.
Full programme cost
If your application is successful, we understand the importance of flexibility in managing this investment. That’s why we offer payment options. Instalment payments are made upon agreement to the legal terms of the plan.
Full Cost: £1,959
WSG school artists 10% discount
Full cost: £1,763
A £200 deposit is required to secure your place once accepted. This deposit is non-refundable if you choose to withdraw but is deducted from your total fee.
Instalment plans begin with the £200 deposit by 31 July and continue monthly. All plans must be completed within the agreed terms. Full legal terms will be provided before your payment schedule is finalised.
FAQs
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As an overview each month there will be; one-to-one mentorship and coaching sessions, facilitated crit, workshop, hot seat, and access to the Expansion artist community 24/7 via WhatsApp. There will also be one in-person meet up.
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The ideal participants, whether it’s emerging or established, is an artist with a completed or near-completed project who is ready to invest in and actively work towards expanding their reach.
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If your application is successful, you can opt for instalment payments, which are made upon agreeing to the legal terms of the plan. We currently offer a four-month payment plan. If this doesn't suit your needs, please get in touch to discuss alternative options on a one-to-one basis.
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No refunds given once the contract has been signed and the programme has started.
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To fully benefit from the programme, including attending sessions and working independently, an estimate weekly time commitment required is 8 hours approx. These hours can fit around existing commitments. The programme does not require a full free day a week. We are flexible.
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A. To secure your place, please book onto an application conversation with Natasha HERE or click the link in our instagram bio. We’re excited about the prospect of working with you. Do keep in mind that spaces in this programme are limited, so we encourage you to secure a call soon.