13 minutes | Thursday, 6 August 2026
Send us Fan MailBreaking into the creative industries has never been easy. But for many young artists, musicians, performers and filmmakers, the financial barriers are becoming higher than ever. In the latest episode of The MarshyCast, I caught up with Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Trustee of The Sky Foundation, to discuss why talented people are increasingly being priced out of pursuing careers in the arts. We talked about how the industry has changed over recent years. Rising living costs, training expenses and the realities of freelance creative work mean that many aspiring artists face significant financial hurdles before they've even had the chance to prove themselves. That's where the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries come in. Phil explained how the scheme is designed to support emerging creative talent, helping people with genuine ability overcome some of the financial obstacles that might otherwise prevent them from achieving their ambitions. Of course, I couldn't resist pointing out that receiving a bursary still requires one very important thing... talent. Unfortunately for me, that probably rules me out! Humour aside, the conversation highlighted just how important initiatives like these are for ensuring that creativity isn't limited by someone's financial circumstances. Whether your passion is music, acting, film, writing or another artistic discipline, it's a reminder that investing in future talent benefits all of us. 🎧 You can hear the full conversation now on The MarshyCast, available on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Find me on all social media @paulswampymarsh