Overview

The Big Pitch with Short Supply

Date: Wednesday 4th November 2026

Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Location: Room D119, CSM, 1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, N1C 4AA (access details below)

Please book tickets in advance as there are limited places. 

Got an exhibition, artwork, event or creative project in your head—but freeze when somebody asks you to explain it?

This practical workshop strips the fear and jargon from proposal writing. Working with artist and Short Supply co-founder Mollie Balshaw, you’ll use quick prompts, pair work, small-group feedback and live redrafting to uncover what is most compelling about your idea and turn it into a clear, confident pitch.

Bring something you’re already developing or start with a completely new idea. You don’t need a polished proposal—or even to know whether the idea is “good” yet.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have tested how your idea lands with other people and created a concise piece of writing that you can adapt for open calls, funding applications, venues, collaborators and future opportunities.

No pitching performance. No Dragon’s Den. Just two practical hours to make your idea easier to understand, share and take forward.

What you'll gain

• Demystify the pitch: Learn how to identify what makes your idea unique and how to communicate it clearly to curators, galleries, and funders.

• Hands-on drafting: Work through real-time exercises, post-it brainstorms, and small-group feedback to refine your proposal in the room.

• Practical toolkit: Leave with a concise, actionable draft pitch ready to send out or adapt for future opportunities.

• Peer connections: Connect and collaborate with fellow UAL students across disciplines in an informal, supportive space.

About Mollie Bradshaw

Bio: Mollie Balshaw is an artist, writer, producer and co-founder and Creative Director of Short Supply, an artist-led organisation supporting emerging and underrepresented artists to build sustainable creative careers.

About Short Supply

Through exhibitions, public programmes, workshops and an online community of more than 100,000 people, Short Supply makes the practical knowledge surrounding creative careers more open, useful and accessible. Mollie is also a TEDx speaker and has delivered artist-development sessions for organisations including HOME, AA2A and Crossover Labs.

This workshop is part of the Arts SU Exhibition Toolkit Series, designed to equip UAL students with practical skills and knowledge to navigate the art world with confidence.

Exhibition Toolkit is a series of practical, hands-on workshops designed to help you turn your creative ideas into real-world projects. Aligned with Arts SU’s commitment to practice-led learning, the toolkit focuses on the realities of making work happen - from pitching ideas and securing support to navigating public spaces and taking responsibility for how your practice is experienced.

Coming on your own? Don't worry, other people will be attending on their own as well; this event is open to all UAL students and can be a great opportunity to make more connections!

Skills You Can Gain From this Opportunity

By coming along to this event, we hope you will develop your skills in:

• Career Readiness
• Communication and Collaboration
• Creative and Conceptual skills
• Professional & Business Skills

Arts Programme Skills Recognition Framework

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Access

This event will take place at:

Central Saint Martins, 1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, N1C 4AA

All UAL students are welcome to join. Please just bring your UAL ID to enter the building (alternatively, a temporary pass can be requested from the front desk on arrival).

For public transport suggestions and accessibility info, please visit CSM's 'Find Us' page.

Directions to the room: This workshop will take place in seminar room D119, which is on the first floor next to the library, and opposite the Arts SU Project Space. 

All entrances to the building are at ground level with step-free access. Lifts and access needs toilets are available on all floors. Full access and route guides to Central Saint Martins are available on AccessAble. A toilet block, including an accessible toilet, is located in the same area on the first floor, and signage is available. If you need any reasonable adjustments to attend and participate in this event, please do get in touch with us via: artsprogramme@su.arts.ac.uk