Abby Pollock: creating opportunities through culture

Graduating in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, film and media student Abby was determined to help open the creative sector up again – and introduce young people to it.

'Finishing my degree amid the pandemic meant entering a sector that had largely paused,' Abby says. 'But ARU gave me a belief that culture should always be accessible, rooted in community and reflective of our diversity.'

Motivated to help rebuild the sector, Abby has placed inclusivity, creativity and public engagement at the heart of her work from the outset.

While studying at ARU, she began working with Cambridge Film Trust, helping shape the early development of a youth-focused education initiative. After graduating, she transformed this into Youth Lab – a now regionally recognised programme supporting 16–24 year olds through mentoring, film education and industry insight.

Designed with inclusive recruitment at its core, Youth Lab has helped participants progress into higher education (including ARU), careers in the creative industries, and successful film festival runs. 'Creating a pathway that genuinely supports young people into creative careers remains one of my most impactful achievements,' Abby reflects.

Alongside this, Abby curated the Cambridge Film Festival’s Shortfusion programme, selecting over 90 short films from thousands of submissions, including work that went on to achieve BAFTA and Oscar success.

In 2021, she returned to ARU as an Associate Lecturer to found the Film and Screen Saturday Club – a welcoming space for young people to explore filmmaking without pressure. The programme built confidence, developed technical skills and supported progression into ARU courses.

In 2022, Abby joined Cambridge BID as a Project Manager and founded the Cambridge Arts Festival, a city-wide celebration of creativity. With accessibility at its core, the festival welcomed hundreds of participants, selling over 650 tickets and attracting BBC coverage while fostering new partnerships across the city.

Now Creative Partnerships Officer at Cambridge City Council, Abby works at a strategic level to shape cultural development across Cambridge – ensuring access and inclusivity remain central to the city’s identity.

Securing this role just five years after graduating reflects the impact of her work and leadership.

'I’m proud to be shaping Cambridge’s cultural future,' Abby says, 'guided by the values I developed at ARU.'