Short summary: Tesseract Academy’s AI for Creative Industries programme (Cohort 2 — Part B) is a fully funded upskilling course for creative professionals in the UK. Backed by Innovate UK and Bridge AI, the programme combines online modules, group calls and a project track that can lead to an advanced certificate — all designed to help designers, writers, filmmakers, musicians and other creatives use AI productively and ethically in their work.
Why this programme matters now
AI is reshaping creative work — from writing and image-making to music and film. As speakers in the launch webinar explained, generative tools and intelligent agents are no longer niche: adoption among creative professionals is accelerating, and new markets and job roles are emerging. Tesseract Academy’s programme is built to help creatives adapt: not by replacing what you do, but by making your work faster, more ambitious and more marketable.
The programme’s core idea: learn practical AI skills, build an AI roadmap for your career, and produce work that proves those skills.
Who should apply
This programme targets creative professionals who are:
- Based in the UK, and
- Working (or intending to work) in the creative industries — for example: graphic designers, content writers, social media managers, illustrators, filmmakers, screenwriters, musicians, translators, creative directors, and related roles.
It’s suitable for people who want to upskill for immediate workplace impact as well as those who want to build an AI-enabled portfolio or launch a creative practice using AI.
Funding and eligibility
The programme is fully funded through Innovate UK and Bridge AI — meaning it’s free for eligible participants. To qualify, you must be a UK resident and a professional in the creative sector. Tesseract Academy verifies applicants via a short registration process (the team also accepts HubSpot submissions when the main site is overloaded).
Structure: how the course works
The programme is flexible and divided into three pillars:
- Online content (LMS): Self-paced modules hosted on Tesseract Academy’s learning platform. Modules include recorded lessons, readings and practical exercises. Core modules plus a rich selection of electives let you pick what’s most relevant to your practice.
- Group calls & webinars: Regular cohort calls (weekly or biweekly depending on demand) provide live teaching, Q&A, and peer feedback. There are also occasional webinars and optional live workshops — both online and in-person when feasible.
- Project work (certificate track): An optional but recommended project that functions like a mini capstone. Completing and submitting a project is required for the advanced certificate. Projects let you demonstrate tangible outcomes — ideal for portfolios or internal business improvements.
What you’ll learn (sample topics)
The programme mixes practical tool training with strategy and career planning. Topics covered include:
- Introduction to AI for creative leaders
- AI roadmapping for careers and businesses
- Prompt engineering and generative model workflows (text, image, audio, video)
- Creative use-cases across music, film, brand identity, visual editing and more
- Ethics, copyright, and responsible use of generative tools
- Building an AI-enabled portfolio and demonstrating impact
- Advanced topics: agent-based automation, creative pipelines, and productising creative output
Instructors include industry practitioners and academics; the webinar host highlighted contributions from professors and domain experts.
Time commitment & formats
Tesseract Academy keeps the content flexible so you can choose your level of engagement:
- Core modules: roughly 3–10 hours depending on depth (a skim through core lessons may take 3–4 hours; a thorough pass can take up to ~10 hours).
- Electives: typically 5–10 hours each.
- Project work (advanced certificate): highly variable — expect ~20–30+ hours depending on ambition.
Cohorts typically run over about three months, but extensions can be requested for certificate submissions if you need more time.
Certification tiers
The programme offers tiered recognition:
- Basic completion: Finish core modules and receive a course completion acknowledgement.
- Advanced certificate: Complete all required modules and submit a project demonstrating applied work. This track is good for career proof (portfolio, employer evidence, or client pitches).
Certificates are optional but encouraged for those who want tangible proof of skills.
Community: Slack & WhatsApp
Participants are invited to join a cohort community hosted on Slack and WhatsApp. These groups are used for coordination, sharing resources, event announcements and ongoing peer support. After registration, expect an email with invites to these channels.
Practical notes from the webinar (registration & troubleshooting)
- The team experienced high traffic during the live launch which temporarily overloaded the website. If the site fails during registration, use the provided HubSpot form — submissions through HubSpot are monitored and accepted.
- The team committed to follow up via email and to re-send links once server load stabilises. If you register via HubSpot, they’ll confirm and manually process entries if needed.
- If you run into issues, the webinar host advised contacting the programme’s support or waiting for the follow-up email with alternative links.
Why creatives benefit from this programme
- Future-proof your practice: AI skills are becoming expected in many creative roles. This programme helps you adapt rather than change careers.
- Practical, project-led learning: The project track means you leave with concrete work you can show clients or employers.
- Flexible & funded: Being fully funded lowers the barrier to entry, while flexible timing accommodates working professionals.
- Community & mentorship: Live calls, Slack/WhatsApp groups and expert tutors create a supportive learning environment.
Quick FAQs
Q: Is attendance at live calls compulsory?
A: No — live meetings are optional. They’re there to help, but the course is structured for flexible, self-paced learning.
Q: How long does the programme run?
A: Cohort durations are typically around three months, with varying commitment depending on your chosen pathway.
Q: Do I need technical experience?
A: No specialised technical background is required. The course serves creative professionals across a range of technical comfort levels.
Q: What if the registration link is down?
A: Submit via the HubSpot form provided during the webinar — the Tesseract Academy team monitors HubSpot and will confirm your registration.
Ready to apply?
If you’re a UK-based creative professional and want to use AI to increase your impact and marketability, this programme is a strong, practical entry point. Look out for the follow-up email from Tesseract Academy for the registration link and community invites. If the site is unavailable during your attempt, use the HubSpot form option to secure your place.
