A new £15m employment programme aims to diversify England’s arts and culture workforce by providing 6,500 traineeships, apprenticeships and paid internships for people aged 16 to 24.

Positions will range from technical to administrative roles and will fall within: music, dance, theatre, literature, visual arts, contemporary craft, combined arts, carnival, circus, galleries, museums and libraries.

Skills minister Matthew Hancock said the National Lottery-funded scheme would change the recruitment culture in the arts sector.

“The UK’s world-beating creative industries should be open to those with the most to offer – regardless of background,” he said.

“But for too long, young people without money or connections have struggled to get a foot in the door.”

Chief executive of Arts Council England, Alan Davey, said: “In order to ensure that this country continues to produce world-class art and culture we need to make sure that we have a world-class workforce.

“There are a lot of passionate and ambitious young people out there and the Creative employment programme will give them the opportunity to develop the right skills form the very start of their career.”