More details from Backstage Academy CIC (www.backstage-academy.co.uk):
Said Robin Watkinson, Director of Courses: “There is a large number of talented young people in this country who are eager to develop but don’t have the opportunity to do so.
“Some are slowly working their way up from the bottom and others may be volunteering or freelancing alongside their full-time job. We’d like to give a helping hand to those people that really deserve a chance to progress in the backstage entertainment industry.”
Backstage Academy CIC has funding to pay for full/part Scholarships for one or more students to take the FdA Live Events Production this year, depending on how many students really stand out during the application process. If a full Scholarship is awarded, this would cover the course fees of £11,992.
The two-year intensive degree course places emphasis on practical experience and industry-specific training, and covers a wide range of disciplines such as Lighting, Live Sound, Staging, Concept Design & Presentation, Event Planning and 3D Technology for Live Events, to name a few, with over three months of work placement.
The CIC has also secured funding to pay for six full places on its Ready for Work Training Programme, worth £900 + VAT each, which combines a diverse range of short courses tailored around the essential skills needed to work backstage on all types of live events, from music concert and festivals, to theatre productions and corporate events.
Successful applicants will take seven different modules undertaken over a period of three weeks and – if a satisfactory level of commitment is shown throughout the course – will then go on to do one week’s work experience. The Ready for Work Training Programme includes Introduction to the Industry, SPA Event Safety Passport, Manual Handling, Fire Safety, Emergency First Aid, Working at Height, Working with Electricity and Concept Design.
Said Sara Gleadhall, Sales & Business Development Manager: “These courses are the industry standard, entry-level certification recognised by event, venue and production managers across the UK and Europe. The six people who win the scholarships will have a real opportunity to gain employment in the sector.”
Backstage Academy is the original industry-led training centre of excellence specialising in short courses and degree courses in the creative, technical and personal skills needed to work backstage in live events.
It is based at the LS-Live production rehearsal arena complex in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where students get the opportunity to do work experience in the set construction and studio rehearsal departments on site, working on the productions for its clients, everyone from One Direction and The Stone Roses, to the BBC and Formula One.
Scholarship winners will carry out their training on site in Backstage Academy’s state-of-the-art facilities. FdA students will gain access to its 17,664 sq ft studio, an Apple MacBook Pro based IT suite running a range of industry standard programs (Photoshop, Pro Tools, Final Cut, WYSIWYG, Autodesk Suite, d3 and Isadora, to name a few), a full d3 visualisation and edit suite including HD projection and surround sound, a 3D stereoscopic projection system and a range of classroom and seminar spaces.
This year’s graduates from the FdA have gone on to gain employment in a variety of roles, from a Set Carpenter on the upcoming Jay-Z tour and a Designer at LS-Live, to a Lighting Designer and Site Office employee both at Glastonbury festival.
Over the last 12 months, Backstage Academy has also offered work placement opportunities at BBC Radio One, Northern Ballet, Ethix Management, Artist Needs, Leeds Festival, Manchester International Festival, Latitude, The Great Gatsby, Prolyte, Ear To The Ground, Lytham Proms and Secret Garden Party.
Said Robin: “We are looking for people who have potential and enthusiasm. In most circumstances we would expect them to have had some prior training or experience.
“Our focus is on employability and these scholarships offer a fantastic opportunity for people to progress their careers at little cost.”
Applicants must be aged 18+, be from the UK or EU, and demonstrate exceptional reasons why they deserve to be awarded a scholarship. Applicants can nominate themselves, be nominated by another person or be nominated by their employer.
To apply, please send a covering letter with your contact details to [email protected] by Thursday 31st October 2013.
If you require more information on the scholarships, contact Sara on [email protected] / +44 (0)1977 659 880.
