Home > News > February 2007 > 20 February 2007

More support for creative and cultural sector academy

Plans for a National Skills Academy for the creative and cultural industries have received more support from within the sector. PLASA - the Professional Lighting and Sound Association - is the latest organisation to join the list of employers and industry bodies backing the project.

The Academy is designed to address shortages in offstage and technical skills for live music and the performing arts. Plans being prepared by sector skills council Creative & Cultural Skills will be submitted to the government in April 2007.

"PLASA's support is hugely significant," said Tom Bewick, chief executive of Creative & Cultural Skills. "Its wide membership of leading specialists in professional audio, lighting, staging, rigging, communications and related disciplines fully understands what skills are needed in the real world. That input is going to be crucial in making sure the National Skills Academy delivers industry-specified training to the very highest international standards."

Matthew Griffiths, chief executive of PLASA, commented: "The appeal of the National Skills Academy is that it gives employers control of the training. What skills are taught, how and where. This aligns to one of PLASA's core objectives, namely to provide assessment and vocational qualifications through industry consensus.

"The shortage of skilled, experienced and qualified technical staff is holding back the growth and development of our industry and this is an unparalleled opportunity to ensure we have the right people in years to come."

The announcement coincides with the start of a consultation with employers, freelancers and trade bodies. The results will be reported back to the project steering group chaired by Tony Hall of the Royal Opera House and Feargal Sharkey of the Live Music Forum.

Feargal Sharkey said: "Live music has become one of the UK's great exports. But the industry is telling us it could be out there worldwide doing a lot more and can't for lack of people with the right skills. The National Skills Academy is all about creating the structured ways of getting into the industry that we've always lacked and helping everyone - bands, promoters, management and technical crews - to achieve their full international potential."

Since the launch of the project in October 2006, Creative & Cultural Skills says the list of supporters for the Academy has also been augmented by Denis Desmond's MCD Promotions, the International Live Music Forum and the Production Services Association.

Others behind the project include: Royal Opera House, EMI Group, Academy Music Group, the Arts Council of England, the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Live Music Forum, Live Nation and English National Opera.

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