Mend the Gap! at Escape Studios

Mend the Gap: an evening of discussion and debate around the current animation training and employment landscape.

Currently up to 30% (or more) of the team at British animation studios are artists sourced from overseas, often from schools in Europe.

But with Brexit looming, and the likely loss of free movement of labour, the future of UK animation could be under threat.

UK universities produce over 600 students with degrees in animation every year - so why are many UK animation graduates not ready for work when they leave university? On 1st November our panel event, organised by Film London and hosted at Escape Studios,  will debate what can be done to Mend the Gap.

What's this all about?
Mending the Gap between Education and Industry.  Why does industry think that UK animation graduates are not work ready? Are they right, and if so what can be done to fix it?  Should UK universities be more focused on delivering graduates that fit industry needs? And, if students are paying up to £9k a year for their course - don’t they deserve a qualification that will prepare them for work in their chosen field after they graduate?

Or, should industry be more understanding of academia and the role it plays in student development, and take on more of the burden of training animation graduates in practical skills?

European Talent
In recent years, the UK animation industry has filled many entry-level positions with graduates from animation schools and universities in Europe. But with the likely loss of free movement of labour following Brexit, this access to European talent will most likely come to an end.

Industry meets academia
This event aims to answer those questions and bring academia and industry together, with students, to examine how universities and the animation industry can work together to solve the animation skills challenge.

Our Panel
The panel chair is Adrian Wootton OBE, CEO Film London and the British Film Commission.

Also on the panel are

• Charlotte Bavasso - Co-Founder, Nexus Studios
• Phil Dobree - Co-Founder and CEO, Jellyfish Pictures
• Kate O’Connor - Executive Chair, Animation UK 
• Edward McAffrey – Senior Lecturer, BA Film, Faculty Of Arts & Creative Industries at Middlesex University. 
• Gareth Ellis-Unwin - Strategy and activities for the film sector, Creative Skillset. 
• Alexander Williams – Head of Animation at Escape Studios

Mend the Gap does not pretend to be an event where we solve these problems. However, the debate is an important one to have, as it shines a light on the meaning and purpose of teaching animation at university. Should animation be a purely academic subject? Or should it focus on practical, craft skills?

Here at Escape Studios we make no apologies for treating the study of animation as a craft, giving our students real-world, practical skills. With around 4,000 Escapees working in the animation, games and VFX industries, we think that our graduates have what it takes to succeed. 

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To apply for our BA/MArt in 3D Animation, follow this link.  To apply for our storyboarding evening class, visit this page here.  For the next 12 week animation course, click here.