The Academy is designed to address shortages in offstage and technical skills for live music and the performing arts. Detailed plans being prepared by Creative & Cultural Skills, the employer-led Sector Skills Council, will be submitted to the government in April 2007.
"PLASA's support is hugely significant," says Tom Bewick, chief executive of Creative and 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."
PLASA will also lead a drive to raise capital and in-kind support from its members for development of the National Skills Academy. £3 million of the estimated £10 million start-up costs have to be raised by industry with the balance provided by the government on final approval of the project plans.
Matthew Griffiths, chief executive of PLASA, says: "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."
Since the launch of the project in October 2006, the list of prestigious supporters for the Academy has also been joined 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.
(Chris Henry)
