The New Animation Skills Fund: What Is It? How Do I Access It?
Amidst all the Brexit talk that has dominated discussions and talks at the past few Children’s Media Conferences, there appears to be some optimistic and positive news shining through with regards to various funding opportunities within the UK animation industry. One of these funds, the Young Audiences Content Fund, was launched in April this year and has £57 million available to support development and production.
The other fund – the focus of this article – is the Animation Skills Fund.
The Animation Skills Fund isn’t a new concept; rather it is a reboot of ‘Creative Skillset’, which has been running since the tax-reliefs were introduced in 2012. Perhaps one of the most successful examples of the fund at work was the 2013 Lupus Storyboarding Courses, which followed an intensive four week program and were tutored by world renowned director/storyboard artist Frank Gladstone. Of the 14 applicants who took part, Lupus employed 4 people straight off the course; with all 14 finding work in the industry soon after.
With the UK animation industry currently increasing in size, output and opportunities, the reboot has come at the perfect time…
What is is? How does it work?
The fund was set-up to ensure that companies are investing in training when receiving government funding from schemes such as the Young Audiences Contest Fund, or the tax-relief. This means the fund is voluntary and not an official tax.
Companies are asked to pay in 0.5% of their production budget into a pot.
ScreenSkills looks after this pot of money and the Animation Skills Council – made of 16 volunteers from different UK animation studios, and chaired by Blue Zoo’s Tom Box – is in charge of how the money is spent.
The fund is for both studios and freelancers to use, as 50% of the industry is freelance. Plus, as all animation studios use the same freelancers, it makes sense to pool together to help everyone. As the fund is not made up of government money, in theory it should be more straight forward, quicker and less bureaucratic to tap into.
Use It or Lose It! Panel at Children’s Media Conference: Tom Box (Blue Zoo), Adam Jackson-Nocher (Lupus Films), Kate O’Connor (Animation UK), Helen Piercy (Norwich University of the Arts), Sarah Tanner (Jellyfish Pictures)
How can an individual (students, freelancers) access the training?
There are a range of initiatives being planned; the first is the Animated Women/Helen North Achieve Progamme which has just started (meaning that applications are closed for 2019), but future events will include workshops for freelancers to better understand the business side of animation, plus 2D animation boot-camps.
The Animation Skill Fund is working with AnimationUK to help publicise the activities through their newsletter and social channels, so currently the best way for individuals to stay up to date with training news is:
- Subscribe to the AnimationUK newsletter
- Follow ScreenSkills on Facebook
- Follow ScreenSkills on Twitter
How can a studio access the funding?
Studios can access the fund in the same way individuals can (see above). Additionally, there will be initiatives such as returnships – to help parents who have been out of the industry for a while – plus leadership training – for artists who have become ‘accidental’ team leaders.
Another idea that is being developed is the “Back To School” initiative, where graduates and young artists would be encouraged to go back to their old school to give an inspiring talk about how a dream career can become reality. The initiative would help with expenses to get the artist to the school, plus provide age-appropriate presentation materials for the artist to adapt.
What can I do next?
To stay up to date with upcoming initiatives and events, subscribe to the AnimationUK newsletter, and follow ScreenSkills on Facebook and Twitter.
For further reading, check out Tom Box’s Animation Skills Fund: Use it or lose it! article, or head straight to the Animation Skills Fund page.