Seven trainees will receive on-the-job training and mentoring with Irish animation, VFX, and games studios.
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet have announced the Animation, VFX & Games Graduate Traineeship participants and host studios for the first programme of 2023.
The traineeship, which has been running since 2016, has a track record of over 90% of participants going on to gain further work in the industry, either with their host studio or with another studio. Additionally, according to the First Steps in the Animation Industry report, over 90% of respondents also said that the programme adequately prepared them for the professional workplace and that they would recommend the programme to prospective new entrants. Last year 14 trainees were placed in 6 participating studios for the two programmes of 2022.
Targeted at developing skills and talent in the Irish animation, VFX, and games sectors, this iteration of the programme will take place over a 3-month period. It will involve a mix of on-the-job learning and mentoring with studios remotely as well as additional specialist training delivered through Screen Ireland and Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet.
“We are very pleased to be launching this year's first iteration of the highly successful Graduate Traineeship programme,” said Gareth Lee, Manager of Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet. “The Irish animation, VFX, and games sectors are hugely important to Ireland’s digital and creative economy and the Graduate Traineeship continues to be an integral link to bring new talent into the sector. Congratulations to all the trainees”.
Louise Ryan, Head of Marketing and Communications, Screen Ireland, added: “The Animation, VFX & Games Graduate Traineeship has been instrumental in providing a consistent talent pipeline for new entrants to work with some of Ireland’s leading studios in a rapidly growing sector. Screen Ireland is proud to support opportunities for next generation creative talent as this year’s successful nominees embark on the first steps of their exciting careers in the screen industry. Our sincerest congratulations to all.”
The five participating studios and seven trainees for the first Graduate Traineeship Programme of 2023 are:
Jam Media: Anna Hoare
Ink & Light: Jen Quinn
Cartoon Saloon: Jayme Murphy & Niall McNally
StoryToys: Tobi Taylor
Algorithm: Patrick Kelly & Eddie O’Flaherty
The traineeship will begin in early June with a week of specialised online training, featuring talks from experts on the latest creative and technological advances in the area of VFX and animation, as well as soft skills such as emotional intelligence and time management.
