Midlands gets first Skillset accredited Games Art course

De Montfort University in Leicester has become the first games art course in England to be awarded accreditation by Skillset.

Accreditation evaluators of the BA (Hons) Game Art Design course included staff from Ninja Theory and Monumental. Skillset’s computer games accreditation panel, who ratified the decision, included members from Babel Media, SCEE and Blitz.

Ian Livingstone, Life President at Eidos and Chair of Skillset’s Computer Games Skills Council, said: “This is the first games art course in England to be accredited and I hope it is the first of many. Accreditation is a rigorous process, but De Montfort’s course shows what standards can be achieved with a curriculum designed with games industry input from day one.”

Skillset’s Computer Games Manager Saint John Walker said: “This is a gem of a course. There is great teamwork from staff with a keen ear to the industry, and clever use of Web 2.0 tools combine to make a learning environment where students can excel.”

Course Leader Michael Powell said: "Skillset accreditation means a lot to us – it's a sign that we've been successful in embedding real world practice into our curriculum. It was also important for us, and for our students, to receive industry recognition for the high quality work produced on the course."

The De Montfort University accreditation marks a ramp-up in Skillset’s accreditation scheme. This is the fourth course to be accredited in the last six months, and ninth in total. Skillset’s accreditation programme is a service to the Games industry to help it source new talent in both Games Art and Programming pathways.

Skillset welcomes applications from all UK Universities through its website. Please visit http://www.skillset.org/games/accreditation/apply/

Creative Leicestershire Bursary Award Scheme 2010

This year we are offering about 20 or so bursaries up to £2,500 to small creative enterprises in our area which have been trading for at least 12 months. The deadline for applications is 25 June 2010. The guidance notes and application form for Creative Leicestershire's 2010 bursary awards has been posted to our main website this morning. It takes a little while to update so from tomorrow the details and application form will be available to download from the 'funding' page at www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk
If you have any queries about the scheme, contact our Business Adviser, Fred Brookes, on fred.brookes@leics.gov.uk

Creative Leicestershire's contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival was a panel discussion about how to get on in comedy and build a career. Arthur Smith, Zoe Lyons and festival director Geoff Rowe, chaired by Julian Hall, comedy critic of the Independent, talked about how to get started, the perils of the open night circuit, the importance of Edinburgh and how much money you can lose doing it, the pros and cons of getting an agent, among other topics. A keen audience of aspiring performers and writers asked some searching questions, and there were really good biscuits.

Bursary Winner Lunchbox Films @ Leeds Young People's Film Festival

We're happy to announce that Lunchbox Films film, 'Dr Markus & The Tomb of Gloom' has been accepted into the Leeds young people's film festival! The film was made by year 5 pupils at t.Hubert's Primary School, Birmingham and was made under the Creative Partnerships shceme. It will be judged by a panel of industry experts and young people. For more info visit: www.leedsyoungfilm.co.uk

Well Done!

To view the film go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3I8xdfNuz4

Past Bursary Winner Comedy Festival Review

Rob Gee: Fruitcake - Ten Commandments From the Psych Ward.

Comic, poet and reformed psychiatric nurse, Rob Gee presents an idiot’s guide to insanity, fresh from a sell-out tour of Canada. Fruitcake is a rollercoaster ride of comedy and poignant observation charting a night shift on an acute psychiatric ward. Read Rob Gee's Review in Chortle here

Maria Allen published by Tindal Street Press

Maria Allen's first novel is published by the estimable Midlands publisher Tindal Street Press this month. Before the Earthquake is a historical literary mystery from Loughborough-based Maria who is half English and half Italian.

You can order it straight from http://www.tindalstreet.co.uk/books/before-the-earthquake

Try our Freelancers Quiz

Ever wonderered what it takes to be a creative freelancer? Well now we know, as the national occupational standards have been released. There 62 different areas of knowledge/skill in all. Just to celebrate we have created a quiz which we have been trying out on unsuspecting graduates and mentees, so you can see what you can/can't do.
http://www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk/index/information.htm