The Edinburgh Lighting and Sound School

Black Light, West Shore Trading Estate, West Shore Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1QF
Email: contact@edinburghlightingandsoundschool.co.uk
Director: George Tarbuck

Description

The Edinburgh Lighting and Sound School offers training based within the industry that is responsive to the needs of both the students and the potential employers. This training is delivered in a way that is cost effective and combines educational rigor with intensive practical experience.

The Edinburgh Lighting and Sound School Ltd was formed in 2009, is owned by the director George Tarbuck and supported by Black Light an Edinburgh company specialising in Lighting, Sound, Staging and Video for theatre and events.

The school is committed to offering a high quality learning experience which combines the aesthetic and sensitivity of theatre with the technical competence and dynamism of events. The school operates an equal opportunities policy.

Location

The school is based in a purpose built teaching space at the premises of Black Light in Granton. The classroom accommodates up to twenty students, has Wi-Fi, AV facilities and can be used for practical workshops. The school has open access to all the equipment in the Black Light rental stock.

Specialist teaching facilities have been made available for the school at a range of theatres, sound, lighting and video companies in Edinburgh and beyond including the Brunton Theatre, Traverse Theatre, The Warehouse Sound Services, War Productions Video, Northern Light, Tramway Theatre Glasgow.

Edinburgh is a unique city in which to study Theatre and Events Production and Technology. We are home to the biggest arts festival in the world, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Festival Fringe. There is also the Edinburgh Book Festival, the Edinburgh Film Festival, the Military Tattoo, the Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Mela, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay , the Edinburgh Science Festival and the Children's Festival

Demand

Current technical courses are heavily oversubscribed. The discontinued technical course at QMU had more than ten applicants for every available place and enjoyed a 98% graduate employment rate. There is clear demand for a technical course in the East of Scotland.

The employment prospects of graduates are excellent. The industry has a current shortfall of trained technicians which is predicted to grow.

Accreditation

Academic accreditation is being pursued in association with Napier University.

The accreditation the school considers as most appropriate would award the one year course 120 credit points at BA level therefore a Certificate of Higher Education.

Industry accreditation is being sought through PLASA (professional lighting and sound association)

The timescale on any accreditation and the intake of the first cohort is likely to be by September 2012.

Placement Providers

Edinburgh has the highest concentration of entertainment and event support companies outside London as well as theatres, concert halls and an international conference centre. The Edinburgh Lighting and Sound School is in the fortunate position of being within easy reach of all of these and placement opportunities have been arranged with the following organisations.

Traverse Theatre, Brunton Theatre, Tramway, Tron Theatre, Citizens Theatre, Mull Theatre, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Sound and Vision, Northern Light, Black Light, The Warehouse Sound Services, Tower Event Services, Finix Productions, Blue Parrot Production and Events, Big House Productions, War Productions, Live Systems.

Negotiations are underway with other potential placement providers.

Staff

The school staffing consists of a director, part time administrator, three associates and freelance teaching staff. The school is honoured to have Francis Reid as Patron.

Director George Tarbuck
Associate Ronnie McConnell
Associate Pete Searle
Associate Martin Palmer
Patron Francis Reid