The Animation Skills Council has agreed an increase to the cap for the Animation Skills Fund.
Currently, productions pay a voluntary contribution of 0.5% of the production budget spent in the UK which is invested in training and development programmes for the animation workforce across the country.
From April 1, the cap for the Animations Skills Fund increased by £2,000 – an increase of CPI only – with contributions capped at £54,000 per production. Since 2016 the Fund has raised more than £850,000, with more than £200,000 raised in 2022-23 alone, from 15 animated productions.
“Over the last few years, the Animation Skills Fund has flourished thanks to the support of the sector which has enabled the fund to invest in the creativity, diversity, and the future of animation in the UK,” commented Tom Box, Chair, Animation Skills Council. “The council is proud that the fund has helped over 4,000 people and attracted a diverse range of participants to its programmes. In the last year, approximately two thirds of our beneficiaries identified as women, and almost three quarters of our beneficiaries were based outside London.”
Programmes supported by the Fund include Animation Trainee Finder, which selected 30 participants for the programme in 2023/2024 to gain experience in 2D, 3D and stop motion animation as well as art, production and storyboard. Additionally the fund has funded programmes to support leadership and talent development including Budgeting High-End Animated Series Clinic, Writing for Children’s Animation, and Animated Women UK’s Achieve programme.
In 2024/2025, the Animation Skills Fund will continue to offer training and development programmes including four creative a commissioned from Indielab in Creative Directing for Animation, Creative Producing for Animation, Creative Production Management for Animation and Creative Leadership in Animation.
