The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film & Television (The SI), formerly known as MGA Academy of Performing Arts, officially launched last night.
The rebrand marks a new era for the institute, with Irish production studio Silver Rock Studios as its new owners. It coincides with a move from Edinburgh to a larger campus in Livingston, with new facilities and resources to add “gravitas” and attract international students for the first time.
The institute has also secured funding through West Lothian Council, Creative Scotland and Scottish Government funding to help expand and strengthen its offering to students.
But what inspired Andy Egan, founder of Silver Rock Studios, to become involved in training up the next wave of talent in a different country?
As a former stunt man, he said he’s currently building one of Europe’s “largest film and television campuses” in Tipperary at Silver Rock Studios. Now as president and CEO at The Scottish Institute, he explained how the talent emerging from the hub in Livingston will play a role in what he’s creating back in Ireland.
Students studying at the school will now be guaranteed credits through Silver Rock Studios and new partnerships with global companies are set to remove many of the financial barriers to training for home-grown talent.
Part of this includes offering four students on-screen roles for a television show, set to be filmed in the Caribbean this summer. The institute said it has also partnered with a ‘major’ US studio, with two actors from the school set to be offered speaking roles on a new film, which will be set in Ireland thanks to industry tax credits offered there.
“Those are real roles, real pay days and real experiences,” said Andy Egan, President and CEO of The Scottish Institute. “That’s where we believe we differentiate from other performing arts schools.”
He went on to explain how it’s a “good” Brexit story too, adding that “there aren’t many of those”.
At the launch of The Scottish Institute, there were a number of performances from students at the school.
On the launch, Egan added: “The institute is built on the academy’s reputation and our roots in Edinburgh. This pivotal expansion further marks our commitment to fostering an environment where creativity, learning, and profession development take centre stage.
“We aspire to nurture a hub that champions creativity, entrepreneurship, and learning to inspire the next generation of talent.”
From September, the institute will go live with film and television degrees. As part of its new ‘industry-leading’ facilities, the Institute also announced a number of new partnerships including a 10-year sponsorship deal of Howden Park Theatre, a fully equipped performance space with a 300-seater auditorium and rehearsal rooms to facilitate all student performances.
Whether the next West End star or the likes of David Tennant will emerge from The Scottish Institute, time will tell.
