We've long recognized that we can't force studios to hire our members, or to keep our jobs here. Our only option is to remain the top large-scale collection of animation talent in the world, which means we all have to keep improving and training all the time. One of our goals at the Guild is to help you get that training at an affordable rate . . .
For years we've focused a lot of our efforts on getting training grant money for classes that are relevant to our membership. Some of that money has dried up, but the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund money is still in play, and we've teamed up with Studio Arts to bring you classes that are relevant to getting and staying employed. Check out the batch of classes on that link. Along with Eric Huelsman at Studio Arts, we're constantly on the lookout for what skills and software are most meaningful in the marketplace, and these classes are the result. Problem is, we know from experience that some of these classes won't fill up, and a fair amount of grant money goes unclaimed every year.
It can be a little frustrating -- we hear from members about how expensive training is, how difficult it is to train on one's own, and that many classes offered at community colleges and other places aren't relevant. So we do our best to help coordinate the funding and curricula of a slate of classes, based on member input . . . then the classes go begging. We already know we'll likely be sponsoring fewer classes next year, but we don't want this avenue of training to dry up.
All the classes I linked to above start up in July. If you qualify for CSATTF funding (i.e., you've worked 30 days at a union studio in the last two years), you'll be reimbursed 2/3 of the cost of the classes upon their completion. And if you are at a studio with an EPT agreement with Studio Arts, your training could be completely free. So take a look at these classes, and think about adding another arrow to your quiver. Because when it comes to these training grants, it's really a case of use it or lose it.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
You want training, we've got training . . .
We've long recognized that we can't force studios to hire our members, or to keep our jobs here. Our only option is to remain the top large-scale collection of animation talent in the world, which means we all have to keep improving and training all the time. One of our goals at the Guild is to help you get that training at an affordable rate . . .
For years we've focused a lot of our efforts on getting training grant money for classes that are relevant to our membership. Some of that money has dried up, but the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund money is still in play, and we've teamed up with Studio Arts to bring you classes that are relevant to getting and staying employed. Check out the batch of classes on that link. Along with Eric Huelsman at Studio Arts, we're constantly on the lookout for what skills and software are most meaningful in the marketplace, and these classes are the result. Problem is, we know from experience that some of these classes won't fill up, and a fair amount of grant money goes unclaimed every year.
It can be a little frustrating -- we hear from members about how expensive training is, how difficult it is to train on one's own, and that many classes offered at community colleges and other places aren't relevant. So we do our best to help coordinate the funding and curricula of a slate of classes, based on member input . . . then the classes go begging. We already know we'll likely be sponsoring fewer classes next year, but we don't want this avenue of training to dry up.
All the classes I linked to above start up in July. If you qualify for CSATTF funding (i.e., you've worked 30 days at a union studio in the last two years), you'll be reimbursed 2/3 of the cost of the classes upon their completion. And if you are at a studio with an EPT agreement with Studio Arts, your training could be completely free. So take a look at these classes, and think about adding another arrow to your quiver. Because when it comes to these training grants, it's really a case of use it or lose it.
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2 comments:
Hello Kevin, this little tidbit came across my blog. I'm not sure if web privacy rules allow me to copy and paste it here, but I think it is pertinent to the artist's situation. There's nothing profane or anything like that in it.
Animation Re-creation: TAG Lab on Evening Hours
Posting a link is definitely fair game. It's an interesting post. I will say that quite a few people working digitally now did indeed start in traditional media. And quite a few people who never did traditional work are doing amazing things on the computer. But whichever way you started, you need constant improvement and retraining to stay sharp.
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