Students were challenged to produce entries in any of four design categories. The winners in each category (stage design, costume design, poster design and online educational content) will be judged by a team of specialists from the Royal Opera House. Winners will be announced following an afternoon performance of the opera in Covent Garden on Thursday 17 March 2011.
Students' work will be exhibited at the matinee performance of Aida, for which participating colleges have been given priority booking. The winning entrants in each category will be invited to spend a day at the Royal Opera House, meeting ROH staff and visiting backstage areas.
Paul Reeve, director of education at the ROH commented: "This challenge has enabled students at colleges across the country to become actively involved in real-world tasks that are being undertaken every day at the Royal Opera House. It has raised awareness that creativity is required in many areas of an arts organisation's work, not just by the performers, and it has demonstrated wonderfully clearly that the students who took on the challenge possess extraordinary talent. The Royal Opera House staff who judged the competition element were knocked out by the standard of many entries, and have identified several students as ones to watch in the future."
The Royal Opera House is an industry member of the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural. The two organisations are working together to promote vocational learning, career opportunities and professional development. In February 2011, they joined forces for Open Up. This one-day event organised by the ROH gave young people the chance to experience life backstage at the ROH including costume, make-up and set design, and participate in related workshops.
Pauline Tambling, managing director, the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural commented: "It is well known that the Royal Opera House has a long history of making first class productions of opera and ballet available to schools and young people.
"We are delighted that the Royal Opera House is now opening its doors to our network of Further Education Colleges across the country. Further education offers access to education to the widest possible range of students across all abilities and has a strong focus on vocational learning and apprenticeships. I am delighted that the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural is helping the Further Education sector to access one of the greatest cultural venues in the world."
The two organisations are also working in partnership as part of the High House Production Park initiative in Purfleet, Essex. In December 2010, the Royal Opera House opened the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop at the Park and in May 2012, the new national training centre of the National Skills Academy will open next door. The High House Production Park development is being led by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation.
(Claire Beeson)
