As part of its strategic investment plan into media and film education, Screen WM has invested over £100,000 in the past year to support a diverse range of innovative educational projects which are being delivered by partner cultural organisations across the region. The Rural Media Company in Herefordshire, Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry, Light House in Wolverhampton, Thomas Adams School in Wem and an Electric Cinema Birmingham pilot project, have each been supported through Screen WM’s UK Film Council Investment Fund to develop their roles as media and film education ‘Hubs.’ Each organisation is delivering an annual programme of activity across the region including filmmaking and media courses, educational screenings and also valuable outreach work into hard to reach communities.
These sub regional media and film education ‘Hub’ organizations serve as a point of focus and co-ordination for screen media educational activity in the region and are at the centre of an area network of schools, colleges, Local Education Authorities and diverse community groups.
The aim of the Hubs are to foster public participation, understanding and engagement with all forms of moving image content, especially as tools for learning and for building individual creativity with a focus on under 19’s in line with ‘Film: 21st Century Literacy’ Strategy.
Sara Clowes, Head of Education, Archive and Audience Development at Screen WM states:
“The development of media and film education hubs is key to our strategy to increase media and film education provision for the West Midlands. Confidence in the use and understanding of moving images is essential to participate fully in today’s society and we want to ensure that this generation and the next is fully equipped to engage. The Media and Film Education Hubs that we are supporting are not only developing innovative and exciting programmes of activity but are also working to form partnerships and networks with other education providers to facilitate a coordinated approach to delivery and maximize knowledge and resources. So whether it’s engaging West Midlanders to learn about their rich cultural heritage through film archive screenings, supporting the delivery of the Creative and Media Diploma or encouraging our budding home grown film making talent to get creative, there’s really something for everyone!’