The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film & Television (The SI) is today unveiled as the new name of Scotland’s leading arts education institution, and only CMDT-accredited school in Scotland, formerly known as the MGA Academy of Performing Arts.
The renaming comes from the institute’s new ownership from major Irish production studio, Silver Rock Studios. Leading with an official rebrand and relocation, its new commercial model aims to reflect the institute’s existing position as a leader in the global performing arts landscape, as well as its new global footprint. The institute has transitioned to a larger campus in Livingston, with brand new state-of-the-art facilities and resources, which will be open to international students for the first time.
The new model incorporates world class training from some of the biggest names in the industry, alongside high-end sponsorships for industry-standard tech and equipment, which will solidify its offering of world-leading arts education for both local and global talent. The school is now also able to guarantee students credits on their CV through Silver Rock Studios, and new partnerships with global companies will remove many of the financial barriers to high quality performing arts training for home-grown talent.
The restructure enables the academy to expand its foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses across the performing arts, and increase intake of both full-time and part-time students, with the capacity to triple the previous student enrolment.
The Scottish Institute will offer the highest quality of training from world-leading educators and faculty, reflecting its culture of nurturing inclusivity, equality and learning. As part of its new industry-leading facilities, the institute has opened the Howden Park Theatre, an innovative and fully equipped performance space with a 300-seater auditorium and rehearsal rooms to facilitate all student performances.
Having built a strong reputation as one of the foremost centres for performing arts education in the country, The Scottish Institute has secured funding from West Lothian Council, Creative Scotland, and Scottish Government Funding enabling it to expand and strengthen it’s offering to students.
The Scottish Institute will open the doors to its new campus with an official launch event on 25th of April 2024, featuring a selection of student performances and an all-star guest list.
As a leading vocational performing arts school, the launch of the new campus and title marks a transformative time for The Scottish Institute, demonstrating its commitment to exceptional, high-quality teaching and its dedication to paving the path for students’ successful entry into the performing arts, film and television industries.
President and CEO of The Scottish Institute, Andy Egan says “It is an honour to introduce The Scottish Institute and open our brand-new campus to our wonderful students, staff and visitors. 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 are delighted to open our new campus to international students this year, and introduce our faculty of experienced and talented professors to new students. As we invite our students to our new, state-of-the-art Livingston campus we aspire to nurture a hub that champions creativity, entrepreneurship, and learning to inspire the next generation of talent.”
