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Salford Quays chosen for artist academy

The Shaune Harrison Academy has opened Manchester’s first academy dedicated to creature and special effects make-up at Quays Reach Business Park, just around the corner from MediaCityUK.

The move to Salford Quays follows support from MIDAS – Manchester’s inward investment agency.

The Shaune Harrison Academy is a make up, special effects and prosthetics academy designed for artists wanting to learn and perfect the key skills required to help them forge a successful career in make up and special effects industry.

Shaune Harrison is himself an award winning filmmaker, who has written and directed alongside a flourishing career in special effects that spans over 20 years. He is now seeking to impart his wisdom and years of experience to the next generation of artists wishing to perfect their skills in the art of creature and special effects make-up.

Shaune Harrison has been at the core of some of the most well known and classic creature characters from some of the world’s top grossing films, such as: Harry Potter, Captain America: The first avenger, World War Z, Star Wars episodes 1 and 2 to name just a few.

He said: “We picked Greater Manchester because of our developed relationship with MIDAS and my association with the North West; however the area also has a growing TV, film and animation with excellent staffing prospects and low costs.”

Tim Newns, chief executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency, said: “I’m delighted that The Shaune Harrison Academy has decided to invest in Salford as it shows real recognition of Greater Manchester’s growing world-class design and creative sector.

“The city region is one of the UK’s top creative and design clusters and The Shaune Harrison Academy will be supported by an infrastructure that already serves over 31,000 creative and design companies currently based here.

“With over 7,200 creative and design students enrolled at Greater Manchester’s universities, The Shaune Harrison Academy will also benefit from a sustainable pool of talent. We wish them well.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .