News: Arts North Studios and ArtsEd Form Landmark Partnership

 

Arts North Studios and ArtsEd Form Landmark Partnership

One of the North East’s premier performing arts colleges has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with ArtsEd, a leader in performing arts training in the UK, marking a significant milestone for regional talent development.

An agreement between ArtsEd and Arts North Studios, a flagship initiative developed with Culture Quarter and Sunderland College, was signed on Thursday, 29 January at ArtsEd’s historic Chiswick home.

The partnership aims to create new pathways for aspiring performers across the North East of England and bridge the gap between regional talent and world-class vocational training. It marks a significant commitment from both institutions to foster inclusivity, share pedagogical expertise, and ensure that the next generation of West End and screen talent has access to elite training, regardless of geographical or socio-economic barriers.

Under the new agreement, ArtsEd and Arts North Studios will collaborate on a series of initiatives, including streamlining the application process for North East students with a Regional Audition Hub and bringing ArtsEd’s industry-leading tutors to Sunderland for intensive workshops.

This partnership arrives at a pivotal time for the UK’s creative industries, as the demand for diverse, highly skilled talent continues to grow. By combining ArtsEd’s 100-year legacy of excellence with Arts North Studios’ deep roots in the Sunderland creative community, both organisations are committed to redefining how talent is nurtured outside of the capital.

Annie Guy, Founder and Principal of Arts North Studios, expressed her passion for the partnership: “As someone who grew up in the North East and attended ArtsEd, I’m incredibly passionate about making top tier training more accessible to young people and bringing quality West End training to the region.  Partnering with an institution as prestigious as ArtsEd validates the incredible talent we see in our studios every day and further cements our status as the college of choice here in the North East."

“This new partnership levels the playing field for talent here in the North East and is a promise of opportunity for our students to train at the highest level while remaining connected to their roots. It’s a monumental day for both Arts North Studios and the city of Sunderland.”

Professor Louise Jackson, Principal of ArtsEd, commented: “We are thrilled to formalise our relationship with Arts North Studios. At ArtsEd, we believe that world-class training should be accessible to everyone with the talent and dedication to pursue it.  Sunderland has a rich cultural heartbeat, and by partnering with Annie and her team, we are ensuring that the incredible potential within the North East is recognised, supported, and given a direct pipeline to the industry.”

The new partnership builds on the talent development pathway started by Arts North Studios and Sunderland College, who accredit both a BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma and an intensive one-year programme with Arts North Studios.

Sheree Rymer, Associate Principal Enhanced Curriculum at Education Partnership North East, said: “This new partnership with ArtsEd demonstrates that Sunderland College students, studying with Arts North Studios through our well established collaboration, are accessing an education that stands alongside the very best in the country. Students are already progressing into highly competitive, world-class creative arts institutions, reflecting the strength of a partnership where industry professionals work alongside education specialists to deliver exemplary practice and create genuinely life-changing opportunities for young people across the North East.”

For further information on how to join Arts North Studios College, visit artsnorthstudios.com.