MOVIE AND TV CREW DEVELOPMENT HUB FOR WICKLOW
Wicklow County Council welcomes the announcement by Arts Minister, Catherine Martin, of three movie and TV Crew Development Hubs one of which is in Wicklow.
The legal entity Clermont Enterprise Hub will drive this initiative throughout the east regions which covers Wicklow, Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wexford, Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Offaly.
Funded through Screen Ireland, the project will seek to alleviate shortages of skilled labour in the Irish film and television industry amid record levels of production and “huge” potential for growth.
This is particularly relevant due to the expansion of Ashford and Ardmore Studios, the development of Greystones Media Campus and further infrastructural development anticipated throughout the region.
The Wicklow Crew Development Hub project also sits very well beside the Content Creation Enterprise Hub that the council are developing at Wicklow County Campus and which will be launched late in 2022.
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Shay Cullen, said: “I’m delighted that Clermont Enterprise Hub was selected to drive the Crew Hub initiative launched by Screen Ireland. This hub will support our unique audio-visual industry along the east coast and hinterland, which was hard hit by the lockdown, to meet the global demand for content and the expansion of the screen sector in Ireland.
“The potential to grow this sector is huge and the region is well placed to meet this demand by maximising the potential of our local talent. This project is also good news for the development of the Content Creation Enterprise Hub at Wicklow County Campus by Wicklow County Council as a centre of excellence in education, innovation and job creation.”
Mr Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council and Chair of Clermont Enterprise Hub CLG, commented: 'We welcome and look forward to working with Screen Ireland, and the other hubs on this new project. It is a really positive initiative for the screen industry which has seen a steady growth and which is very important to our local economy and tourism industry. It is also very positive for the development of Wicklow County Campus and for the future growth of a strong local screen industry. Stakeholders and development agencies in this industry are extremely supportive of this innovative project and we look forward to working with them to tole out a crew training and work placement programme in 2022.”
He added: “Wicklow County Council has a strong relationship with the film industry. It’s a crucial economic driver in the county and the demand for content is increasing rapidly. I would like to acknowledge Screen Ireland’s financial assistance with the development of the crew hub.”
Further information:
- Clermont Enterprise Hub CLG was set up in 2018 to oversee the development and management of the Clermont Content Creation Enterprise Hub.
- The Content Creation Enterprise Hub will provide 10,000sq ft of private and co-working spaces and aims to boost job creation in the sector and spin out services feeding into these industries.
- The project will include the courtyard buildings, the second floor of the existing campus building and the chapel, which will be refurbished and renovated. It will also include a newly built two-floor extension to the courtyard buildings.
- It is intended to support content creation and will complement the film industry, with a particular focus on businesses servicing productions happening in Ashford Studios, Ardmore Studios and Greystones Media Campus when constructed.
- Clermont Enterprise Hub is supported under the Department Enterprise, Trade & Employment‘s Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland.
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