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Speech: Goldsmith - Opening of Miramar Creative Centre


Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

7 August 2017
Speech

Speech at the opening of Victoria University’s new Miramar Creative Centre

Thank you Grant [Professor Grant Guilford, Vice Chancellor, Victoria University of Wellington].

This is a wonderful time for young New Zealanders to be preparing themselves for great careers. The economy is producing jobs at a rapid clip, and many industries are crying out for more skilled workers.

The challenge for our tertiary sector is to deliver those skills. The creative sector is strong and full of opportunities, so it’s a pleasure to be with you this evening to celebrate the opening of the Miramar Creative Centre.

Having a new facility located in the heart of our country’s film industry will connect students with world-leading experts in the creative sector.

There are so many people doing what they love for a living here, and they are having a major economic impact. Wellington’s film industry contributes around $640 million a year to the economy. That’s around 65 per cent of our $3.3 billion film sector.

The innovation that drives the film sector, and the value it creates, has now extended to this Creative Centre. This innovative model of tertiary education will serve as a useful reference point as the Government responds to the Productivity Commission’s report on ways to enable and encourage innovative new models and providers.

The National Government is also keen to encourage our tertiary system to provide plenty of opportunities for students to make connections to industry through relevant, responsive and supportive teaching.

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The collaboration between Victoria University of Wellington and film industry partners – Weta Workshop, Weta Digital, Park Road Post Production and Miramar Creative Ltd on the design of this Centre, will provide talented Masters level students with unprecedented insights into the creative industry.

The industry collaborators in this case happen to be amongst the best in the world, in their fields.

Students undertaking the Master of Design Technology and Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) will be immersed in experiential learning and have access to the latest software and technology that is being used by leaders in the film and visual effects industry around the world.

With programmes taught in part by practitioners from companies like DreamWorks, Disney, and Weta Digital – students will be well placed to find sustainable employment in game design, animation, augmented reality, film production, film scoring, and other related areas.

This real-world teaching and learning focus will facilitate industry input into course and curriculum design and help drive Victoria University’s ability to deliver graduates – not only with qualifications – but industry-ready skills.

It is great to see the Wellington ICT Graduate School, Victoria University School of Design, New Zealand School of Music, and Victoria University School of English, Film, Theatre and Media Studies having access to this dynamic Creative Centre as a base for their Masters programmes.

I’m encouraged to hear that, in time, other Masters programmes will have access to these facilities - encouraging valuable collaborations across a range of disciplines.

We cannot underestimate the attraction the Creative Centre will bring to our creative capital.

I am pleased to officially open the Miramar Creative Centre to students – and the academics and industry experts who will teach them.

I know you will find it an inspiring place to master your craft.

Thank you and good evening.

© Scoop Media

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