CFA | IADT | Animation Lab – Producers as Entrepreneurs | December ESF+ 2025

• This course is full. Register below to join the waiting list or express your interest in participating on this course if we run it again. If we have sufficient interest we will run this again soon.

Overview

The Animation LAB – Producers as Entrepreneurs course is supported by Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet and the National Talent Academy Animation and will be delivered by industry experts via masterclasses, seminars and tutorial support.

The philosophy of the course is to educate creative and entrepreneurial producers, to preach art but teach commerce; not how to make animation but how to get animation made. To build a community of practice and network of emerging talent with the skills to create the projects and companies of the future. The central focus of this course is the 3-day residency programme in Carrick on Shannon (County Roscommon) and the 3-day conference in Dún Laoghaire (County Dublin).

Learning Outcomes

This course will provide you with the skills required to perform the role and analyse the responsibilities of the creative animation producer in terms of company and production finance, entertainment and media law, as well as animated project development and production. Indicative content includes:

• The role of the creative producer in project development.
• Financial and business structures in the Irish, European and global screen industries.
• Sources of finance: co-production partners, funding agencies, and private/commercial investors.
• Marketing, sales agents, promotion, distribution, exhibition.
• Co‐production agreements, distribution, and contracts.
• Principals of copyright, intellectual property, literary properties, underlying rights & clearances.
• Music copyright: performers’ rights, synchronisation rights, publishing rights, music returns.
• Union agreements, basic employment law, relevant to film and television production.

You will take part in a series of lectures, workshops and seminars with relevant industry bodies, legal and accountancy experts.

Dates and times of the course

This course will take place subject to reaching minimum numbers.

Classes (online | 6pm – 9pm):

• 18th Dec 2025
• 22nd + 29th January 2026
• 5th, 12th + 19th February

In person residency: 24th – 26th  February in Carrick On Shannon, Co. Roscommon

Classes (online | 6pm – 9pm): 5th, 12th + 26th March

In person conference: 18th – 20th March in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

Tutorials (online): 13th – 17th April (schedule TBC)

Final Submission: 22nd April

Tutor information

Delivered by IADT and Producer Stephen Fagan, Managing Director of Studio Meala.

Who This Course Is For

Designed for aspiring and early career producers who want to creatively lead animation projects with confidence, creativity, and strategic foresight. 

Applicants should have an Undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level in design or a related discipline. Applicants may also be considered provided that they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence, which can be verified through our RPL [recognition of prior learning] process.

Venue Information

IADT & Carrick-on-Shannon

Costs/fee

Course fee €750 per person. (Normally this workshop would cost €1600 per person without CCIS support)

Important: To avail of CCIS Membership Support, all registrations and fee payments must be made by Dec 18th 2025. Applications for membership support for this course after this date can no longer be processed.

CCIS Membership Support

To qualify for Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet membership support, applicants must be RESIDENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND and not in receipt of a BURSARY, SCHOLARSHIP OR GRANT AID toward fees for this course from another government agency.

Applicants may not be currently

• PARTICIPATING IN A CE SCHEME
• CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT

All programmes are provided without discrimination. This includes discrimination based on gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. An inclusive environment that welcomes participants from diverse communities is promoted.

Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet is required to collect Special Category Data from those who wish to avail of supports for this programme. As part of your application process, you will be asked to fill out a special category data questionnaire which is accessed at the bottom of this page. Further data will be collected at the following milestones.

• the course completion date
• 6 months post certification

Application

This is a 3-Step Application.

1. Complete the Special Category Data Participant Questionnaire below (See below for the QR Code or Link)
2. Fill out the Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet membership application form below (Green ‘Apply’ button)
3. If your CCIS Membership application is successful, you will be notified and given access to the IADT Course application link. You may also access this link via the IADT website. Complete your IADT Course Application.
   
   If your Course Application is successful you will be notified by IADT and given access to a CCIS Registration/Payment Link.

CCIS membership application deadline

CCIS Membership Application Deadline: We will be accepting CCIS support applications until Dec 18th.

If you experience any questions about support or difficulties with your CCIS membership application please contact susantalbot@furthr.ie with a Subject Heading of: IADT | CCIS Application | [Course Name]

Important: All Course Applications To Be Made Separately via IADT/CFA.
IADT Course Application Deadline: Dec 15th

Special Category Data

Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet is required to collect Special Category Data from those who wish to avail of supports for this programme.

In addition to the support application (green ‘Apply’ button below) please access the mandatory questionnaire via this link or via the QR code below.