The LA College of Creative Arts began in 2005. Originally strictly a make-up college, it has since expanded greatly to include a wide range of courses in relation to the arts. The year 2014 will include more niche courses such as special effects for TV and film, TV presenting, and fashion design.
Editor and Assistant Creative director at the LA College, Ciara Donnelly, has commented that one of the college’s strengths has been “adapting to change and listening to what is happening in the industry, with a massive focus on the areas where there are employment prospects for students.” She noted that January’s Make-Up and Special Effects course was sold out with little marketing, inspiring the college to hold another course this March.
For 2014, the LA College has many courses and guest lecturers planned: “For our Fashion Design course, Una Burke has agreed to come in as a guest mentor. She is a massive designer at the moment, having done work with Rhianna and with Lady Gaga so she is very influential. For the Make-Up courses, we have lecturers who are working on Penny Dreadful and on Dracula Untold or who have worked with Ridley Scott."
Ciara Donnelly has indicated that another unique aspect to the college is that “it is not a ‘Those who can’t do, teach’ policy here at all. Every single one of our lecturers here is a working professional, as they are always looking to gain more knowledge and expand their skill set, which is really inspiring for the students.”
The LA College of Creative Arts has been involved in TV and film industry for a number of years now, having seen the college’s own lecturers gaining work successfully in the industry. Lecturers and students regularly do make-up for XPOSE and TV3 morning shows.
Among the 2013 highlight for the college, Ciara listed the college’s involvement in the Dublin Fashion Festival (which used many of the in-house brand LA Creative make-up products to create the looks for the fashion week), an increase from 15,000 to almost 40,000 likes on Facebook, thus showing a growing awareness of the college, and opening their salon The Bar.
For personal attributes required to attend LA College, Ciara indicates passion, hard work and self-motivation: “They are entrepreneurs, really, and an entrepreneur will never make it if they are not fully in it mentally and physically, they need to put in hours and hours of work. It’s a niche industry and only the best will make it.” Ciara also noted that their interview process vets all interested in attending the college, whereby the college accepts only those it really believes will get the best from the college.
The LA College of Creative Arts will have their Discovery Day on the 28th of February at the Westbury Hotel.
For more information on the college, see their profile or their website.
