Creative Lighting Control

BA (Hons) Creative Lighting Control

Mode: full-time

Digital technologies are now at the heart of live entertainment, with automated lighting and extensive use of video becoming familiar features in almost every field of performance. This creates opportunities for creative, technically adept people who are able to collaborate to make great events happen.

Creative Lighting Control is a unique programme, created in response to industry demand for specialist lighting and video programmers and technicians who are at ease with technology and who also possess the creativity needed to stage the very best live events. The role of the lighting programmer requires imaginative use of technology when interpreting and implementing a design, as well as excellent craft and technical skills. You will focus primarily on the role of the programmer for lighting and video, although you will experience all aspects of lighting, from design to management.

The programme will prepare you for a rewarding career as a creative lighting technologist, able to work on a range of performance types including live music, entertainment and corporate events, theatre, dance, exhibitions and installations.

BA Creative Lighting Control previously ran under the title BA (Hons) Digital Live Arts (Lighting Programming).

The programme aims to:

• Respond to the rapidly changing live performance industry by delivering discipline specialists with a comprehensive grounding in performance as a creative, aesthetic and communicative process
• Give graduates a working understanding of live performance in its business, cultural, social, ethical, political, historical and theoretical contexts
• Enable graduates to make an effective, responsive and innovative contribution to the live performance industries
• Give graduates the artistic, technical and organisational skills to enable them to make a creative, technical and operational contribution using a range of lighting and related technologies in a variety of different performance contexts

The Programme at a glance
Over three years, you will:

• Be introduced to the fundamentals of light and lighting
• Develop an understanding of the lighting process from first idea to finished performance
• Learn to analyse contemporary performance practices, styles and genres
• Investigate the processes and techniques used in lighting for concerts, theatre, musicals, and corporate events
• Learn to programme a range of lighting consoles, such as Avolites Pearl Expert, Grand MA2, Strand 500, ETC EOS/ION, and Wholehog III
• Learn to work with a wide range of technologies
• Create video content for use with media servers
• Work as a programmer and lighting manager on a range of College performances and events
• Undertake a substantial practical research project into a lighting subject of your choice
• Have the opportunity for work placements in the industry or a period of study abroad
• Prepare for entry into your chosen profession.

Career Progression

We expect graduates from this new programme to go on to work in a wide range of roles and sectors of the industry, including as a lighting programmer or technician for theatre, dance, opera, architecture, concert and corporate events.