Women in Animation (WIA) is pleased to announce the first round of academic partnerships to encourage student participation in the WIA network of support. The School of Visual Arts (SVA) has aligned as both a corporate sponsor as well as a membership sponsor, and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) has agreed to be a membership sponsor so that more of its students can become active in the WIA organization. “We’ve discovered that although the female population accounts for approximately 65% of the student body in animation schools, only 23% of those women are being placed in creative leadership roles within the industry,” explains WIA co-president Marge Dean. “Connecting with women during their academic training is a way for us to support their professional development and effort from the start, and to work together towards our goal of making the creative leadership in the industry 50-50 by 2025,” add Brendan Burch, WIA treasurer and member of the organization’s student committee.

“We at SVA are thrilled to offer our students access to the premier organization for women’s advocacy, gender equality and leadership training. Students are the future of our industry and the support they will gain by joining WIA will be a very positive influence on their education and their careers. We encourage our peers, educators and students to sign the pledge (50/50 by 2025!) – we did!” says John McIntosh, Chair of SVA Computer Art, Animation and Visual Effects.”

“CalArts treasures its long relationship with WIA and deeply appreciates its support for our students and graduates—whether they are still in school, first-time professionals or advanced in their careers. WIA creates an all-important community that encourages women to take creative leadership in the industry and is an essential resource for female professionals in the field of animation,” said Leighton Pierce, Dean of CalArts School of Film/Video.

ABOUT WOMEN IN ANIMATION
Women in Animation (WIA) envisions a world in which women share fully in the creation, production and rewards of animation, resulting in richer and more diverse entertainment and media that move our culture forward. The mission of WIA is to bring together a global community of animation professionals to empower and support women in the art, science and business of animation by increasing access to resources, creating opportunities for education, encouraging strong connections between individuals, and inspiring excellence. For more information or to join WIA, please visit http://www.womeninanimation.org.

ABOUT SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS
School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising more than 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 35,000 alumni in 100 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College’s 32 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu.

ABOUT CALARTS
Ranked as America’s top college for students in the arts by Newsweek/The Daily Beast, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) has set the pace for educating professional artists since 1970. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions. As successive generations of faculty and alumni have helped shape the landscape of contemporary arts, the Institute first envisioned by Walt Disney encompasses a vibrant, eclectic community with global reach, inviting experimentation, independent inquiry, and active collaboration and exchange among artists, artistic disciplines and cultural traditions.