CTN Launches International Student Exchange Program for Animation

The global community of CTN (Creative Talent Network) and its’ newly formed Foundation (Creative Talent Network Foundation) are launching an exciting new offering, the International Creative Exchange Program (ICEP), to be officially launched at the annual CTN eXpo 2024 (November 21-24 in Burbank, California).

“I’m thrilled and incredibly proud to announce this exciting new opportunity for students and professionals,” said Tina Price, founder of CTN. “This exceptional exchange program embodies our CTN and CTN Foundation mission of ‘No Artist Left Behind.’ It’s a meaningful step forward in building bridges that foster idea-sharing between professionals and students, benefiting everyone involved.”

Guided by the non-profit’s mission, “No Artist Left Behind,” CTN eXpo (ctn-events.com/ctnx2024) transforms the city’s ‘Animation Week’ into a vibrant hub where both seasoned and emerging creators come together from around the world to recharge, inspire, celebrate and ignite their passion for storytelling for its’ 16th year.

This November will showcase the offering of the first exchange with 20 students from South Korea, being given the opportunity to travel to Burbank, the Animation Capital of the World, for the first time to showcase their work, expand their creative horizons by experiencing the CTN eXpo 2024. With access to all areas of the expansive 2024 event, these next generation students will reunite to showcase their work, interact and learn from many of the world’s top artists, animators and others who will attend and present as part of the four-day event, furthering the foundation’s mission to “build a bridge” for creatives of all levels from around the world.

The first leg of the exchange program, in June 2024, began when six CTN members were awarded the opportunity to travel to Seoul South Korea and the CK Animation School (Chung Kang College of Cultural Industries) to study, learn and explore with Master Animator Mike Nguyen for four weeks.

“I’m absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude for being given an opportunity like this. It is life-changing for me,” said French student Ramya Hegde, scholarship recipient of the ICEP Korea Program.

The program provides a global cross training canvas to learn through the cultural and creative exchanges of students and master educators around the world. The ICEP program will continue with ongoing planned exchanges already being created for U.S. and students in countries including Italy, Hungary and more.

“CTN has grown once more, no longer just a fabulous annual industry gathering but now a non-profit foundation to care for, and nurture our creative community through the ‘No Artist Left Behind’ initiative,” said Max Howard, film producer and studio executive. “Tina Price’s contribution to our industry is unprecedented. A shining star to be acknowledged and supported, I’m going to be first in line to add my name and invite each and every one of you to join me.”

Learn more about ICEP at ctnfoundation.org/international-exchange.