The Digital Domain Institute, an animation and digital arts institute powered by Digital Domain Media Group and the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, opened its doors to its inaugural class of students today in West Palm Beach.
The institute, a public-private collaboration, seeks to blend creative and professionally-geared technical training, and bringing inspiring filmmakers fresh from blockbuster movies into the classroom to share techniques and experiences.
DDI’s spring session began in the institute’s temporary facility, co-located with FSU at 477 South Rosemary in City Place, where students began a 10-week Digital Arts Essential Skills program.
For its summer session, DDI will add new courses and expand its footprint on Rosemary.
In preparation for the start of its fall dual-enrollment three-year diploma program offered exclusively with FSU’s bachelor of fine arts in animation and digital arts program, the school is also expanding into new space nearby, to accommodate more students and additional lab and screening facilities. DDI administrative offices, co-located with FSU, are at 560 Okeechobee.
“We’re thrilled to be starting classes, and the excitement among our instructors, students, and faculty is super high,” said DDI Director of Education Bruce Bullock. “We’ve been working toward this vision of lifelong learning and practical, professional training for a long time, and we’re grateful to the forward-thinking community of West Palm Beach which has helped us make it a reality. Their generosity is helping us to prepare a generation of students for careers in a growing industry.”
The start of its first classes brings DDI a step closer to a major milestone: the completion of its permanent campus at 401 Okeechobee. The 150,000 square foot facility is being designed by HOK from the ground up as a thoroughly modern, fully equipped educational, research and digital production facility. Supported in part via a land donation from the City of West Palm Beach, it is on schedule to open in January 2015.
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