Shed MEDIA confirmed as latest tenant at Glasgow’s Digital Media Quarter officially launched
The announcement coincides with the official launch of the DMQ and sees Shed join The Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio (DDS), which is moving to the location early next year, as a key tenant of the quarter. Regional Selective Assistance support from the Scottish Government of up to £100,000 is being made available to Shed, with additional Training Plus funding amounting to around £30,000 spread over three years.
The aim of the DMQ, developed by Scottish Enterprise, is to provide a highly distinctive and dedicated business location for Scotland’s digital media and related industries, providing a physical focus for these activities in the city and the site. It extends to around five hectares, forming part of the wider Pacific Quay area, which is home to BBC Scotland, Scottish Media Group, XFM Scotland, Film City Glasgow and Glasgow Science Centre. The Digital Media and Creative Industries in Scotland account for around £2.8 billion in economic terms and employs an estimated 100,000.
The vision for the DMQ was launched to around 200 industry representatives from the digital media and broadcasting communities at BBC Scotland’s Pacific Quay HQ. The audience became the first in Scotland to witness a high definition holographic video projection system, which allows spectacular three-dimensional moving images to appear within a live stage setting. The Eyeliner System is the brainchild of London-based Musion and saw an original dragon from the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, Doug Richard, interact ‘Princess Leia style’ with a full-size hologram image of himself.
Commenting on the decision to open its Scottish office at DMQ, Shed’s Chief Executive, Eileen Gallagher, said: “This is a perfect location for us. We are next door to our major customers at BBC Scotland and as part of The Hub we are neighbours to the brightest digital innovators in the UK. Our plan is to produce many leading programme brands from Scotland and to develop creative digital content around them for UK and international audiences.
We are very grateful for the support and encouragement given to us by Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council who’s support has made our move to Scotland possible.”
The Medius building, a near 2,500m2 open plan building was the first on the site to be completed and has now been joined by the Hub, a concept space to encourage inter-company interaction, providing a collaborative working environment. The Digital Design Studio, The Glasgow School of Art will relocate to the Hub in Spring 2009. The Digital Design Studio is a world leader in advanced visualisation and interaction research and teaching. Research areas include the groundbreaking 3D model of the city of Glasgow, virtual shipbuilding and the Medical Visualisation Network
Commenting on its plans, Paul Anderson, Director of the Digital Design Studio, The Glasgow School of Art said: “The DDS’s relocation to Pacific Quay is central to the growth of the Studio as one of the UK’s leading higher education centres for teaching, research and knowledge exchange in advanced 3D visualisation and interaction. Our new facilities with be some of the best in Europe, allowing us to build on our existing international reputation and client list, and act as a major draw for companies to locate to Pacific Quay to be amongst some of the worlds’ leading academics and researchers in this field”.
Adrian Gillespie, Director of Scottish Enterprise’s Digital Markets and Enabling Technologies team said: “The DMQ project is aimed at bringing together digital media content developers, broadcasters and publishers, communication technology companies, research and development institutions and related technologies working across the media. The vision is to create a centre of excellence and a dynamic focus for the digital media industries in Scotland.
“The project is taking advantage of the international trend whereby new media communities have clustered in inner city areas and aims to develop a high quality business environment, specifically tailored to meet the needs of this sector with ‘smart’, flexible buildings with access to a broad range of technologies.”
Commenting on the economic impact that the DMQ could have for Scotland, John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, who attended the launch said: “Today’s launch of the Glasgow Digital Media Quarter is a very exciting development for everyone connected with the industry in Scotland.
“Digital media now contributes over £700 million to Scotland’s economy and has the potential to help increase sustainable economic growth. The quarter is a world-class business location for companies, including international firms, in one of the economy’s fastest growing sectors. Not only that, but these innovative new facilities here in Glasgow provide a platform for Scottish digital media companies to shine on the global stage.”
Media contact
Martin Cryans
Firefly Communications
Mobile: 07730 415034
Jamie Henderson/Lucy Newlands
Firefly Communications
Telephone: 0131 553 0150
Images available on request:
Hologram image of Doug Richard, aerial of DMQ, 3D mapping of Glasgow
Visit the DMQ at Pacific Quay website for more information
Visit Musion's website for more information about the 3D hologram imaging
Visit the Digital Design Studio website for more information
Visit the Shed Media website for more information
Learn more about Digital Markets and Enabling Technologies at Scottish Enterprise