Empowering the Future of Creative Visual Industries
AVENUE connects five European ecosystems to strengthen skills, training, and career opportunities in the creative visual industries. The project focuses on professional and vocational education in areas such as animation, games, virtual production, visual storytelling and extended reality, while also rethinking how teaching and learning are delivered in formal education.
AVENUE supports learners, students, educators, and industry professionals in developing practical skills in content creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. By promoting sustainable practices and healthier working environments, the project contributes to a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready creative industry across Europe.
Virtual Production Ecosystem
The Virtual Production and VFX Ecosystem is led by Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. BUas was one of the first universities in Europe to establish a fully equipped Virtual Production Studio on its campus, offering open access to educators, trainers, students, and researchers.
This early investment laid a strong foundation for the development of both technical and creative skills, enabling innovation and experimentation in the rapidly evolving field of virtual production. The ecosystem is developed in close collaboration with industry partners specialising in Virtual Production, such as ReadySetStudios, and is further supported by associated partner Epic Games.
Within the AVENUE project, the Virtual Production Ecosystem focuses on continuously addressing emerging challenges and skill mismatches in the virtual production field. Through ongoing, practice-based research, it aims to provide relevant and immediate upskilling opportunities, foster excellence in vocational education and training, support innovation, and promote inclusion across the creative sector.
Educational Institutions
- Breda University of Applied Sciences
- The Animation Workshop / VIA University College
- Institute of Art, Design + Technology Dun Loaghaire
- Politecnico di Torino
- Le Chnam
Industry Partners
- Beyond Horizon
- Readyset Studios
- Studio Meala
- Prodea group
- Ubisoft Paris
Avenue Cradle Playlist
Research
The project’s research work package is led by Breda University of Applied Sciences. The research draws on literature and professional insights to map each ecosystem’s skill landscape and to track ongoing advances and challenges from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, including industry professionals, students, and educators. The project comprises four research cycles and is currently in its second cycle. Through interviews with industry professionals, the first research cycle demonstrated a cross-ecosystem preference for hybrid professionals who combine technical expertise with soft and professional skills in equal measure. The second year’s research focuses on graduate preparedness to meet this preferred skill profile. The emerging findings will inform the training programmes and workshops delivered by the project. Subsequent research activities will build upon insights derived from the current cycle.
Research Output
Full output from this project can be found at the Avenue website.
