Clay Paky recently hosted a Show Lighting Design course at its headquarters in Seriate, Italy. It was a continuing professional development course organized by the Politecnico di Milano – INDACO Department – Faculty of Design, valid for the 2010-2011 academic year.
The course was for both graduate and non-graduate professionals and technicians who wish to specialize in show lighting design in theatres and live shows. It entails visits to specialized companies that have chosen to make their know-how available in agreement with the management of the Polytechnic.
The day was organized by Laboratorio Luce, in collaboration with Clay Paky, and consisted of an in-depth visit to the company and each of its departments, including the design, production, quality control and sales offices, under the coordination of Italy Area Manager Renato Ferrari.
However the longest and most important part of the day took place in the large Clay Paky showroom. The students were able to use it as a true creative laboratory, under the expert guidance of Giovanni Pinna in his dual role of Deputy Director of the Course and qualified lighting designer. Pinna has extensive international experience at the service of some of the biggest names in show business: Vasco Rossi, Eros Ramazzotti, Antonello Venditti, Pino Daniele, to mention but a few.
Clay Paky has supported teaching activities for years by playing host at its headquarters to groups of students of all educational levels. The company firmly believes that knowledge and passion for such a fascinating world should be shown and shared right from one’s school days.
Pinna tells us: “Use of the showroom is very important to complete the course syllabus since it is a unique opportunity to use equipment first-hand that would not otherwise be available as “teaching material” in the lecture hall. It was a very important experience for the students, who were able to use a variety of moving heads for the first time to simulate a lighting program for a piece of music.
It was a very important contribution by a company sensitive to and interested in training and education.”