John Bell Announces Record Grants to Young Central Coast Artists

Chairman of the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts, Shakespearean actor and theatrical director John Bell AO, OBE, FRSN, has announced a near record $57,600 in grants awards to 21 young artists from the Central Coast across a wide range of genres.

“Every year, I am astonished at the depth of talent among young people from the Central Coast”, he said, “and 2022 is no exception. Indeed, the level of artistry displayed seems to be improving despite the debilitating effects of the pandemic on the arts and artists across Australia and the world.”

The 21 grants cover a wide range of artistic pursuits, including traditional and classical dance, contemporary and classical music, songwriting, theatrical prop making, filmmaking, painting, and musical theatre. Grantees hail from 14 suburbs across the Central Coast.
Since its inception in 2011, the Foundation has made 186 grants worth over $375,500. Each year applications are received from some 40 young creatives, who are carefully interviewed by panels of highly regarded professionals from the applicant’s arts discipline.
 
From that initial roll call, an average of 25 people receive awards from $500 up to $5000, with a number applying their grant to further their studies towards higher skills and qualifications.
 
Others use the money for materials, equipment, instruments, studio time to record songs, etc. We have also helped to meet the fees and travel expenses for multiyear post-graduate studies at prestigious overseas universities.

Our successful grantees have been supported to study in Australia and internationally at such respected institutions as the London School of Speech and Drama, Royal College of Music (London) and the Berlin Dance Theatre. Our performers have appeared in productions at the Sydney Opera House and in London’s West End.
 
Our alumni also include an artist who has been a multi-finalist in the Archibald Prize, a puppeteer/animatronics maker and sculptor who just completed working and studying in the U.S. who will be featuring in the production ARC at the Sydney Opera House in September and a ballerina who is perfecting her craft in Germany. A museum curator is studying in London how to make museums more interactive with people.
 
The high level of grant funding has been made possible by donations to the Foundation. Mr Bell paid tribute to donors. “We are grateful for the generosity of our donors, who are the lifeblood of our grants program,” he said. “Donors have obviously responded to the demonstrated success of the young artists we have supported and, in turn, have given us their support. It is heartening to see such faith in our young people and commitment to their future,” he concluded.

Artists will be presented with their grant awards at Wagstaffe Hall, in Wagstaffe NSW, on 6th November, headlined by Australia’s beloved musical treasure Marcia Hines AM. With a career spanning five decades, Hines will perform along with three select grant awardees.

Visit our DONATE page for details on how to donate and our AWARDS page for details on how to apply for a grant.