Arts Aid announces 2024 recipients and 2025 awards programme.

Arts Aid, the Manx charity which supports exceptionally talented artists and performers to develop their careers in the arts, has announced its latest annual awards totalling £92,500 - a new record for the charity.

Now in its seventh year, the charity made a total of 20 awards, 14 to students who continue to be supported by the initiative and six to new recipients.

Six recipients are commencing their final year of studies: Gracel Delos Santos (LAMDA - BA (Hons) Professional Acting); Meisie Germishuys (PPA, Guildford - Professional Diploma in Musical Theatre); Aislinn Lace (SLP College, Leeds - Professional Diploma in Dance & Musical Theatre); Annabel King (Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge - BA (Hons) Music); Paulina Kurzydlowska (Liverpool Hope University - BA (Hons) Fine Art); and Sam Hills-Field (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff – BA (Hons) Music).

Going into their second year are: Rosie Baxter (Bird College, Sidcup - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre); Millie Christian (PPA, Guildford – BA (Hons) Performance in Musical Theatre); Nick Forbes (Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, London - BA (Hons) Experimental Arts & Performance); Josie Laisney (University of Brighton - BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Business Studies); Anjali Morgan (University of Salford - BA (Hons) Photography); Josh Morrison (Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds - BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance); Lucia Prince (Bath Spa University - BA (Hons) Fashion Design); and Sebastien Sgouraditis (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – BMus Performance).

The six new recipients are: Liam Behan (London School of Musical Theatre - Musical Theatre Diploma); Holly Gelling (Falmouth University – BA (Hons) Costume Design for Film and TV); Daniel Lawrie (ArtsEd, London - BA (Hons) Acting); Hannah Kermode (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - BMus Performance); Ophelia Watts (Pembroke College, Cambridge - BA (Hons) Music); and Isabel Clarke (Kingston School of Art – BA (Hons) Fine Art, Ceramics Workshop, Jingdezhen, China).

Announcing the awards, Chairman, Mark Denton, commented: ‘We support people who are exceptionally talented and are determined to make a success in their respective field. For some, our funding can be the difference between whether or not they are able to accept a place at an arts institution. We want to level the playing field so that financial status is not a barrier to forging a rewarding career in the arts. We also wish to thank our sponsors, ILS World, Ramsey Crookall, Isle of Man Advertising and the Sovereign Arts Foundation, as well as the trustees of the Elizabeth Clucas, J.R. Moore and W.H.C. Brien Trusts, for their incredible support’.

Since 2018, 73 annual awards totalling over £355,000 have been made to 36 Isle of Man students. Aislinn Lace, currently in her third year at SLP College, Leeds, said: ‘Without Arts Aid, I would not be able to receive the level of training needed to achieve my goals. I am so grateful for the support I am shown from each member of the team.’

Applications for the 2025 awards programme open in January. Applicants are invited to visit the website for details of the funding process and deadline dates. When submitting applications, applicants should have already applied for a course at a suitable educational institution. However, when first applying it is not necessary to have a confirmed place./

Further application information is available here

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