Scottish talent Continues to Flourish
Since
their inauguration in 2002 the Dewar Arts Awards, set up as a memorial
to Scotland's first First Minister, have assisted over 200 young Scots,
from all art forms to realise their potential. Past awardees include
composer David Fennessy, whose recent work includes Scottish Opera's Five:15; poet Jen Hadfield, winner of the 2008 TS Eliot poetry prize for Nigh-No-Place, the ‘New Scotsman on the block' (Vogue) textile and fashion designer Jamie Tetsill; theatre director Daljinder Singh, presently at the Young Vic and winner of the Jerwood Directors Award, actor Sally Reid, presently appearing in Borderline's production The Ducky and Luke Fowler who has received rave reviews for his exhibition at The Serpentine Gallery, London.
Ruth
Wishart, chair of the Dewar Arts Awards said, "Like every other trust
fund, the Dewar Arts Awards have been affected by the falling value in
the stock exchange. However, despite this making the competition for
awards tougher, the trustees continue to be thrilled by the quality of
many of the applications and are committed to continuing to support
outstanding young Scottish talent."
The latest round of awards have gone to Joseph Young (Alloa) towards the cost of his final year for a BA Hons Acting degree at Guildford School of Acting. From Glasgow, Siobhan Kelly received an award towards an MA in Musical Theatre Performance at RSAMD as did Alan McKendrick to work as Assistant Director at Schaubuehne Theater Berlin
to be mentored by Maja Zade. As a writer/director/translator he already
has had a number of stage successes including collaborating with the New York ensemble, the Riot Group.
Andrea Harkin (Edinburgh) has received an award towards a Masters in Film Direction at NFTVS. In 2008 she won a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award for The Flyer and is considered to be one of Scotland's best developing young female directors. Ania Winiarska (Glasgow) is helped to study for a Masters in Documentary Direction at NFTVS. Recently she has made the well received They Shoot Horses. Don't They? for the Citizens Community Theatre and Blackout performed at the National Theatre, London and also worked as an independent photographer on Rebus.
The Dewar Arts Awards had assisted Ross McInroy (Arbroath) through his post graduate studies in opera at the Royal Academy of Music, London and this second award will allow him to continue his opera studies at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School. Bass-baritone Ross has worked under Sir Colin Davis in several operas.
An extension award has been given to Maureen McMullen (Coatbridge) to continue a Diploma in Professional Performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Maureen has performed at major Scottish music festivals and Tommy Smith
describes her as ‘a phenomenal singer (whose) voice...embraces jazz,
blues, gospel and soul and transmits emotions like few other singers.'
Maureen's song-writing abilities were recognised recently by being selected as one of the 12 Berklee finalists to have their music listened to by the legendary Paul Simon.
Aberdeen born Fiona Mackay studied initially at Glasgow School of Art and has already exhibited in Germany, Belgium, Scotland and in London at the prestigious Tim Taylor Gallery. The award is to enable her to take part in a full time residency at the new contemporary Wiels Contemporary Arts Centre, Brussels
Due to the current financial climate, the trustees have decided to withhold any Daughter of Dewar Awards and the final award has gone to Mairi Campbell (Isle of Skye) to purchase a professional pedal harp. She is currently studying at St. Mary's Music School, Edinburgh and is a member of the Scottish National Children's Orchestra.
The rules of the Dewar Arts Awards are simple. The candidates have to be living or domiciled in Scotland
and aged under 30, able to demonstrate outstanding ability in any art
form and without the financial means fully to realise their potential.
Colleagues, tutors or someone with knowledge of their work can nominate
anyone. Candidates may also be required to have previous work professionally assessed.
The
trustees have at their disposal the income from a trust fund set up by
the Scottish Executive in memory of Donald Dewar, the first First
Minister of Scotland. Applications are accepted all year round
recognising that opportunities do not always fall conveniently into the
financial calendar year. This rolling format also means there are no
deadlines to be met.
Applications
are assessed by some of the most respected names in the arts. Among the
trustees, chaired by journalist and broadcaster Ruth Wishart are Faith
Liddell (Director of Festivals Edinburgh), Sir Brian McMaster (retired
Director Edinburgh International Festival), Lesley Thomson (Director
Liddell Thomson Consultancy) chair of The Arches, Jean Urquhart, The
Ceilidh Place, Ullapool, Sheena Wellington (well-known singer and
advocate for Scottish traditional music), Richard Chester (former
director of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.)
Patrons of the Awards include Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Giles Havergal, Tommy Smith and Callum Innes.
Further details of the awards can be found by emailing [email protected].
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