Three receive Bouddi Foundation grants

Three young Peninsula artists have received grants from the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts as part of the Foundation's ongoing annual grants program.

Chairman of the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts, Mr John Bell, announced $24,500 in grants to 13 talented young Coast artists.

"The amount of talent among young artists on the Central Coast is extraordinary," Mr Bell said after an awards ceremony at Wagstaffe Hall on Saturday, November 5.

"The Central Coast can be very proud of them," Mr Bell said.

This is the fifth year that the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts has announced its grants program.

In that time, over 40 grants totalling $96,500 have been made to young artists under 25, Mr Bell said.

"Not only is the depth of talent remarkable but the range of artistic pursuits undertaken by these young people is both exciting and inspiring," he said.

The local winners were scriptwriter Ashleigh Mounseur from Empire Bay, classical voice student Siena Palmer from Umina and soprano Tiarna Young, also from Umina.

Ms Mounseur intends to use the funds to cover fees at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School where she is focusing on honing her scriptwriting skills.

Ashleigh, aged 23, also won a grant in 2012 to study at Wollongong University and its US academic partner, the University of Miami.

Her literary and poetry work has also won many awards but it is scriptwriting that is now her prime focus.

Siena Palmer is a 17-year-old student at the Central Coast Conservatorium where she studies Classical Voice.

She received an award from the Bouddi Foundation to progress her career as a soprano.

Siena also enjoys singing a contemporary repertoire as well as playing violin and painting.

Her grant will be used to pay for vocal and violin lessons.

Tiarna Young is another soprano from Umina.

Aged 17, Tiarna currently sings both opera and jazz but would ultimately like to be an opera singer.

A two-time grant recipient, Ms Young's studies at Gosford High School and the Central Coast Conservatorium have now prepared her to go on to study voice and performance theatre at Sydney Conservatorium in 2017.

The 2016 award ceremony preceded a fundraising concert featuring the host of the popular ABC radio program Australia All Over, Ian "Macca" Mcnamara and his guest, Golden Guitar winner Melinda Schneider.

Commenting on the range of artists that have been supported by the Foundation, Mr Bell said: "We have been able to provide support to dancers, both contemporary and classical musicians, a writer and, in the visual arts, a photographer, painters and a ceramicist.

"The Foundation has adopted a structured approach to its grants program with the aim of both developing the talent of young artists, and then supporting them as they consolidate their accomplishments into careers," Mr Bell said/

"It is most gratifying to see that after five years this approach is working well.

"For example one of our first grants in 2012 went to a young Year 12 student from Empire Bay, Ashleigh Mounser, who showed great potential as a talented writer.

"Now a graduate of Wollongong University, Ashleigh used her grant to help her study at Miami University, where she became interested in script writing.

"She has received another grant this year to enable her to further her career aspirations at the Australian Film Television and Radio School," he said.

Mr Bell said he thanked and praised the generosity of the many individuals who have donated to the Foundation.

"It is also gratifying to see the emergence of increased support from the entertainment industry and from corporate sponsors," he said.

"For the second Year the industry body APRA/AMCOS sponsored a songwriting category, and the Origin music publishing and theatrical house has this year sponsored a musical theatre category.

"This represents a broadening of our support base, which is exciting."

Media release, 9 Nov 2016

Joy Park, Bouddi Foundation for the Arts