Funding opportunity for young Island creatives

By IW Galleries Mar 3, 2020

The 2020 Mike Howley Trust awards are now open for applications.

Mike Howley, who worked for many years as Director of Cultural Services for the Isle of Wight Council, died in May 2013, leaving part of his estate “for the specific benefit of aspiring young actors, musicians, dancers and writers, between the ages of 18 and 30, living on the Isle of Wight”.

Trustees welcome applications from people within the stated age range and art forms for investment in areas such as training, equipment, marketing & promotion, recording, rehearsal space, staging, publishing costs, or simply time to create. If you fit the bill and have an idea you are burning to put into action, we would like to hear from you.

This year’s application process will be different from previous years; instead of a written application Quay Arts is hosting the Mike Howley Trust Conversations. You are invited to come in for a 15 minute conversation with the selection panel, to discuss what it is you would like to do, who will benefit from it, and how much you need to make it happen. If the panel wants to take your application further, you will be asked for more details.

Once again this year, priority will be given to applicants whose projects celebrate, explore or interpret our unique Island cultural heritage.

The conversations will take place on Wednesday 18th March, between 11am and 5pm at Quay Arts and the deadline for applications is midday on Tue 31st March.

Please email m.stisted@quayarts.org to see the guidelines and find out how to book your conversation.

Comments from recipients of the 2019/20 Mike Howley awards:

“Your funding helped me to produce an entertaining show, and made it possible for me to bring new contemporary circus to the Isle of Wight. Something I will always be thankful for.” Thorne Bailey

“I cannot stress enough just how valuable having this time to work on my book has been. Without the money the Mike Howley Trust awarded me, I would simply not be in the position I am now with my work.” Harriet Bradley