Legacy Grants 2015

The BBC Performing Arts Fund is delighted to award £156,100 in grants to 17 alumni of its previous Fellowship schemes. The Fund will be closing in March 2016 but during the coming year, it will be supporting a further 17 individuals in their career development.

The beneficiaries include Scottish composer Ailie Robertson, Belfast dramaturg Emily DeDakis and Cornish choreographer James Wilton.

Dorothy Wilson, Chair of the BBC Performing Arts Fund said “We are delighted that the talent we supported through the BBC PAF Fellowship schemes has enabled the development of individuals with truly inspiring ambition. We look forward to further stellar work from these alumni we have been able to support through these final Fund Awards.”

The Fund supports a diverse range of new talent across the performing arts sector and this round of grants will benefit choral singing, opera, theatre, dance and music. The Legacy grants range from £5,000 to £10,000 with the focus on personal career development.

Let’s hear form some of the Legacy Grant winners:

"This Legacy Fund will enable me to realise the musical journey with an orchestra of such magnitude that otherwise would be impossible for me to achieve"

Jonathan Silk, Jazz Musician, Birmingham

“The BBC PAF funding had a massive impact on my development as a director. I make theatre that celebrates the 'her'-stories of 'history' and the Legacy Fund will be a real game-changer for me”

Lucy Skilbeck, Director, London/Derby

"Having the Performing Arts Fund in my corner over the last few years has really helped me break through the glass ceiling. Without their help I wouldn't have a play opening in 2016 with award winning theatre company Papatango at the Arcola and I wouldn't be about to start writing an opera with two of Scotland's biggest and most prestigious companies in the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Opera"

May Sumbwanyambe, Writer, London

“The Legacy Grant will allow me to create a 10-15 minute duet that will tour to mixed bills, choreography competitions and galas. The work will also factor into my companies next full evening work LEVIATHAN. Without the grant the shorter duet would not be possible and as a result the full work would be less well researched and prepared for. The grant is also enabling me to invest in the planning and preparations for LEVIATHAN, something that will prove hugely useful in the long term."

James Wilton, Choreographer, Cornwall

“The BBC legacy grant will enable me to take the crucial next step in my career by supporting the upcoming production of my play I and the Village at London's Theatre 503” Silva Semerciyan, Writer, Bristol

“Being a BBC PAF Fellow in 2014 had a huge impact on my career aspirations. It solidified for me what kind of arts producer I want to be, what artists and companies I’m keen to collaborate with and which audiences I’m most interested in reaching. The Legacy grant has now provided me with a unique and perfect opportunity to engage this knowledge and further my learning, developing myself as a producer as well as the Flow Salford festival” Charlotte Mountford, Producer, Greater Manchester

“I’m so excited and grateful to receive this support from the BBC Performing Arts Fund. It will allow me to make an album in the way I want to, and go on tour with a band to promote its release. It will take me to new and challenging places in my music career”

Maz O’Connor, Musician, London

“The BBC PAF support enabled me to genuinely crack open my process andpractice as a blind writer. I discovered an entirely new way of thinking about how theatre is received and how my perspective as a blind person can creatively innovate my play making”

Alex Bulmer, Writer, London

The complete list:

• ·Ailie Robertson, Composer, Glasgow
• ·Alex Bulmer, Writer, London
• ·Amble Skuse, Composer, Edinburgh
• ·Amy Henderson, Musician, Inverness
• ·Andrew Nunn, Conductor, Glasgow
• ·Bryony Shanahan, Director, London
• ·Charlotte Mountford, Producer, Greater Manchester
• ·Christie Hill, Producer, Leeds
• ·Emily DeDakis, Dramaturg, Belfast
• ·Iona Waite, Dance Artist, Birmingham
• ·James Wilton, Choreographer, Cornwall
• ·Jonathan Silk, Musician, Birmingham
• ·Lucy Skilbeck, Director, London/Derby
• ·May Sumbwanyambe, Writer, London
• ·Maz O’Connor, Musician, London
• ·Silva Sermerciyan, Writer, Bristol
• ·Vicky Graham, Producer, London