Arts grants applications for young people now open

Last year’s award recipients with BFA Director John Bell and filmmaker David Elfick

Grants up to $5,000 are available to young Central Coast artists wishing to pursue a career in the arts, with applications set to close on June 3.

Now in its 14th year of providing grants, mentorship and encouragement to young artists, The Bouddi Foundation for the Arts (BFA) has awarded over 230 grants totalling more than $465,000.

Previous recipients have used their grant for equipment, tuition, studio time, overseas study, publicity and more.

Young Central Coast artists aged 15-25 (up to 30 in special circumstances) in any artistic field are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are eligible if they live, work, or have a meaningful connection with the Central Coast (e.g., grew up here, etc.)

Artistic genres include visual arts, photography, filmmaking, singing, dance, songwriting, poetry, sculpture, creative writing, drag artists, indigenous dance, acting, scriptwriting, screenwriting, luthiers, opera singers, ballet, digital artists, voice artists, theatre, tap dancing, big band, storytelling, playwriting, museum curating and more.

New this year, the BFA has partnered with Electrify Bouddi (EB) to raise awareness of the need to reduce climate impact and energy costs.

A grant of up to $2,000 will be awarded to an artistic submission in any creative genre that relates to the goal of Electrify Bouddi.

Visual arts, songwriting, poetry, dance, musical theatre, filmmaking, photography, storywriting and acting are just a few artistic genres that could inspire the Bouddi community and beyond to make informed decisions about energy use toward a national goal of net zero.

Awards will be adjudicated on artistic merit.

An online application form and additional information on the grants are available at bouddiarts.org.au