Two young artists on the Peninsula have received funds to help support their work thanks to the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts.
Zali Kassi and Ruby Archer, both from Phegans Bay, received the funding at the Foundation’s annual Arts Awards Ceremony on November 28 at Wagstaffe Hall.
Singer-songwriter, Ruby, who recently produced her EP ‘Chamomile Tea’, said she will use the funds to promote it broadly and re-commence lessons with her teacher, the renowned Dorian Mode.
“I used the money from last year’s grant to help begin the EP and start distribution,” Ruby said.
“It’s a great initiative to get arts on the Coast, it lacks a bit of that culture, and it’s so awesome for there to be a foundation here for that,” she said.
Ruby said her EP is a compilation of what she has been through in the past year.
“It discusses the emotional roller coaster that comes from being a teenager; I’d like to think it’s an accurate representation of who I am as an artist,” she said.
“And I’m really proud of that.”
Ruby will officially launch the EP in February with her music available to stream and download on Spotify and Apple Music.
Zali Kassi was also announced as a Bouddi recipient for her work as a graphic designer and illustrator.
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, attended the event and said it was “incredibly inspirational.
“We have got so many talented young musicians, performers, artists, painters, here on the Central Coast [and] to see them being invested in by our community, by the Bouddi Foundation, was just extraordinary,” Wicks said.
“But to hear some of their performances gave me great hope for the talent, excellence – these guys and girls are going to be world leading superstars in the years to come, I have no doubt.
“It left a real impact on me for days afterwards.”
A total of 26 young local artists were awarded on the night, receiving grants of $500 to $5000 to help propel their work as songwriters, visual artists, actors, filmmakers, dancers and writers.
The grants fund tuition, musical instruments, artist’s supplies, recording studio time, film making cameras and equipment to help each artist’s unique career plan set out in their grant application.
“This year’s awardees are truly remarkable in the quality of their work, and all have the potential to excel in their chosen field,” Foundation founder and chairman, John Bell AO, said.
“Each has persevered toward their goal despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating effects on artists of all genres seeking to earn a living across this nation.”
Maisy Rae
Well done! Well deserved. Art and culture are so important to a society and I am looking forward to the release of the EP.