22 July 2014
Boost for talented young performers in the capital
Young performing artists in the Wellington region can get a $5,000 boost towards achieving their dreams thanks to Arts
Excellence Awards being offered by The Dame Malvina Major Foundation.
The Dame Malvina Major Foundation helps young New Zealanders in the performing arts achieve their potential by providing
education and training opportunities, supporting them to prepare for professional careers. It does this through a range
of grants, prizes and scholarships.
An Arts Excellence Award of up to $5,000 will be awarded by the Wellington Committee of The Dame Malvina Major
Foundation to a young artist developing a career in the performing arts with a connection to the Wellington region.
Angela Gorton, Chair of the Wellington Committee, said the Committee’s focus was on fostering live performance and
supporting the development of young emerging artists in the Wellington region.
“We’ve been distributing Arts Excellence Awards annually to young performers since 2010 and have been able to assist
some highly talented voice, piano, organ, bassoon, and viola applicants.
“Aside from the recognition of receiving an Arts Excellence Award, $5,000 can make a very real contribution towards the
cost of tuition for a young people beginning their career in the performing arts.”
The assessors for the 2014 Arts Excellence Award are Peter Walls (Emeritus Professor of Music at Victoria University of
Wellington) and Rose Campbell (Manager, New Zealand String Quartet).
Applications for the Arts Excellence Award close on Tuesday 30 September and can be made through www.damemalvinamajorfoundation.org/arts-excellence-awards. The winner of the award will be announced in October.
Background
The Dame Malvina Major Foundation was established in 1991 to enable Dame Malvina Major’s vision to “share the dream”
with talented young performers.
The Foundation is a Charitable Trust with regional committees in Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Christchurch
and Dunedin, all run by local volunteers.
The Wellington Committee of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation was formed in 2000.
ENDS