BBC Performing Arts Fund Supports RNCM Outreach
RNCM Outreach is one of 58 community organisations to be awarded a grant from the 2013 BBC Performing Arts Fund.
A total of £5000 has been given to the department to support its Youth Perform project; a musical theatre group established in 2009 to provide performance opportunities for children from families with no history of Higher Education. The funding marks the second time RNCM Outreach has benefitted from the organisation, and will be used to help recruit new members from hard to reach communities across the city, and work with them on more challenging repertoire to develop their skills and confidence as performers.
Fiona Stuart, RNCM Outreach Manager, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this funding and grateful to the BBC for their support. It will be invaluable in encouraging and developing young performers to achieve the highest standards, and will enable them to work alongside leading theatre practitioners and RNCM students, staging events both within in our own professional venues and also out in the community.’
Miriam O’Keeffe, Director of the Fund, added: ‘I think the arts are really important, socially. As a society it is something that can bring people together. We support community groups and emerging talent. The money is made available through phone voting on BBC One entertainment shows, and we have an open applications process. It’s been an amazing year, looking at the breadth of theatre happening around the country.’
Over the past 10 years the Performing Arts Fund has contributed over £4 million to the UK’s performing arts sector, through its annual awards of grants for theatre, dance and music. In addition to RNCM Outreach, Carlos del Cueto, the College’s Junior Fellow in Conducting, and mezzo-soprano Kathryn Rudge have both benefitted individually, with Carlos winning a 2013 BBC Music Fellowship to work as Assistant Conductor with English Touring Opera, and Kathryn a 2007 Education Bursary to complete her studies at the RNCM.
9 December 2013
