ARE YOU a young creative, age 18 to 30 and living on the Isle of Wight?

If so, why not apply to the Mike Howley Trust, which invests in talented young people?

The 2019 awards are now open for applications from actors, musicians, dancers, writers or technicians.

Mike Howley, who worked for many years as director of cultural services for the Isle of Wight Council, died in May 2013.

Under the terms of his will, a share of the residue of his estate was left ‘for the specific benefit of aspiring young actors, musicians, dancers and writers, between the ages of 18 and 30, living on the Isle of Wight’.

Trustees welcome applications from people in the stated age range and art forms for investment in areas such as training, equipment, marketing and promotion, recording, rehearsal space, staging, publishing costs, or simply time to create.

Quay Arts is hosting an information event at 6pm on Tuesday, March 5, to explain how the trust works and how to apply.

This will be followed by a surgery from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, March 16, where applicants can get help and advice on their submissions. The deadline is 1pm on Tuesday, April 2.

This year, priority will be given to applicants whose projects celebrate, explore or interpret our unique Island cultural heritage.

For the guidelines and application form, email Shannon Carey on s.carey@quayarts.org or download from www.quayarts.org

Singer Lauran Hibberd was a recipients of the 2018-19 awards. She said: “The Mike Howley Trust is an extremely special organisation for so many reasons.

“It provided me with opportunity and almost a lifeline musically as without that contribution I believe I would be in a very different situation now.

“The Isle of Wight is a great place to live, but sometimes a hard place to be creative and I think this is the biggest encouragement to the youth trying to break some sort of mould or refine a talent.

“I can't thank the team enough for the support.”

Writer Anna Britton also benefited. She said: “This funding was a Godsend for me I used the funding to go away on a writing retreat, which not only developed my skills, but gave me a confidence and creative boost.”