“In 2018 I was lucky enough to receive sponsorship from ARTS AID to complete a one-year diploma at the London School of Musical Theatre. Without the belief and support from ARTS AID, I would not be where I am today in Musical Theatre.”
ADVANCING EDUCATION IN THE ARTS
Our mission:
Enabling exceptionally talented arts students to further their education and development in the arts.
ARTS AID is a Manx charity supporting education in the arts by:
- offering scholarships and other assistance to Isle of Man residents and former residents for study in the arts
- seeking to identify the most promising talent in the performing, visual and literary arts and enable them to achieve their goals
Charitable Objective
The advancement of education in the arts, by the provision of scholarships, bursaries, maintenance allowances or other financial assistance to persons who are, or have been, ordinarily resident in the Isle of Man, or who have received a significant portion of their education on the Island, and whom the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider to be exceptionally talented in their respective fields to enable them to further their education in such fields.
HISTORY
ARTS AID was established in 2018 with foundation funding from the Isle of Man Arts Council as the primary Island of Culture 2014 legacy project. By 2013 the members of the Isle of Man Arts Council had recognised that vocational training in the arts especially at the most esteemed private institutions is generally very expensive and that the costs often significantly exceed the funding offered to students by Isle of Man Government Student Awards or in some cases are simply not funded. To ensure that the most talented individuals may access the education most beneficial to them, ARTS AID was conceived of by the Arts Council as a means to attract funding from all sources including the charity and private sectors in order to augment existing funding sources.
Each year since then ARTS AID has been providing financial assistance and support to exceptionally talented Isle of Man students in the arts to help support them in their studies. In so doing ARTS AID seeks to make a difference especially in situations where Isle of Man Government funding is insufficient, or unavailable, or students are in need of additional financial support.
IMPACT
“I am so grateful for the support of ARTS AID. ARTS AID has enabled me to thrive in all my musical endeavours.”
Since 2018 ARTS AID has:
MADE
74 Annual
Awards
benefitted
36 isle of man
students
COMMITTED
£355,100
IN AWARDS
SUPPORTED
BTEC, A-Level, Diploma, BA & MA STUDENTS
ARTS AID award recipients have attended 30 of the UK’s most esteemed arts-education institutions:
| Arts Ed | London |
| Bird College | Sidcup |
| Chetham’s School of Music | Manchester |
| University of Falmouth | Falmouth |
| Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge | Cambridge |
| International College of Musical Theatre | Belfast |
| International School of Screen Acting | London |
| Italia Conti Arts Centre | Guildford |
| King’s College | London |
| Laine Theatre Arts | Epsom |
| Liverpool Hope University | Liverpool |
| Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts | Liverpool |
| London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts | London |
| London School of Musical Theatre | London |
| London Studio Centre | London |
| Mountview Academy | London |
| Northern School of Contemporary Dance | Leeds |
| Performance Preparation Academy | Guildford |
| Pembroke College, University of Cambridge | Cambridge |
| Rambert | London |
| Read College | Reading |
| Rose Bruford College | Sidcup |
| Royal Northern College of Music | Manchester |
| Royal Birmingham Conservatoire | Birmingham |
| Royal Central School of Speech & Drama | London |
| Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama | Cardiff |
| SLP College | Leeds |
| University of Bath Spa | Bath |
| University of Brighton | Brighton |
| University of Salford | Salford |
GOVERNANCE & Administration
ARTS AID is both an Isle of Man Charity (No 1252) and an Isle of Man Company (No 132313C) limited by guarantee.
The Directors receive no remuneration.
Board of Directors
Mark W Denton | Chairman since 2024, Director since 2018
Mark moved to the Isle of Man in 1997. He was Chairman of the Association of IOM Corporate Service Providers for 7 years and Managing Director of the SMP Group of Companies, a leading Trust and Company Service Provider until its sale in 2019. Under his leadership, SMP sponsored many of the biggest shows at the Gaiety Theatre as well as numerous plays and dance shows for younger performers and exhibitions for Isle of Man artists. A number of exceptionally talented young performers also received support to go to the UK for training, an initiative Mark is pleased to see continued through Arts Aid.
A huge musical theatre fan, Mark has also taken to the stage himself performing at the Gaiety Theatre recently in Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Producers, Les Misérables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. This has given him a unique, first-hand insight into all aspects of the theatre scene in the Island.
P Adrienne Burnett MBE | Director since 2022
Adrienne Burnett is the former Head of Ballakermeen High School. She has a strong background in the arts, having trained in drama and education. She taught drama in a range of schools, as well as regularly contributing to trainee teacher undergraduate courses.
A former member of the North West Arts Council and the Education Panel of the Duke’s Theatre, Lancaster, Adrienne’s responsibilities in England included developing community arts and children’s theatre in education programmes. She continued to promote theatre for young people when she moved to the Isle of Man, helping to create and promote the Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen as a community venue, including introducing live streaming of arts events to the island. She also served for two terms on the Isle of Man Arts Council.
Geoffrey F Karran MBE, TH, Freeman of the City of Douglas | Director since 2018
is a proud Manxman and a Retired Advocate with extensive board experience of trading, financial and charitable companies and organisations. Former President of IOM Law Society, Chairman of the IOM Financial Supervision Commission and Police Complaints Commissioner. Former Chairman of IOM Sports Aid and IOM Sports Council and several IOM Government tribunals. Conducted for IOM Government a number of Enquiries. Chairman and Games Director of Commonwealth Youth Games held in IOM in 2011. As the Chairman of Manx Gateway Club formed the successful Drama Group for people with Learning Disabilities.
Competed over 3 years in the Manx Music Festival Boys solo singing classes and retained a keen interest in musical theatre both locally and in the UK. His wife and family regularly competed in spoken word classes at the Guild.
Philippa A Salter | Director since 2023
Zimbabwean born, then lived in South Africa and the UK before coming to the Isle of Man in 2000, Pippa has an extensive career in dance and for the past 20 years delivering dance education to a very high standard. She is a fully qualified dance teacher (RTS) holding a CertEd. Pippa owned and ran one of the Island’s leading dance academies teaching ballet, contemporary, GCSE and A-Level Dance and was invited to become a national AQA moderator for GCSE Dance. Pippa founded Mannin Youth Dance Company in 2016 training talented young Contemporary dancers seeking careers in dance. Mannin YDC took part in numerous Contemporary Youth Dance Platforms representing the Isle of Man. Pippa was short-listed for a UK National Dance Award for her extensive contribution to all aspects of the Island’s Dance & Musical Theatre scenes.
Pippa is incredibly proud of her support of many young talented students in their professional careers and is delighted to continue this by bringing her knowledge and experience to ARTS AID.
administration
Board Secretary: Isabella Hawke
enquiries@arts-aid.im
Company Secretary: ILS Secretaries Ltd
enquiries@ils-world.com
board meetings
The board meets typically four times each year.
BOARD COMMITTEES
There are no standing committees of the Board. The Directors meet as a committee to interview all candidates shortlisted for an award.
Accounting & audit
As required by law ARTS AID prepares and issues an Annual Report & Financial Statements. These are filed with the Attorney General. The members have determined that for the time being it would be in the charity’s best interest to seek exemption from annual audit. The charity’s Annual Report & Financial Statements are subject to an independent examination by a suitably qualified professional.
Annual Report & Financial Statements
Copies of the most recent ARTS AID Annual Report & Financial Statements may be requested from the Isle of Man Charities Administration by e-mail at: charities@gov.im or by telephoning: 01624 687318. Alternatively copies may be obtained by writing to: The Company Secretary at the ARTS AID registered address.