BAF to award special grant

THE Ballarat Arts Foundation are seeking applications for a one-off grant round, The Jess Crowe Special Award.

BAF chair Paula Nicholson said young Ballarat people who completed their year 12 studies last year and are starting an arts-related tertiary course in 2021 are eligible, alongside those who experienced an interrupted first year of arts-related studies in 2020.

“Jess Crowe is a Ballarat Arts Foundation alumni and musician who received a grant in 2006,” she said.

“She realised she could make a difference to the life of another young emerging artist, so has decided to donate.

“She has a particular interest in education. With this year’s COVID-interrupted studies, we don’t feel like a lot of our first-year arts students and children going into the arts in 2021 are necessarily going to get the face-to-face, practical experiences that would normally come with a course like that.”

While fees for arts courses have increased, Mrs Nicholson added that many artists employed in the hospitality industry haven’t been able to save as much money in the last year, working limited hours throughout the pandemic.

The special grant also arrives during a “coming of age” moment for the organisation.

“BAF is 21 years old this year, and it’s 21 years on in the lives of some of our early recipients.

“The organisation, and some of our early recipients who have forged careers, are in a position to consider some philanthropy in the area of the arts,” Mrs Nicholson said.

“Jess is one of the first few beneficiaries giving back, who are now reflecting on the financial and network support they received. Now, they are being part of that network in another way.”