Acorn Foundation has just announced its new partnership with FAME (Fund for Acting and Musical Endeavours) Trust that will aim to provide further support for young and mid-career artists in New Zealand.
Acorn Foundation enables generous people to make a bigger impact in their communities by investing the funds and distributing the returns to causes that matter. Their partnership with FAME Trust will encourage young and mid-career talents to work harder and aim higher.
Founded in 2007, the FAME Trust has long supported local artists, The Trust has also funded the NZSO, Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School and the NZ School of Dance, as well as local groups such as Opus Orchestra, Youth Philharmonic and BOP Symphonia.
Acorn will be managing several scholarship and awards programmes for the FAME Trust, including six Emerging Practitioner Awards. The University of Auckland, University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Otago, Toi Whakaari and NZ School of Dance will each receive a $10,000 award to offer to students who have completed at least their first year of study in music, contemporary dance or theatre specialisations.
According to Annie Hill, Funding and Projects Advisor at Creative Bay of Plenty, “the FAME Awards will provide a major boost to the studies of some of our most talented emerging artists, enabling them to spend more time perfecting their craft so they can reach the highest levels of their disciplines.”
Starting 2022, the FAME Awards will also expand to FAME Mid-Career Awards ($15,000 will be available on a one-time basis to support the advancement and recognition of an established, highly productive and inspirational New Zealand performing artist) and FAME Special Awards (supports New Zealand performing arts practitioners who have been affected by disaster, extreme hardship, significant loss of property or trauma. Up to $20,000 annually will be available when the need arises).