Joe Hillard has been awarded the Island of Culture 2014 bursary.
The bursary, ?10,000 over two years, was granted by the Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust in recognition of the Isle of Man’s special year of cultural celebrations and will help fund the final two years of the 19-year-old former Ballakermeen High School student’s BA (Hons) degree course in musical theatre at ArtsEd, London.
On hearing he had been selected Joe said: ‘This is fantastic news and will make a massive difference. I’ve completed my first year but the course is very expensive, around ?14,000 a year, and even with government support for tuition fees I was left with a ?7,000 shortfall for each year. Without this bursary I was faced with the prospect of perhaps not being able to complete the course, which would have been absolutely devastating.
‘So few people have the opportunity to take the ArtsEd course; there’s a very rigorous selection process that starts with auditions for around 2000 before the final 50 are chosen.’
Joe, who received Isle of Man Arts Council funding in 2013 for dance equipment for the first year of his ArtsEd course, took on two jobs over the summer last year to help raise money and this year ran two workshops ahead of his ‘A Night at the Musicals’ fundraising show held over three evenings at the end of August.
‘My mother and father help as much as they can and I’ve received some local sponsorship, but as well as the course fees there’s accommodation to pay for. Chiswick’s really expensive, so to keep costs down I’m sharing a house with six others.’
Joe, who also received the 2012 Heroes in the Community award for ‘Dedication to the Arts’, has been involved in musical theatre since he was nine when he started with the Manx Operatic Society. ‘I’ve been in every one of their shows since. It’s through them and the fantastic support and encouragement I received while at Ballakermeen High School – the staff there are brilliant and the Studio Theatre’s drama facilities are great - that I’ve been able to grow as a performer.’
Presenting the cheque Isle of Man Arts Council chairman Geoff Corkish MBE MLC said: ‘It has always been the intention that Island of Culture leave a lasting legacy. Thanks to the Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust we have been fortunate in securing that legacy in the form of this bursary, which will help Joe pursue his performing arts studies and set him on his chosen career path. Joe is a shining example not only of the wealth of young talent we have in the Isle of Man but also of the nurturing and supportive environment the Island offers aspiring artists in all disciplines. He is a worthy recipient of this award and we wish him every success in his studies.’
The Hon Clare Christian MLC, patron of Island of Culture, said: ‘We are very grateful for the generosity of the Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust in making this bursary available for us to award in 2014 as special recognition of Island of Culture. I am confident that Joe will truly benefit from having this support and I know the Arts Council is working to enable more bursaries of this nature to support young people in the arts as a legacy of 2014.’
Island of Culture events director and bursary selection committee member Michael Lees said: ‘We have watched Joe’s progress with interest. His passion for the performing arts combined with his obvious talent, tenacity for study and willingness to work hard make him a deserving recipient of this grant. Joe is an inspiration to others and we are pleased to have been able to help secure his place on such a coveted degree course.’
Photo - Joe Hillard receives his bursary cheque from Isle of Man Arts Council chairman Geoff Corkish and Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust trustee Eddie Lowey. Picture Steve Babb.
