The Isle of Purbeck Arts Club has awarded cash prizes to the latest winners of its annual children and young people’s art competition, made possible by a generous legacy.
The Emmie and Rex Neate Fund, which was established in the 1990s, provides financial backing not only for the competition but also awards bursaries to students from Purbeck studying creative courses.
Winning entries in the children and young people’s art competition
Creative pursuits
The fund has backed the pursuit of creative writing, music and drama, as well as artists.
Local resident, Rex Neate was a founder member of the Studio Workshop, which is part of the Isle of Purbeck Arts Club. He left money in his will in 1992 to set up the fund in his and his wife’s name. His wife, Emmie, was a member of the flower club.
Alice, Rory and Eve – some of the prize winners
Winners of the art competition
The latest young winners of the art competition gathered at the Purbeck New Wave Gallery in Swanage on Sunday 26th September 2021 to receive their prizes. Handing out the awards was the chair of The Isle of Purbeck Arts Club, Gina Marshall, a well-known local artist.
Gina Marshall said:
“Encouraging young artists in Swanage and across Purbeck is really important, giving them the chance to express themselves and build confidence.
“We now know how beneficial art is for our mental well being and so getting people from a young age to paint and draw can only be a good thing.
“The art competition, which we hold every summer, is one way we hope we encourage young people to have a go.”
More winning entries
Bursaries to support creative arts students
The Emmie and Rex Neate Fund also awards bursaries to young people who are at college or university, studying a creative course, whether it is art, creative writing, music, dance or drama.
The bursaries are awarded every autumn to help students finance their study, whether that is through paying for art materials, books, dance shoes or travel.
Gina Marshall added:
The idea behind the bursary awards is to remove some of the barriers to taking up a creative course. There’s often lots of expensive extras involved and we hope that we can help with the cost. It’s really helped a lot of local students over the years.
Nicky Stockley and her artwork
Ed Marriott and Nicky Stockley
People from Swanage who have been awarded bursaries in the past, include Ed Marriott and Nicky Stockley, who are now professional artists.
Nicky, who has a BA in fine art and an MA in illustration from the Arts University in Bournemouth, was born and brought up in Swanage and sells her visually striking art locally. She said:
“I was really grateful for the financial backing from the fund. It supported me through my time at university, paying for art supplies and books.
“It massively helped me and I’d encourage others who are looking at doing courses in the creative arts to apply for a bursary if they live in Purbeck.”
A selection of Ed Marriott’s paintings
Further information
Students can apply now for a bursary for the next academic year. An application form is on The Isle of Purbeck Arts Club website page, along with more details about the club.
