Arts Aid Announces its 2026 Awards and Passes Major Milestone

Arts Aid, the Isle of Man charity supporting exceptionally talented young people in the arts, has announced its 2026/27 awards, granting a total of £85,300 to 17 students. Since its formation in 2018, Arts Aid has now passed the major milestone of £500,000 in funding to support the Island’s rising stars.

Now in its ninth year, the charity continues to advance education in the arts by enabling exceptionally talented students from the Isle of Man to pursue studies in music, drama, dance, fine art, design and related disciplines at world-class institutions.

This year’s recipients are:

• Kasia Ashton (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow – BA (Hons) Musical Theatre)

• Sebastian Sgouraditis (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – BMus Vocal Performance)

• Ophelia Watts (Pembroke College, Cambridge – BA (Hons) Music)

• Daniel Lawrie (ArtsEd – BA (Hons) Acting)

• Hannah Kermode (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – BMus Performance)

• Grace Pope (PPA, Guildford – BA (Hons) Performance in MT)

• Josie Laisney (University of Brighton – Fashion Design with Business Studies)

• Evie Skillicorn (Mountview Academy, London – BA (Hons) Performance (Musical Theatre)

• Eve Puzzar (London School of Musical Theatre – Musical Theatre Diploma)

• Lucia Prince (Bath Spa University – BA (Hons) Fashion Design)

• Ealish Creer (The Hammond, University of Chester – BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Performance)

• Sam Hills-Field (Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester – MA Music)

• Maeve Wilson (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – BA (Hons) Acting)

• Lula Thomas (Glasgow School of Art – BA (Hons) Fine Art - Painting & Printmaking)

• Lowenna Joughin (The Hammond School, Chester – Dance and Musical Theatre Intense Course)

• Joshua Mooney (The Hammond School, Chester – Level 6 Professional Diploma: Musical

Theatre)

• Skyler Aitchison (London Contemporary Dance School – BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance

Performance)

Chairman Mark Denton said: “The cost of studying away from home, in particular to specialist institutions which charge higher fees, can be a major obstacle for students. Arts Aid seeks to ensure that no one with exceptional talent in their area of the arts should be prevented from pursuing their goal for financial reasons. We are immensely proud that this year our awards have passed such a significant milestone. The growth of Arts Aid demonstrates the generosity of our supporters and the ambition of our young people. These awards not only transform individual lives but also strengthen the cultural future of our Island.”

Arts Aid’s directors expressed thanks to sponsors and supporters including the Elizabeth Clucas Charitable Trust, the J R Moore Charitable Trust, the Gough Richie Charitable Trust, the Co-op Community Fund, the Sovereign Art Foundation, the W H C Brien Musical Benefactor Trust, ILS-World, Isle of Man Advertising, and Ramsey Crookall.

Arts Aid is an independent charity and receives no funding or support from the Isle of Man Arts Council or the Isle of Man Government.

Applications for the 2027 awards programme open in January. Applicants are invited to visit the website arts-aid for details of the funding process and deadline dates. When submitting applications, students should have already applied for a course at a suitable educational institution although, when first applying, it is not necessary to have a confirmed place.