Manx performer 'forever grateful' for arts grant

A Manx musical theatre performer has said she will be "forever grateful" for the funding that allowed her to do what she had "always wanted to do".

Since 2018, 73 annual Arts Aid awards totalling over £355,000 have been made to 36 Isle of Man students, including Ann-Marie Craine from Ramsey.

The 27-year-old, who is currently starring in the international tour of Cats in China, said she would not be where she was without the funding and "belief in me as a performer".

Applications for the next round of scholarships to study in the arts are set to open in January.

Chairman Mark Denton said the organisation, established with foundation funding from the Isle of Man Arts Council, aimed "to level the playing field so that financial status is not a barrier to forging a rewarding career in the arts".

Ms Craine learned about the fund after Mr Denton saw her playing the lead role of Elle Woods in a 2017 amateur production of Legally Blonde at the Gaiety Theatre.

She had been working in a bank to fund her place at the London School of Musical Theatre (LSMT), but would have struggled to afford to go without the grant.

After graduating in 2019, she has gone on to perform in Footloose and Kinky Boots onboard cruise ships.

"I'm getting to do what I've trained to do, and what I've always wanted to do, and see the world whilst doing it," she said.

Currently taking on the role of Jellylorum in Cats, she said it felt "magical to perform for Chinese audiences".

After 20 years as a hairdresser Liam Behan, 37, said the grant he received from the charity "completely changed everything".

He said one of his earliest memories was of his grandfather standing him on a table in a pub so that he could perform for the other people there.

Mr Behan, who is from Douglas, said although he loved his job, he "just couldn't get this 'what if' out of my head".

He auditioned for LSMT in 2013 and was successful but could not find the funding to take up the place.

Ten years later he decided to pursue the idea again by selling his house to fund his studies, only to see the sale fell through with "three days to go".

However, after securing financial support from the fund, he was finally able to enrol at the school in July.

"I'm so incredibly grateful I get to chase my dream of being an actor, I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing," he said.

Sam Hills-Field, 21, said he had been able to "focus all my time into the cello" while attending at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama thanks to the funding he had received.

He said it would also help him with post graduate studies at The Royal Northern College of Music, which he hoped would lead to a full-time post playing in an orchestra in future.

"Two extra years of training will be extremely important as it is a difficult world to get into," the cellist from Kirk Michael said.

Praising the scheme, he said Arts Aid had helped him out "a colossal amount".

Those who wish to submit an application when the 2025 programme opens should have already applied to study on their chosen course, but do not have to have a confirmed place.

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