Mike Howley worked for many years as Director of Cultural Services for the Isle of Wight Council. When he died in 2013, he had left part of his estate for the specific benefit of aspiring young actors, musicians, dancers and writers, between the ages of 18 and 30, living on the Isle of Wight.
Funding Applications are now closed, new round of funding will be announced later this year in December.
June 16th funding deadline: Awards announced July 5th
Projects and final report must be completed by
DECEMBER 31st 2024
MHT Funding Application Guidelines 2024
The Trustees of Mike Howley Trust welcome young Island creatives to apply for up to £1,500 to help them realise their artistic ambitions. Funds are available for those involved in dance, theatre (including film/video), music and writing.
TO APPLY:
- You must be at least 18 years of age and no older than 30 years of age on the date of the application deadline.
- You must live on the Isle of Wight.
- You must use the entire amount awarded on your proposed project/purchase. If awarded funds do not cover the full cost of the project, you must be prepared to use other resources to make up any difference.
- You may apply to use funds in areas such as training, coaching, recording, rehearsal space, staging, publishing, instruments, equipment, conference fees/travel/hotel, legal fees, etc. You may use no more than 10% of an award for promotion/marketing.
- You cannot use MHT funds for university/college fees/housing. Funding for laptops is not normally given.
- You must spend the funds in their entirety within 5 months of the announcement of awards, or you will have to repay the funds. (Time extensions may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.) You must also complete a short report about your project by the deadline date (template will be provided).
- If you have been awarded MHT funds in the past you may apply again if you have submitted your final report.
Applicants will receive email acknowledgement of their online submission and will be contacted about award decisions approximately July 5 following the application deadline.
Examples of past Mike Howley Trust awards:
- A creative writer received funds for courses exploring writing and illustrating children’s books.
- A musician received funds to help develop, mix and re-master tracks for an album.
- A dancer/choreographer received funds for 1-to-1 specialist training.
- A filmmaker received funds towards pre-production costs.
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION: Be realistic! Can you accomplish the task in the short time frame with the amount you request? Tell us why this is important to your creative aspirations. Show us with work samples (they don’t need to be professionally produced) that you are serious about being creative.
“the support from Mike Howley has given me the time, space and resources to be able to choreograph and develop my creative practice. I’d urge any young creatives to take up this offer!”
Quote from previous award recipient Lily George. Grant was spent on Venue hire, speaker, creating soundtrack, choreography time, and mentoring for ‘Ad Astra’ https://www.shademakersuk.org/ad-astra
If you have any questions, whether it’s about your ideas, or just to have a chat, please don’t hesitate to contact us as we are here to help! Feel free to contact Arts Manager Ian Whitmore: i.whitmore@quayarts.org
Quay Arts (charity number 272007) administers this programme on behalf of the Trustees of the Mike Howley Trust.
