Established in 2012, the Opera Awards Foundation awards annual bursaries to aspiring operatic talent. There are no restrictions on age or nationality, nor is support limited to singers: applications are encouraged from any artist working toward a career in opera, who needs financial support to achieve their career goals.
In 2020 we set up our Artist Hardship Fund in response to the pandemic, to provide emergency grants to past or present bursary recipients affected. With theatres closed and international travel restricted, these artists saw a year - or more - of income disappear, and many struggled even to pay their rent or afford groceries. Many of them, as freelancers at the outset of their careers, were also ineligible for government support schemes.
The response was overwhelming and ultimately we received applications for more than twice the amount available. That's why we're redoubling our efforts. We're committed to funding every single application already received, and once that target is met, to opening the fund up again more widely to new applicants.
Even now, as theatre begin cautiously to open their doors once again, the road ahead for young artists will be far from easy, and we're determined to be there with them and support them in whatever we can. We cannot afford to lose this gifted, diverse and passionate generation of artists.
Please give generously.