UK’s artistic leaders join the Genesis Kickstart Fund’s Advisory Council
11 November 2020
Barbara Broccoli and Grayson Perry announced as special advisers to initiative that includes over 30 leading figures from the arts
£1 million Genesis Kickstart Fund will create future-facing projects for outstanding freelance talent in the creative sector across the UK
The Genesis Foundation today reveals the names of the 30 or so leading figures from the arts who are supporting its Kickstart Fund by becoming Advisory Council members.
The £1mn Kickstart Fund, announced last month, has been launched by John Studzinski, Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, to support freelancers in the creative sector and specifically to help them survive and thrive in an environment transformed by Covid-19.
The challenges posed by the pandemic have forced the cultural sector to explore new ways of working, for instance by exploiting technology to find new ways of engaging with audiences.
The Fund will be rolled out in 2021, the year that marks the 20th anniversary of the Genesis Foundation. It will generate structured work opportunities for a diversity of freelance creative professionals, who, as they participate in future-facing projects, will earn an income and continue to build their careers and professional networks. The first projects are expected to go live mid-2021. Donations to the Genesis Kickstart Fund can be made here.
The members of Advisory Council, chaired by John Studzinski, will contribute in a variety of ways. Some will scout high-quality, inclusive, and innovative artistic projects to involve freelance creative professionals across the UK, while others will select the most promising and relevant projects to receive grants of £10,000 and up. Certain members of the council will also mentor the freelance creatives who have received project grants.
Members, assigned to disciplinary sub-committees, are as follows:
Music
Harry Christophers CBE – Founder and Conductor, The Sixteen
Polly Graham – Artistic Director, Longborough Festival Opera; Genesis Opera Director
Tanya Joseph – Board Member, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir James MacMillan CBE – Composer
Kathryn McDowell CBE – Managing Director, London Symphony Orchestra
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin – Chief Executive, UK Music
Marie-Sophie Willis – Chief Executive, The Sixteen
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Theatre & Film
Samuel Barnett – Actor, Genesis LAMDA Scholar
Barbara Broccoli OBE – Producer, EON Productions – SPECIAL ADVISER
Benedict Cumberbatch CBE – Actor, LAMDA President
Rupert Goold CBE – Artistic Director, Almeida Theatre
Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE – Artistic Director, Young Vic Theatre
David Lan CBE – Writer, Theatre Producer
Rufus Norris – Artistic Director, National Theatre
Abubakar Salim – Actor, Genesis LAMDA Scholar
Abdul Shayek – Artistic Director and Joint CEO, Tara Arts
Dame Janet Suzman – Actor, LAMDA Vice-President
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Dance
Farooq Chaudhry OBE – Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Akram Khan Company
Stina Quagebeur – Dancer and Choreographer, English National Ballet
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Art/ Photography
Michael Armitage – Artist
Emma Bowkett – Director of Photography, FT Magazine
Chris Levine – Artist
Frances Morris – Director, Tate Modern
Renee Odjidja – Curator: Youth Programmes, Whitechapel Gallery
Grayson Perry CBE RA – Artist – SPECIAL ADVISER
Rebecca Salter PRA – President, Royal Academy of Arts
Yinka Shonibare CBE RA – Artist
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Arts Leaders and Champions
Harriet Capaldi – Managing Director, Genesis Foundation
Jan Dalley – Arts Editor, Financial Times
Jemma Read – Head of Philanthropy, Bloomberg
John Studzinski CBE – Founder and Chairman, Genesis Foundation
Veronica Wadley, Baroness Fleet – Chair, Department for Education’s Expert Panel for the Model Music Curriculum
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John Studzinski CBE, Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said:
“Since its inception 20 years ago, the Genesis Foundation has grown to become a real network of networks. We put our trust in outstanding leaders to seek out exceptional talent, nurture them and amplify their voice. For Kickstart, we’ve reached out to our network and way beyond, and invited visionary artists and cultural leaders to join the Advisory Council. They will scout and guide the best freelance creative talent across the UK, and provide a boost to the sector at this challenging time.”
Barbara Broccoli OBE, Producer, EON Productions and Special Adviser, Kickstart Fund, said:
“The creative industries play a really important role within the UK economy and we must help the freelance talent within them whose careers have been greatly affected by the pandemic. The Kickstart Fund is a great initiative to provide this support.”
Grayson Perry CBE RA, Artist and Special Adviser, Kickstart Fund, said:
“Carved into the beam in my studio is the motto ‘Creativity is Mistakes’. It is still true even in these shockingly difficult times. Artists need to experiment and get it wrong, there is no right way to make great art. But another important aspect of being creative is to feel relaxed and current circumstances prevent this. Therefore I am very happy to be involved with the Genesis Kickstart fund. Artists, especially at the beginning of their careers, need support, and this fund will allow them to try new things, learn new skills and take risks even under the shadow of this crisis.”
Benedict Cumberbatch CBE, President, LAMDA, said:
“So much of the exciting work in the creative sector comes from young freelancers whose projects and income have been hit hard by the pandemic. The Genesis Foundation’s Kickstart Fund is a brilliant initiative to help bring some of this work to life and support the young creatives to thrive. I am delighted to be representing LAMDA on the advisory council alongside some of the greats of the UK’s creative sector.”
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To support the Genesis Kickstart Fund please donate here.
