Friends of the Arts Centre Gold Coast
Gift Fund
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Centre in 2006 the Friends decided to take up the proposal of Jock and Beverly McIlwain and enter a new area of support by introducing a Gift Fund. This fund was intended to support talented people on the Gold Coast who have been unable to reach their full potential through lack of funding. To do this the Friends had to amend their charter and apply to the Federal Government to be included on the list of approved Cultural Organisations which would allow them to seek tax deductible donations. Approval was received and the Gift Fund was launched formally on 18 December 2006. The launch was covered by TV and local newspapers and supported by the Mayor, Councillor Ron Clarke. To start the fund, Jock and Beverly McIlwain made a very generous donation and they have continued to donate to the fund since its launch.
Click below to read or download a printable PDF copy of the Friends' Gift Fund Prospectus, to download an application form or make a donation
View a copy of the Friends' Gift Fund Prospectus
Make a Donation to the Gift Fund
Friends Gift Fund Awards 2011
The Management Committee of the Friends Gift Fund recently conducted its annual interviews for grants from the Fund for the fourth time. When announcing this year’s recipients, Gift Fund chairman, Tony Wilkins said “unfortunately the funds available could not provide support for all applicants so some were disappointed. After much discussion it was agreed that three applicants would be given grants, two of whom had been supported in previous years. We are confident that the three successful winners will bring great credit upon their selves, the Gold Coast and Australia in the future”.
An Alien of Extraordinary Ability
Aaron Smyth
The explanation given to last year’s winner of The Beverly Mcllwain Scholarship, Aaron Smyth of Benowa when being granted a USA work visa was that ”he is an alien of extraordinary ability” Aaron used the funds to pay a personal trainer to enable his body to meet the demands of ballet dancing. He was a student at the JKO dance academy of the American Ballet Theatre in New York. He was so successful that he was offered a chance to join the Theatre on a full time basis, an opportunity only offered to a dozen dancers worldwide. However, the stipend was very small so it was agreed that the Friends Gift Fund would help support him for a further year.
Beverly Mcllwain Scholarship Winner 2010
Jonathon Henderson
The Management Committee of the Friends Gift Fund has made their deliberations after several agonizing hours of decision making. From a high standard of applicants seeking grants Jonathon Henderson from Runaway Bay was finally chosen as the winner of this year’s Beverly Mcllwain Scholarship.
Jonathan is a flautist of considerable talent who progressed through the Summer School at the Arts Centre to the Conservatorium of Music and onto casual work with various Australian orchestras. However full time positions are hard to come by, so he decided to study to become a soloist. He is using his $5000.00 scholarship for tuition fees in Hanover, Germany.
Sara Harmon
Sara Harmon from Carrara was offered a place at the Australian Ballet School in 2009 but unfortunately her mother could not afford the fees. The Friends Gift Fund paid her tuition fees to attend a local dance academy with a view to obtaining a scholarship to a European academy. This she has achieved and is currently studying in Zurich, Switzerland, however she has found the cost of living is higher than expected so the Friends have given her a further grant to help with settling in expenses.