Young musicians win national arts awards

Six young musicians from Jersey, including an 11-year-old singer-songwriter, have won a nationally recognised arts award for their achievements.

 

Alfie Butel, a year 7 student and regular at La Motte Street Youth Project, will be among the group who receive their Bronze Arts Awards at a special presentation in the States Building on Wednesday 20 February.

 

He will be joined by year 11 students Dominic Riley, Reuben Falle and Samuel Walwyn, who are also part of the La Motte Street music projects.

 

This is only the second time the accolades have been awarded in Jersey and, for the first time this year, two Le Rocquier students have completed the award alongside their Music BTEC courses at school. Victoria Ransom and Sophie Eccles are both 16.

 

The Arts Awards are designed to encourage 11-25 year olds to engage with the arts in depth. It motivates them to expand their interest in different art forms and gives formal recognition of their own creative work.

To win the award, the students had to create a portfolio that showed

The portfolio was assessed by Ivor Richards, the senior youth officer at La Motte Street, who has trained as Arts Award adviser to deliver the scheme.

 

“These awards are regarded as the arts world equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme so it is a significant qualification. This scheme really encourages young people to expand their horizons and explore other arts they would not usually consider, such as events in theatres, arts centres or art galleries. It also helps them focus in detail on their own creative projects,” said Mr Richards.

 

The Arts Award was introduced to Jersey through the 2010 Council for Culture Conference but were launched in the UK in 2005.

 

Deputy Rod Bryans, ESC Assistant Minister for Youth and Sport, explained the significance “The Arts Award is a great way to channel the creativity of our talented young people and stimulate them to reach even higher with their own endeavours. I’ve been extremely impressed by their portfolios and the quality of work they have produced. Congratulations to them all.”