About The Genesis Foundation

What is the Genesis Foundation?

"We are about nurturing talent and providing a safe place for people to discover how to fulfil that talent after they have had the opportunity to learn their basic craft. We are about the process of development.

If, in ten years' time, one artist has produced one successful work with the help of knowledge they gained while being supported by the Genesis Foundation - then Genesis would have accomplished its objective."
John Studzinski, Chairman

The Genesis Foundation is a UK-based charity, established in 2001 by John Studzinski.  The aim of the Foundation is to find, nurture and network emerging talents until they reach a point of sustainability and to stimulate the interest of new audiences.  It supports outstanding professional artists in the early stages of their careers, preparing them to take flight independently.

The focus of the Genesis Foundation is on helping inspirational young individuals in the fields of music, theatre, dance and the visual arts.  The Foundation occasionally funds artists directly but, more often, supports them through its established partners: HighTide Festival Theatre, LAMDA, the Royal College of Art, the Royal Court Theatre, The Sixteen and the Young Vic.

On January 16 2010, the Foundation celebrated its 10th Anniversary.  A digital version of the 10th Anniversary book is now available which includes an overview of the projects the Foundation has supported over the past 10 years alongside some videos.

In 2009 alone the Genesis Foundation:

• provided scholarships for exceptional students at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Royal College of Art;
• funded mentoring for emerging directors at the Young Vic through the Genesis Directors project;
• completed its four-year project for young opera composers and librettists at the Royal Opera House;
• fulfilled its three-year commitment to the work of Tête à Tête.
• sponsored the International Playwrights programme at London's Royal Court Theatre for the eighth consecutive year;
• committed to supporting Natalie Carter, the fourth young British ballerina to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy;
• commissioned a work from Chris Levine, an artist whose medium is light - lasers, holograms and LEDs;
• announced commissions from three composers for works to be performed by Harry Christophers' choir The Sixteen in London.
• founded a new scholarship for a graduate artist studying at the Royal College of Art. The Spanish photographer Greta Alfaro won the first two-year award.

In total, The Genesis Foundation has now awarded scholarships and bursaries to 19 young artists in four different areas of creative excellence: photography (1), acting (16), ballet (1) and musical performance (1).

The Genesis Foundation, which donates up to £1 million a year to individuals and projects, is not considering any further applications for funding for 2010/2011.