Genesis Foundation celebrates its 10th Anniversary
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
On 16 January 2011 the Genesis Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary of nurturing emerging arts talent with a special evening at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
The event featured performances by organisations closely linked to the Genesis Foundation: the Royal Court Theatre’s international department, the Young Vic, students from LAMDA and the choir The Sixteen, whose performance of a new commission by Tarik O’Regan was accompanied by a laser installation by light artist Chris Levine.
A film featuring the many artists and directors associated with the Genesis Foundation over the past ten years was shown and will soon be available to view in the media section of our website.
John Studzinski, founder and chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said:
“Since 2001, the Genesis Foundation has proved the importance of a sustained commitment to artists and projects. The Foundation is not just about writing cheques … It’s about making a sound long-term investment in emerging talent. That clearly demands focus and structure, but it also demands passion and commitment from everyone involved.
“It is deeply gratifying to see Genesis artists going on to major success – such as actors winning Olivier awards or composers receiving performances around the world,” he continues, “but artists may also experience failure, and they need to learn and grow stronger as a result. At any stage of their life, artists can all too easily feel that they are only as good as their last piece of work. The Genesis Foundation helps them build the vital self-esteem that will sustain them through a long and productive career.
“The Foundation itself has no vested professional interest in the artists it nurtures, but its mentoring includes access to expert professional advice and a supportive professional network. Our only concern at the Foundation is to bring young artists closer to fulfilling their creative potential. We also believe strongly in creating a dialogue with audiences, not least by inviting them to attend workshops with the artists. This approach reflects the Genesis Foundation’s engagement with the process of creation: it’s not necessarily about an end product. Whether we are talking about homeless people or young artists, I believe we can start changing the world by making a positive impact on an individual. It’s about changing the world one person at a time.”
To mark the Genesis Foundation’s 10th anniversary the Financial Times interviewed John Studzinski and can be found here.
