Eight creative projects spanning film, music, theatre, animation and traditional crafts have received funding through ArtHouse Jersey’s latest round of Development Grants.
The quarterly scheme supports professional artists in Jersey, helping them develop new work, gain skills and progress their careers. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects across all creative disciplines.
Among the latest beneficiaries is filmmaker Cleo Leather, who has received funding for post-production of Stinky, a short film exploring a young woman’s relationship with her father following his release from prison.
Written by Lola Thatcher and based on her own experiences, the film is intended for festival screenings and use as an educational resource in schools, prisons and support programmes.
Amanda Bond has been awarded funding to develop her skills in wild textiles and flower pressing. Her work focuses on sustainable, traditional crafts using natural materials, including wild basketry, cordage and plant-based textiles. She plans to share her new skills through community workshops.
Jersey rock band HOWL (pictured), led by Nick Caunce, will receive support to record a new EP or album. The band, whose members have more than 20 years’ experience in Jersey’s music scene, hopes the recordings will help secure performances at festivals and venues in the UK and Europe.
Funding has also been awarded to support singers Aisling O’Sullivan and Rebecca Arthur, who will perform with the Musical Originals Singers at the Derry International Choral Festival. Both are pursuing careers in music, with Aisling studying Actor-Musicianship at Guildford School of Acting and Rebecca studying composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
John Henry Falle, known as The Story Beast, has received support to develop Wace: The Norman Conquests, a one-man theatrical adaptation of the 12th-century Norman poem Roman de Rou. The project will involve writing, rehearsals and direction, with performances planned to coincide with the 2027 European Year of the Normans.
Recent animation graduate William Wheatley will use his grant to develop his stop-motion animation, puppet-making and modelmaking skills. The funding will help him purchase materials, software and equipment for three projects as he prepares for a career in the animation industry.
Singer-songwriter Brendan Cooke has been awarded funding to record, mix and master two new songs, while filmmakers Jack Dallas Chapman and Louis Moir will receive support for The Islanders, a feature documentary exploring life on Sark. The film examines the challenges facing the island’s community, including outside investment, economic change and social pressures.
William Wheatley said: “Receiving funding from ArtHouse Jersey will allow me to build my portfolio for the coming year and prepare myself for a career within the stop-motion animation industry.
“Through the pursuit of three projects I will build multiple different skills and also promote the Island through my work.”
