Gordon supports arts bursary

Local Conservative parliamentary candidate, Gordon Henderson, has part sponsored the Swale Arts Forum Bursary Award, which this year was awarded for creative writing at a ceremony on 6th February 2010.

This year’s winner was Sheppey writer, and member of Big Fish Arts, Geof Reed.

Geof’s achievement follows the success of two Island youngsters, James Allchin, who won the 2008 visual arts bursary and dancer Jamie Evenden, who won last year’s performing arts bursary.

Mr Henderson, who is an active supporter of the Swale Arts Forum and has helped sponsor the bursary since its inauguration said:

“I was delighted to help sponsor the Swale Arts Forum Bursary Award again this year. The Forum is doing excellent work promoting the arts in our area and it is good to see them encouraging local people to realise their talent.

“As an Islander myself I was delighted to see that somebody from Sheppey won the bursary for the third year running.

“The Island and its people get their fair share of brickbats but the achievement of Geof, James and Jamie shows that most of that criticism is unwarranted. We have some very talented people on Sheppey and hopefully they will lead the way for artists from across Swale to showcase their own work.”