Education Fund

The Lynn Middleton Education Fund is available to people explore and/or develop their artistic creativity

Lynn Middleton was a vibrant, talented artist and loved member of the Mangawhai Artists community. Lynn graduated in painting from the Art Academy London in 2011. Moving back from England in 2015, Lynn settled in Mangawhai, becoming a MAI member as a painter and print maker working in her home studio. In 2019, Lynn won the print media award at the Kaipara Art Awards.

Lynn’s friends describe her as “a passionate artist, and a compassionate, energized and positive force within the arts and wider community. Lynn is inclusive and a ‘can do’ person with a big heart.” [Mangawhai Focus, November 2019] She was a driving force behind the development of the MAI workspace, leading a significant fund-raising PledgeMe campaign. Lynn passed away in November 2019 and is honoured and remembered in a plaque on the wall outside of the workspace. Lynn’s estate gifted a body of work to MAI which was exhibited at the gallery in August 2021 - a wonderful reminder of her creativity, and reflecting multiple aspects of her life, the love she had for our Mangawhai community, and the joy she experienced being home again in Aotearoa. The funds raised from the sale of her work is being used to support people - particularly women who may not have the personal resources to do so - to participate in art activities.

Eligibility
Anyone in the community can be a recipient of the fund provided they intend to use the funds to explore and/or develop their artistic creativity. The funds may be used for MAI learning opportunities or events but are not be restricted to MAI run or sponsored activities.

The funds can be used for example, to:

meet the cost of attending an art workshop or class;
purchase art materials or publicity;
meet fees for an exhibition or competition entry, or market stall costs;
travel to attend an exhibition;
support the engagement of a tutor for a group.

Applying to the fund
There is no set time for the receipt of nominations or applications - they are welcome throughout the year. You may apply to the fund directly or be nominated by an organisation: each person is considered on a case-by-case basis. As a general principle, there is a $200 cap on the amount any one person can receive from the fund at any one time.

Simply email admin@mangawhaiartists.co.nz

set out your name and contact details - or those of the person you're nominating;
a brief description of how the funds will be used: if a workshop for example, the name/focus of the workshop, timeframe and amount required;
how much you are seeking from the fund; and
a brief description of why using the funds for this purpose is important to you or the nominated person.

If an organisation is nominating someone, we will also need:

the nominating organisation’s contact person and details; and

a brief summary of why the person has been put forward for consideration.

The recipient will be asked for a brief report to confirm the purpose for which the funds were sought, has been undertaken. A panel of three people considers application to the fund and will advise the applicants of the outcome as soon as possible. At that point, arrangements to pay the sum awarded will be made. All personal information will remain confidential to the MAI panel.