Five “well-deserving” young people received art grants towards higher education this morning, in a press conference held by Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Ms Gordon-Pamplin, the Minister of Community, Culture and Affairs, was joined by the Bermuda Arts Council chairman Tona Symonds, to present annual scholarship grants totaling $40,000 to students they believed were “testament to the exceptional talent evidenced among many of Bermuda’s youth”.

Recipients are currently enrolled in courses of study abroad in the performing arts, the visual arts and music therapy.

Those who received scholarships were Miles Dill, Julia Frith Quinn, Alexis Smith, Hayley Francis Cann and Dezjuan Thomas who was represented by his mother Karen Thomas.

The Minister highlighted the primary objectives of the Bermuda Arts Council and praised the recipients for pursuing careers that will help promote the arts in Bermuda.

She said: “We believe and appreciate the value of the arts in our Island home, and understand the importance of sustaining the arts through a variety of ways including supporting students of the arts. I am very pleased to recognise this year’s worthy recipients of the Bermuda Arts Council’s student scholarship grants.”

Ms Symonds said: “It is the Art Council’s pleasure to support our young people. I want to thank the dance schools, the dance teachers, the schoolteachers and the parents for supporting our young people in their artistic endeavours. We have such a great opportunity to create an art industry in Bermuda and blow Bermuda up as the centre of art. For such a small place the talent is extraordinary and we are pleased to play this small part.”