THE arts community heaped praise on a public-private initiative which will hand $40,000 in scholarship funds to students pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.

And it expressed hope that a similar Government commitment might be made to students in related fields such as theatre, dance and the visual arts, in the near future.

"I think that it's a good start," said Bermuda Society of Arts director Peter Lapsley. "The fact that the Government is recognising that the arts are an important thing to invest in is great.

"But I hope it becomes a far more encompassing programme. I don't know much about the performing arts, but as far as visual arts are concerned, there are really only a couple of opportunities in terms of scholarships and we need to see more support in that regard."

Tourism Minister Ewart Brown this week announced his Department had partnered with Black Entertainment Television (BET) to provide $40,000 in scholarship money for Bermudians pursuing college degrees in music, production, and entertainment-related disciplines.

At present, there are very few organisations which offer scholarships directly aimed at students of the fine arts ? among them the Bank of Butterfield, the Bermuda Arts Council and the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society Charitable Trust.

"I get calls from people all the time (looking for scholarships)," added Mr. Lapsley. "All I can do is advise them to try Butterfield Bank, to try the Arts Council. The problem is those stipends are limited. When you think about a degree in North America, for many people looking at a tuition of $30,000 a year just to study, it just doesn't happen. What (those scholarships offer) is just a drop in the bucket compared to that."

However, as Edwin Smith, a senior lecturer in the Art & Design programme at the Bermuda College, pointed out, his institution can help offset such costs.

"I admit the College offers nothing in the way of performing arts, but for students interested in visual arts we do have an associate degree programme," he explained. "Whether they're interested in interior design, graphic design or illustration ? whatever they're pursuing, they can start here because (no matter where they study), they will have to take those same foundation courses that we offer.

"So, especially if you have financial concerns, the College is a viable option. It's a lot less costly and it also leaves other opportunities open for work on weekends or during time out of class. And remember, we are a quango, we are subsidised by Government. So to an extent, Government can be seen to be supporting students pursuing degrees in visual arts."

The Bermuda Music Festival Education Scholarship, to be awarded to students studying in 2005, will be funded by revenue generated through the upcoming Bermuda Music Festival and a matching sum from BET.

As he made the announcement, Dr. Brown expressed Government's commitment to see the island develop as an entertainment and cultural centre.

"The Government of Bermuda believes that the future of tourism lies with our youth," quoted him as saying. "We hope to nurture our home-grown talent to ensure that our entertainment and cultural scene is exciting and vibrant.

"We have identified a genuine need to assist Bermudians studying music and as a result, I am pleased to announce the creation of (the scholarship)."

Masterworks' director Tom Butterfield described the initiative as a "win-win" for Bermuda and lauded the cable network for its vision.

"As a taxpayer, I have no objection to seeing a scholarship like that," he said. "I was very optimistic that at last we have a notion. I hope it paves the way for future visual arts scholarships. (Bermuda's) scholarships have a tendency to focus on the mainstream ? the direction we traditionally think one needs to go.

"Having said that, Butterfield Bank has been offering a visual scholarship to many Bermudians at three different levels for a number of years. But seeing the Government get involved in that sort of thing, to me, brings a sense of optimism for the future.

"And you can be sure, as representatives of the visual arts, we're going to come knocking too. What this was, really, was an address to individuals who have an interest in fields outside those we traditionally support."

According to Bermuda National Gallery director Laura Gorham, the island's "explosion of artistic talent" in recent years is indicative of the need for more bursaries.

"We are encouraged to see Government supporting young Bermudian artists in this way and hope that they will also consider supporting the visual arts in a broader sense," she said. "Bermuda has experienced an explosion of artistic talent over the past ten-15 years ? just look at the number of local shows we now have year-round, that feature a wide variety of mediums ranging from drawing to video.

"But in Bermuda, like everything else, creating great art and staging major shows is expensive. We (the arts) need all the help we can get, whether it is grants to help run institutions and schools, scholarships to enable our young artists to improve their techniques and broaden their exposure to international art, or funds to purchase and maintain important works and collections for the nation. A vibrant arts scene is important for any society as a means of expression, inspiration and identity."

The initiative was viewed as an encouraging step by Lizz Pimental, director of the In Motion School of Dance.

"I'm excited that the Government is showing an interest in helping Bermudians pursue a career in the arts," she said. "Scholarships will mean that students can actually focus on the arts without worrying where they will be able to find finances.

"In the future I hope that they will extend a similar level of dedication to dance and theatre as there are a substantial number of students enrolled in (those) programmes, also looking for support."