OUR MISSION

Thea Barnes_ LK Rehearsal 2 Photo Credit Johan Persson_courtesy of Lion King.jpg

Thea Barnes in rehearsal for Disney The Lion King. Photo: Johan Persson.

Established in 2019, the Thea Barnes Legacy Fund (TBLF) is a donor-supported independent fund that was created with the mission to support:

Individuals in dance and performing arts
Academic researchers in arts and creative industries
Mental health and wellbeing for people in arts and creative industries

Our objective is to provide bursary funding and/or mentoring to artists looking to accelerate their careers or make a career transition across the arts and creative industries by furthering their artistic or academic practice. The TBLF will award bursaries up to £2,300.

The ultimate goal of the TBLF is to support individuals in dance and performing arts, creative industries, and academia. By awarding bursary funding, we support the next generation of artists in exploring and expanding

their creative thoughts and developing their skills. We also want to assist with career acceleration opportunities, especially for those who have poor access to training or exposure to avenues that will improve the quality of their artistic efforts. TBLF awards support artists in gaining increased access to scholarships, training, education, workshops, supplies, and related resources that aid them in building and strengthening skills and self-belief.

We want to expand possibilities for our beneficiaries as well as other artists and members of the wider community who will be impacted by their work. As a result, we hope to improve representation and accessibility in the performing arts and academia by supporting the next generation of artists and researchers whose diverse experiences and identities inform their creative expression and reflect a more inclusive world.

In honor of her lifelong commitment to excellence, the TBLF works to uplift the legacy of Thea Nerissa Barnes as an artist, researcher, mentor, and champion of other artists.