Genesis Foundation (arts charity)

History

The Genesis Foundation was founded in January 2001 by investment banker and arts patron John J. Studzinski, CBE.

Since the Foundation has been in existence it has donated over £10 million enabling young artists from diverse backgrounds to develop their talents, giving them access to mentors and valuable networks. The Foundation spends up to £1 million annually on its ongoing programmes through partner organisations, all of which operate under the leadership of inspired artistic directors.

London Academy of Dramatic Art

For more than 15 years the Genesis Foundation has offered scholarships to support the training of drama students through the three year acting course at LAMDA, the oldest drama school in the United Kingdom. Past LAMDA scholars include Samuel Barnett, Tom Riley and Ben Aldridge.

Royal Court Theatre

Since 1997, John Studzinski, and latterly the Genesis Foundation, has supported the International Playwrights Programme at the Royal Court Theatre, nurturing emerging playwrights from all over the world. The Royal Court has now worked with international playwrights from over 70 countries and in more than 40 languages.

The Sixteen

Since 2010, the Genesis Foundation has collaborated with British chamber choir The Sixteen and funded Genesis Sixteen, the annual free young artists’ scheme which aims to nurture the next generation of ensemble singers. Genesis Sixteen provides the opportunity for participants to receive group tuition, individual mentoring and masterclasses run by some of the industry's top vocal experts.

The Genesis Foundation also commissions new choral pieces from leading young composers, which are then premiered and recorded by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. In January 2016 it was announced that the foundation had commissioned James MacMillan to compose a new Stabat Mater, with a world premiere to be given by Harry Christophers, The Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia. The debut performance of the piece will feature as part of a series of concerts and talks dedicated to James MacMillan at the Barbican Centre, London; the piece is 60 minutes long for choir and string orchestra.

Past commissions have included Spirit, Strength & Sorrow, three new Stabat Mater commissions by three leading composers Alissa Firsova, Tõnu Kõrvits and Matthew Martin; O Guiding Night, music to poetry of the Spanish Mystics St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross by Ruth Byrchmore, Tarik O’Regan and Roderick Williams; settings of Padre Pio’s Prayer by James MacMillan, Roxanna Panufnik and Will Todd; and Will Todd’s Among Angels, dedicated to John Studzinski on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

On Tuesday 9 February 2016 the Genesis Foundation, in collaboration with the Choral Foundation, will bring together leaders of the Catholic Church and the Church of England for the first service according to the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church to be celebrated since the 1550s at Hampton Court Palace’s Chapel Royal; the musical element of the service has been chosen and will be performed by Harry Christophers, The Sixteen and Genesis Sixteen. The ensembles will sing Thomas Tallis’s Magnificat, William Cornysh’s Salve Regina and John Taverner’s ‘Leroy’ Kyrie. Members of the public were offered the chance to attend the service through a free ballot hosted by Classic FM.

The service will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols and will include a sermon from The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dr Richard Chartres, KCVO, Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal – Vespers will be dedicated to St John the Baptist. Prior to the service, the Cardinal and Dean will be in conversation under the heading Faith and the Crown in Hampton Court Palace’s Great Hall. Their discussion will address the relationship between the two churches and the monarchy.

Young Vic

From 2003-2009, the Genesis Foundation supported the Genesis Directors program at the Young Vic. Under the support and mentorship of the Young Vic's artistic director David Lan and the Theatre's Associate Director, the Genesis Directors Program set out to nurture young theatre directors.

The Genesis Foundation currently funds the two-year Genesis Fellowship, the Genesis Directors Network and two Genesis Future Directors per year.

Welsh National Opera

Since 2012, the Genesis Foundation has provided scholarships at Welsh National Opera for young opera directors and repetiteurs to gain working experience at one of the United Kingdom's leading opera companies.

Signature Theatre

In 2015, the Genesis Foundation began funding the Residency Five programme at New York's Signature Theatre, supporting nine playwrights over a two-year period.

Commissions

Stabat Mater 2015 – James MacMillan

Stabat Mater 2014: Spirit, Strength & Sorrow – Tõnu Kõrvits, Alissa Firsova, Matthew Martin, James MacMillan

The Sun Stands Still – Naomi Alderman

A Very Tricky and Crafty Contrivance – Greta Alfaro

Spanish Mystics – Ruth Byrchmore, Tarik O'Regan, Roderick Williams

Padre Pio – James MacMillan, Roxanna Panufnik, Will Todd

Light – Chris Levine

Westminster Mass – Roxanna Panufnik

Among Angels – Will Todd

Zora D – Isidora Žebeljan

Song of a Traveller in the Night – Isidora Žebeljan

Minstrel’s Dance – Isidora Žebeljan

Genesis Prize

In 2012 the Genesis Foundation launched the Genesis Prize, a £25,000 prize awarded in recognition of a mentor of young artistic talent whose work has effected real change in the practice and careers of arts professionals or graduates. The first recipient was Hamish Dunbar, Artistic Director of Café Oto, in 2012. The 2014 recipient was Polly Staple, director of London’s Chisenhale Gallery.