The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) turned 5 this year, and this marked 5 years of successfully bringing the arts closer to kids who are unable to afford it. Since its inception in 2005, BTBAF has benefitted close to 5000 beneficiaries and given these children aged 5-12 years the opportunity of receiving professional training in the arts.

Close to 120 guests attended the gala dinner at The Arts House with a sumptuous four-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Prachan Vong-Uthaipan who was specially flown in from Thailand to create a special culinary experience for the gala dinner held on 11 May 2010.

33 Primary One and Two beneficiaries of BT BAF danced, ran around in pajamas pretending their bed was a sailing ship and acted out a series of self-written of what they would like to be when they grow up.

The abovementioned poetry recital, as well as an auction of four art pieces created by the child beneficiaries, were part of a Sony ‘make.believe’ ART programme conducted at The Little Arts Academy. The Sony make.believe ART programme was initiated by Sony as part of its global make.believe campaign and aims to help children from low-income families fulfil their dreams through the harmony of technology and arts. The programme was based on the theme of “The World I’d Like To See When I Grow Up”, and ran for over 13 weeks with training in visual arts and theatre.

Under the mentorship of award-winning visual artist Donna Ong, 40 Primary 1 & 2 beneficiaries produced art pieces using Sony products. Donna Ong used some of these art pieces to co- create four art pieces that will be auctioned off at the BTBAF 5th Anniversary Gala Dinner, and all proceeds from this auction were donated to The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.

Part of the evening's programme also involved thanking all who had made it possible for BTBAF to do the work that it had been doing since 2005. We set off to interview beneficiaries who had been with us since 2005, and we got to know their views on LAA and BT BAF. They each had a sincere story to tell, and allowed us to get them on tape. They wanted to thank BTBAF for supporting them and it has truly been a wonderful journey having them with us.

Fund Raising for 2010
This Gala Dinner formed part of BT BAF’s fund raising activities for the financial year 2010. The Dinner was priced at $300 per person or $3000 per table of 10, and BT BAF raised $32,800 from the dinner and auction and an additional $70,000 in cash and kind from Sony through its make.believe programme. All nett proceeds from this Gala Dinner go to the Business Times Budding Artists Fund.

On average, it costs $250 per student per term for a course in the Arts. BT BAF targets to raise $600,000 this year to fund 500 needy children over four terms in a calendar year to undergo training at The Little Arts Academy. Additionally, The Business Times Budding Artists Fund also aims to reach out to 500 disadvantaged children in short-termprogrammes to expose them to the arts, and identify those with keen interest or talent to pursue an arts education at The Little Arts Academy.