The Empire Foundation
Every generous donation or bequest has assisted in our goal of supporting the future of the performing arts, particularly in regional areas, and in putting dreams on stage.
#About the Foundation
The Empire Foundation's purpose is to offer opportunities for young people who are at the beginning of their learning or establishment of their professional careers, supporting them to achieve their goals by providing support, workshops, projects, bursaries to advancement programs in a wide list of artistic disciplines to encourage and best support the next generation's artists to excel.
Established in 2003, The Empire Foundation is a registered charitable trust and in addition to its commitment to supporting the future of the arts, is also entrusted with preserving and promoting the cultural heritage associate with The Empire.
Patron of The Empire Foundation is internationally renowned actor, Geoffrey Rush, who first experienced live theatre at the Empire as a child growing up in Toowoomba.
#Bursaries
Through the generosity of community donations and bequests, The Empire Foundation has been able to offer a number of bursaries to young people across a range of disciplines in varying stages of their careers, from school students looking to develop their music or acting skills right through to established artists looking to further develop their career.
Past recipients of both The Empire Youth Bursaries, and the Brian Boak Busary have gone on to have successful careers in the arts.
Brian Boak Bursary Recipients
2024 Outstanding Performer: Christiana Aloneftis (spinto soprano opera and actress)
2022 Outstanding Performer: Morgan Carter (operatic soprano)
2020 Outstanding Performer: Thomas Larkin (actor)
2018 Outstanding Performer: Michael Petruccelli (tenor)
2016 Outstanding Performer: Sam Nester (trumpet player and conductor)
2014 Outstanding Performer: Angela Davis (saxophonist)
2014 Outstanding Performer: Steven Rooke (actor)
2013 Developing Performer: David Hatch (clarinettist)
2013 Developing Performer: Paul Tabone (lyric tenor)
2012 Outstanding Performer: Lucas Stibbard (theatre maker)
2011 Developing Performer: Sam Nester (trumpet player and conductor)
2010 Outstanding Performer: Martin Smith (cellist)
2009 Developing Performer: Emily Goddard (actor)
2009 Developing Performer: Dane Lam (conductor)
2008 Outstanding Performer: Bonnie Brown (pianist)
2008 Developing Performer: Nicola Hayden (flautist)
Brian Boak Bursary
The Brian Boak Outstanding Performer Bursary, offered biennially, is worth up to $20,000. This bursary has been made possible through the generosity of the late Brian Boak, a staunch supporter of the performing arts on the Darling Downs.
Youth Bursaries
The Empire Youth Bursary program was developed to offer opportunities for creative young people aged 12-25 to undertake short courses at leading Australian performing arts educational institutions.
