Ayla Lake has been announced as the 2024 recipient of the Helen Denise Jones OAM Memorial Arts Bursary.
Ayla says her ‘…life revolves around visual arts, making, writing, and playing music and performing. I… cannot get through a day without being creative. The bulk of my study over the past two years has been in the arts as well as my spare time. I can never remember a time when I was not creating art.’
Alongside her passion for visual art, Ayla also has a love for performing. From the age of nine she has been a student at Slipstream Circus. This led to a role as a volunteer trainer and then a paid position as a Junior Trainer. ‘I really enjoy getting out in the community to perform and share my love of circus with new people, it is truly rewarding seeing the smiles on people’s faces. I hope to be able to continue circus in Melbourne whether that be teaching performing or both’.
Upon receiving the bursary Ayla said; ‘I am truly thankful to have been chosen as the recipient of the Helen Denise Jones Bursary… having this extra money will allow me to be involved in the arts scene and enrich my experience as a whole.’
Images of Ayla performing in Slipstream Circus’ production of Tangent in September 2023. Photo credit John Fisher.
More about the bursary here.
Ayla Lake performing in Slipstream Circus’ production of Tangent