From the Manchester Evening News: Two of Salford's famous sons are offering grants to help future stars of the art world.

Set up by actor Albert Finney and artist Harold Riley, the Salford Arts and Sports Trust has £5,000 to give away to upcoming creative talent.

This year the award, in memory of Eric Simm, headmaster of Salford Grammar School when Finney and Riley were pupils, will focus on the visual arts.

To qualify, entrants must be aged 16 to 25 and from the city of Salford or its close neighbours.

Entrants should send examples of their work - but not originals as they cannot be returned - a brief CV and a written article about themselves.

They should explain how winning the award would help their work.

Entries should be marked The Salford Arts Trust and Sports Trust and sent to The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ by September 7.

0 Comments

From an interview with Elaine Dundy: It was a very optimistic time in England. The British were the moral heroes of World War II; they were left without any money, but they had moral certitude, and the renaissance of arts was incredible. Ken and I used to go to this theatrical club with Richard Burton and Peter Finch and Albert Finney -- actors all on their way to becoming great. They were so optimistic; everything seemed so easy. You just made up your mind to do something, and you did it.

0 Comments

From The Independent: Some years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing the actor Albert Finney, a wise and rather wonderful old cove. We talked in his trailer on a film set, and because the shooting schedule changed while I was there, I got to spend the best part of a couple of hours with him.

Whatever, it sort of leads back to Finney, because one of the wise things I remember him saying was that humankind is capable of remarkable achievements, and yet, depressingly, for every step forward in ingenuity and resourcefulness, there is a commensurate step forward in human wickedness and depravity.

0 Comments

From an article about the film Sleuth:

As such, the chippy (Michael) Caine is a perfect fit for the junior role, although he was actually third choice after Albert Finney and Alan Bates.

0 Comments

From TheHerald.co.uk: If you Google Sir Wilson Ramsay you will learn that Albert Finney refused to play him in the recent film about Gerhardt Zucher, the German scientist who disastrously tried to send mail by rocket between the islands of Scarp and Harris in 1934.

0 Comments