OUR HISTORY

The Acorn Trust was established in 1980 by David Cleal and Lesley Christian, who were at that time Chartered Accountants with offices in Featherston and Martinborough. The practice required modern office space in Featherston, capable of supporting the rapidly emerging new technology and the partners decided to build in order to achieve this. They chose to create a charitable trust, The Acorn Trust, as the owner of the property, envisaging that one day the Trust would be in a position to give something back to the South Wairarapa community that was supporting them with their business.

Aims of the Trust - support of the arts

The aims of the Trust, as illustrated on its coat of arms, is to support the arts. This term is given a wide interpretation to include all types of artistic endeavour as modern art comes in many forms.

Grants and Bursaries

Initially small grants were made including for classical books to the Featherston library, large print books to the South Wairarapa Libraries, and financial support of the summer reading programme. As the financial strength of the Trust increased the Trust was able to widen its support to the performing arts and music. Over the years grants have been made to Kuranui College music groups, Greytown Little Theatre, musical recitals and performances in the ANZAC Hall in Featherston, and Featherston Booktown sponsorship.

In 2001 the Acorn Trust Bursary was established. This bursary is available to a South Wairarapa resident who is about to commence tertiary education in any art subject, and gives a grant for three years, subject to satisfactory achievement each year. Previous bursaries were given for performance music at Victoria University and the NZ School of Music, while the current bursar has received a three year bursary for studies in animation.