The Director of a Colombian improvisation theatre company has won our prestigious International Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur (IYPAE) award.

Gabriel Zapata, Administrative Director of Acción Impro, from Colombia received the coveted prize at an industry-wide British Council IYPAE award ceremony in Edinburgh on 6 August. The award was presented by Edinburgh Festival Fringe Director, Jon Morgan. The Fringe is one of the British Council’s official partners for the award.

Tough competition
A panel of four judges from the UK performing arts industry chose the winner after interviewing a shortlist of finalists from Azerbaijan, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Kuwait, Lebanon, Poland and Tanzania. Gabriel was awarded £7,500 prize money which he can use to develop a project of his choice in partnership with the British Council.

On receiving the award, Gabriel said: ‘I never thought I’d even be considered so this is a wonderful recognition for something that I do with passion. I’m very thankful to the British Council, everyone we met and my fellow nominees, all of whom were great.’

Sally Cowling, Director, Drama and Dance, British Council said: ‘Gabriel gave an outstanding presentation that highlighted the entrepreneurial flair he is bringing to the company with which he works. He demonstrated an acute understanding of the problems and opportunities in the Colombian performing arts sector and judges applaud his skill and commitment in motivating artists towards a commercially efficient practice without compromising their artistic objectives.’

Our Young Creative Entrepreneur programme
The IYPAE award is a new award from the British Council, the sixth international award within our Young Creative Entrepreneur programme which focuses on countries with developing and transitional economies.

The finalists who arrived in the UK on the 24 July have taken part in a two week tour looking at different elements of the performing arts sector in London, Coventry, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham before coming to Edinburgh for the ceremony.

IYPAE will take place for the second time next year, alongside the first UK Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur award. UKYPAE seeks to champion young creative entrepreneurs working in the local performing arts sector.

Applications will open in December 2008. To find out more visit our Creative Economy web pages.