The Genesis Foundation has announced the winner of its inaugural £25,000 prize for mentors of young artistic talent. Hamish Dunbar, founder of Café Oto in the London borough of Hackney, was chosen from six finalists, who each presented their mentoring work and future ideas to a panel of judges including David Poutney from Welsh National Opera and David Lan from the Young Vic Theatre. Café Oto presents experimental music and sound art in a former warehouse and has been particularly successful in generating new audiences for avant-garde music.

‘Hamish showed entrepreneurial courage in founding Café Oto and in a remarkably short time has designed an innovative space that has created a new audience for avant-garde music,’ said Genesis Foundation chairman John Studzinski. ‘His proven ability to bring different artists together, and the role he plays in forming creative relationships made him stand out from the other finalists.’

Hamish Dunbar added, ‘I wish to thank the judges of the Genesis Prize for recognising the work done by everyone associated with Café Oto. We will use the prize money to launch an Associate Artists Programme and in doing so will provide a platform for championing emerging musicians whose work we passionately believe in. We hope that through this work we can help give experimental music the profile it deserves and develop the careers of some of the UK’s most exciting musicians.'

UK charity the Genesis Foundation was established in 2001 to nurture and develop emerging artistic talent. The Genesis Prize will be awarded every two years, with finalists chosen from nominations from leading figures in the arts world.