The $350,000 bequest from the estate of Beverley Shelton (nee Hart) and her late husband, Martin Schönthal, will allow Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) to assist numerous young and emerging artists from refugee backgrounds with their developing artistic careers.
Schönthal, who came to Melbourne as a refugee during WWII, fled Germany to England at the start of the war; after he left, his parents and the majority of his family were killed. The British interned Schönthal as an ‘enemy alien’ because of his German origins and then loaded him onto the now legendary ship, the Dunera. Upon arrival in Australia he was interned at camps in Hay and Tatura. He was however, most positive about the conditions of his internment and complimentary about his fair treatment.
