Between July 2020 and March 2022, THEATRE ARTISTS FUND realised emergency funds for theatre freelancers across the UK in need of critical financial aid, due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the theatre sector.
£9.9 million, including £1.9m from Department for Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England, was raised to distribute 9,964 emergency grants, towards living costs such as rent, food, and electricity, alongside signposting to mental-health support.
We remain tremendously grateful to everyone who donated their time, creativity, and money for this major and necessary campaign. Thank you.
Working in conjunction with Backstage Trust and Theatre Development Trust, we have designed a programme which will help to nurture and develop the creative workforce, in collaboration with performing arts venues across the UK.
Starting in Autumn 2022 and culminating in Winter 2026, the pilot will realise twenty full-time jobs, each running for 2 years, for people working in craft and technical disciplines at emerging and mid-career level. Alongside economic stability, each person will be supported with integrated training, and mentoring from established freelance theatre artists. Through this process, our aim is to identify new ways of working to help people develop their careers, encourage positive change for organisations, and benefit the wider creative industries and our communities.
Sir Sam Mendes announced the pilot programme to create employment opportunities in July 2021.
Read about the programme in The Stage.
Theatre Artists Fund – Pilot Programme Advisory Group
Kash Bennett, Liz Botros, Paule Constable, Mark Dakin, Alan Finch, Katie Kerry, Shelley Maxwell, Sir Sam Mendes CBE, Caro Newling OBE, Tom Piper MBE, Indhu Rubasingham MBE, Dame Susie Sainsbury
Backstage Trust
Gatsby
Anonymous Funder
The Mackintosh Foundation
Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund
Swire Charitable Trust
Neal Street Productions
Ambassador Theatre Group
Jonathan & Maya Nelson
Jacqueline & Richard Worswick
MAMA Exhibition Group