Netflix rises up to Sam Mendes' challenge with £500k donation in support of the Theatre Artists Fund
The new fund announced by SOLT and UK Theatre will aid those who have been unable to work since 16 March when venues first went dark due to coronavirus.
Theatre workers who have been unable to support themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic and who have not qualified for existing government support will receive £1000 in grant money, it has been confirmed. Fund applicants must have worked in theatre between the beginning of last year and 31 March 2020 to qualify for the grant.
Netflix's Anne Mensah: "British theatre is a vital cultural force"
Sam Mendes made a statement on the new scheme: "Thousands of theatre professionals in the UK are struggling. Many of them haven't been able to get help from the existing Government schemes, and the situation continues to worsen. They need help now.
"We have created a fund to which the most vulnerable freelance theatre practitioners can now apply. It is specifically designed for theatre workers who find themselves at breaking point, for those unable to put food on the table or to pay bills, or for those considering leaving the profession altogether."
Anne Mensah, Vice President, UK Original Series at Netflix, stated: "British theatre is a vital cultural force, not least because so many emerging talents and original ideas begin life on the stage. Creativity is all about collaboration, and we are deeply concerned by the challenges our friends in the theatre now face, especially in the regions, and the likely consequences for the diverse voices and stories at the heart of our culture."
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