Future brighter for London’s fringe theatres as Soho Estates Director Fawn James announces capital donation
Fawn James, Director of London property company Soho Estates, announces donation of £125,000 over the next five years to the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme
Twenty-five small London theatres will receive capital grants of up to £5,000 by 2020
Fawn James matches first donation from the Mackintosh Foundation and helps build up this new capital funding scheme for London’s fringe theatres
Protecting the future of London’s fringe theatres following London Assembly ‘Centre Stage’ Report
We’re pleased to announce that Soho Estates Director Fawn James has donated £125,000 to the Theatres Trust’s London Theatres Small Grants Scheme.
The scheme was launched in Spring 2015, working with the London Mayor’s Office, to help small theatres in the city with vital capital funding. It was set up in response to the London Assembly’s ‘Centre Stage’ report into the challenges facing small theatres in London, which identified that 93% of small London theatres had yet to raise the money to carry out significant upgrade or repair to their buildings, with a direct impact on their future.
Fawn James joins Cameron Mackintosh’s Mackintosh Foundation as the second major donor to the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme.
Fawn James, Director of Soho Estates said: “My family has a shared history with some of the most iconic theatres and entertainment venues in the heart of London. My grandfather Paul Raymond started staging revue and variety shows in small venues in Soho in the 1950s and worked with some of the great stars of the age. Our support for the London Theatre’s Small Grants Scheme reflects our continuing commitment to London’s arts scene, and means that small theatres will be able to honour London’s theatrical heritage, and be confident of a bright future.
“Small theatres are often the genesis for bold and innovative productions, helping to foster the next generation of talented artists, and provide an important role in local communities. If we want London to remain a world leader in arts and culture, we have to make sure that small theatres can thrive.”
Tim Eyles, Theatres Trust Chair said, “Fawn’s generous donation is such great news for small theatres across London and I’m really looking forward to working with her. Every time we’re able to announce a new donor to the London Theatres Scheme we’re helping to secure the future of live theatre across London. So many small theatres are working on such tight budgets they struggle to make improvements to their buildings – and we know these grants can make a huge difference.”
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “This is a fantastic investment in the future of London’s smaller theatres, which are a hugely important part of our city’s cultural life. These are places where new and emerging talent can develop and where exciting and radical new work is often staged and I hope many others will follow Fawn’s lead in supporting them.”
Tom Copley, who led the London Assembly’s ‘Centre Stage’ investigation said, “I’m delighted that the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme is going from strength to strength. Five theatres have already received assistance through the scheme, and this generous donation will help even more small London theatres make improvements to their buildings. These improvements will help with things like making theatres more accessible, improving working conditions for staff and performers, and restoring historic buildings.”
Applications for Round 2 of the London Theatres Small Grants Scheme are now open. The application deadline is 17 August, and eligible applications will be reviewed by Trustees in Autumn 2016.