The BRIT School has just been handed more than 200,000 reasons extra to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Andrew Lloyd Webber: his charitable foundation has backed the BRIT School
September will mark 25 years since the arts, music, dance and drama specialist school opened its doors in Thornton Heath, and a grant of £211,723 this week from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation should help give the high-profile school reason to get the celebrations started a little early.
Awarded over three years, the Foundation has made the grant to support the school’s Bridge Theatre Company, a free year-long part-time course for post-sixth form BRIT School students.
Providing an opportunity to create a theatre company and produce a show under the guidance of industry specialists and professional creative team, the training culminates in a performance of new work in a London venue.
The grant will allow the expansion of the company to accommodate musical theatre students for the first time, creating a stronger training programme that will benefit more young people.
The BRIT School grant is part of £600,000-worth of awards to music and arts-related projects across the country announced by the Foundation, which is named after the composer and theatre impressario behind shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Phantom of the Opera. Since it was founded in 2010, the ALW Foundation has made grants totalling more than £16million.
Madeleine Lloyd Webber, the lead trustee of the Foundation, said, “Recognising the importance of equipping artists from all backgrounds with skills, experience and support is vital in order to achieve diversity and accessibility across all levels of the sector.
“From trainee schemes for young people to career development programmes for mid-career artists, I am thrilled the Foundation is able to support so many projects for individuals with limited access to the arts and from BAME backgrounds.
“We are also pleased to continue our support of the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards and mark BRIT School’s 25th Anniversary with further funding for their Bridge Theatre Company.”
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