Lloyd Webber Foundation Donates £3.5m to ArtsEd

The money will be spent on improving the main theatre and costume storage area, as well as developing the School of Film and Television and the school’s disabled facilities.

According to press material, “The aim of the refurbishment project is to modernise current facilities in order for the school to continue providing the highest calibre of training possible.”

The Foundation’s donation – £3,544,200 in total – will cover all estimated building costs, surveys, statutory applications, professional fees and VAT. Building work is planned to commence in 2012.

Lloyd Webber, who has been a supported ArtsEd for a number of years, said: “I am delighted the Foundation is able to make such a substantial donation to fund the refurbishment of the Arts Educational Schools; the new facilities will provide an ideal environment for the students to take advantage of the exemplary training the School is renowned for.”

Jane Harrison, principal of the Arts Educational Schools, said: “We are obviously delighted to receive this grant from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the process. This award is a powerful endorsement of the quality of our training. It will enable us to invest in the fabric of our building, and bring our facilities up to the same high standard as our teaching for both current and future students.”