RSC among beneficiaries of latest Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation grants

The RSC will receive £81,000 towards the expansion of its Learning and Performance Network (LPN), while the Half Moon in Tower Hamlets receives a two year grant to fund its Careers in Theatre programme.

Other organisations to benefit from the Foundation’s latest grants include The Urban Vocal Group, Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, the Islington Community Theatre’s “Work in Progress” project and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has now given over £8million to over 100 UK arts organisations since 2011.

Lloyd Webber’s wife Madeleine, who is a trustee of the foundation, told the Telegraph recently she would like to see more wealthy figures in the arts do their bit to plug the funding gap.

“Obviously as with all these things, the funding and the amount of funding, got out of hand in the Naughties,” she said. “It was as if everybody that wanted any creative funding at all seemed to get it. It became a bit of a slush fund for anything and everything, and probably needed a shake-up. But it’s probably gone too far now, and you can throw the baby out with the bathwater… the cuts will really start to hurt the cultural communities in Great Britain if they go too deep.”

Speaking about the latest round of grants, she added: “It’s great to see that by getting involved in these projects, young people who are often from disadvantaged backgrounds can acquire life skills that will equip them for a better future. The Foundation remains committed to give young artists a chance and we call on others to help us make arts make the difference.”