The Mo Siewcharran Fund is delighted to announce the latest recipients of four new grant awards: thriving community beacon, Park Theatre; historic independent theatre, The Old Vic; bold live events producers, Trigger Productions; and Hurst Publishers, a groundbreaking non-fiction independent press.
The Fund continues to champion people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in publishing, theatre and music by supporting organisations committed to creating meaningful career opportunities.
Each organisation will receive funding towards a six-month paid traineeship, alongside Creative Access’ tailored programme of mentoring, training and career development, helping trainees build the skills, confidence and networks needed to thrive in the creative industries.
The impact of the Fund
With this new round, the Mo Siewcharran Fund will have supported 65 Black, Asian and ethnically diverse trainees to access careers across publishing, theatre and music, since its launch in 2018.
The impact of the programme continues long after each placement ends. 65% of trainees have gone on to secure a role following their traineeship, with 70% remaining in the creative industries.
The programme is also helping organisations build more inclusive workplaces. More than two-thirds of employers said that hosting a trainee through the Fund had improved their skills and confidence in working with colleagues from under-represented backgrounds, supported by initiatives such as inclusive line management training.
Read our impact report for 2022 – 2025 here.
John Seaton, founder of the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund, said:
“A twice-yearly highlight for me is the choosing of the companies to benefit from the Mo Siewcharran Intern Fund. Owing to the very high quality of the applicants in the latest round, it was an unusually challenging though rewarding task for the panel. In the end, these four companies stood out for their painstaking but eloquent commitment to bringing about a fairer and more diverse workplace in the Arts. It will be a pleasure working with them; and it remains a constant pleasure working with Creative Access.”
Stef Hall, director of talent and outreach, Creative Access, said:
“We are so thrilled to be partnering with these four organisations to open their doors to new, diverse talent through the generous support from the Mo Siewcharran Fund. The impact of the fund continues to be felt, and previous interns are now thriving in their careers. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for the next round of interns.”
Jez Bond, founding artistic director, Park Theatre, said:
“Park Theatre exists to make theatre and the arts more accessible. We’re thrilled to have the support of the Mo Siewcharran Fund to create a paid internship opportunity within our artistic team, to open up our creative spaces and processes and to bring a new, under-represented voice into the mix.”
Laura Stevenson, executive director, The Old Vic, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded a grant from the Mo Siewcharran Fund, supporting our long-term commitment to nurturing talent from under-represented backgrounds within the theatre sector. This valuable opportunity will enable a young person aspiring to a career in the arts and cultural sector to gain skills, experience and professional networks through an internship with The Old Vic’s Education and Community team. We look forward to welcoming the intern and supporting them as they take the next step in their career journey.”
Natalie Skidmore, head of finance and operations, Trigger Productions, said:
“We are committed to using our experience to build a diverse and sustainable sector we can all be proud of. We believe this starts with the development of the next generation and that’s why we are delighted to be working with Creative Access to offer a unique traineeship in performance archiving.”
Jess Winstanley, publicist, Hurst Publishers, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded support from the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund, enabling us to partner with Creative Access to host a new trainee at the start of their publishing career. As a publisher committed to reflecting a global readership, welcoming creatives from under-represented backgrounds is key to our mission. We look forward to bringing a vibrant new voice into our team.”
The Fund opens its next grant round
The Mo Siewcharran Fund will once again open for applications from publishing, theatre and music organisations looking to create paid traineeships for people from under-represented communities.
Those interested in applying should download the application form here. Applications for round 1 will close Thursday 26 November 2026, 12 noon.
