The Fund has placed over 50 interns in publishing, theatre and music traineeships
The Mo Siewcharran Fund has announced its latest four grant awards: immersive theatre company, Punchdrunk Enrichment; theatre publishers and performing arts agents, Nick Hern Books; national poetry charity, Forward Arts Foundation; and Leicester-based arts charity, Soft Touch Arts.
In its sixth year, the Mo Siewcharran Fund continues to support a breadth of creative organisations in its mission to enable people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds to break into publishing, theatre and music.
The Fund was set up in memory of Nielsen Books’ former Director of Marketing and Communications, Mo Siewcharran by her husband, John Seaton; she was passionate about improving accessibility and representation in publishing and theatre. The Fund is administered by Creative Access – a leading social enterprise specialising in diversity and inclusion.
Impact of the Fund
Including the latest grant awards, since the Fund started in 2018, it will have supported 52 Black, Asian and ethnically-diverse trainees in publishing, theatre and music across the UK. The grants contribute to the salary of an intern for a six-month traineeship and a full programme of support from Creative Access to ensure the trainee thrives in their new role.
Its impact can be clearly seen across each sector: two-thirds (63%) of interns supported by the Fund stayed on at their host organisation at the end of their traineeship, whilst 9 out of 10 (89%) trainees continued to work in the same sector.
On this latest round of recipients, the founder of the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund, John Seaton said:
“With this round a happy milestone is passed. Since starting in 2018 the Mo Siewcharran Fund has supported over fifty interns. And it is not stopping here! To add to all the previous wonderful participating companies, it is a delight to welcome these four new ones covering, so stylishly as they do, such a broad area of the Arts: theatre, music, theatre publishing and poetry. Bravo to them; my thanks, as ever, to Creative Access for making it all happen.”
Punchdrunk Enrichment is a charity creating transformational theatre for education, community and family audiences. On being awarded the Fund, Punchdrunk Enrichment’s Artistic Director, Peter Higgin said:
“Punchdrunk Enrichment is delighted to be part of the Creative Access Programme, supported by the Mo Siewcharran Fund. As we make our home in Brent, we are committed to ensuring that our staff team, stories we tell and audiences are representative of the communities we serve. This opportunity will allow an individual their first steps into an industry, removing barriers and creating visibility. Programmes like this are vital in supporting our organisation and the wider sector.”
Forward Arts Foundation is a national charity committed to widening poetry’s audience through grassroots campaigns. Head of Programmes, Jay Bhadricha stated:
“We are extremely excited to get the Mo Siewcharran Fund grant from Creative Access, which will enable us to welcome a Marketing and Communications Assistant to Forward Arts Foundation. This opportunity will help us champion diverse voices in poetry, support emerging talent while fostering inclusive audiences. With the support and training provided, the Trainee will make a significant contribution to Forward and the sector as a whole.”
Recipient, Nick Hern Books, are the UK’s leading specialist theatre publishers and performing rights agents with over 1,500 plays and theatre books in its catalogue. Matt Applewhite, Managing Director, commented:
“We are proud and grateful to receive the support of the Mo Siewcharran Fund, and the brilliant Creative Access, to launch an internship scheme at Nick Hern Books. As a publisher of plays and books about theatre, it is particularly fitting and humbling, given Mo’s passion for both theatre and books. We are committed to publishing work that represents the wonderful diversity of the UK – and equally passionate about breaking down barriers for underrepresented groups working in the creative industries. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our first intern in the new year, and excited about the contribution they’ll make as a valued member of our team.”
Leicester-based Soft Touch Arts has been using creative projects to engage with and transform the lives of young people since 1986. Upon receiving the Fund, Helen Abeles, Co-artistic Director, said:
“We are delighted to have been offered a grant from the Mo Siewcharran Fund to take on a music intern. This funding will enable us to bring in new talent to support our work with young people whilst fostering the new generation of participatory music leaders.”
Josie Dobrin OBE, Executive Chair, Creative Access, said:
“It has been such a joy to work with John on launching and running the Mo Siewcharran Fund. We can be hugely proud of the impact the Fund has already had; with these latest round of grant awards, we will have placed 52 trainees in paid 6 month internships, the length and breadth of the UK – from Edinburgh and Glasgow, to Manchester and Sheffield, to Brighton and Bristol. The vast majority of the interns have gone on to forge successful careers in the creative industries, which represents a fantastic legacy for Mo.”
The Fund opens its next grant round
The Fund is once again open for other theatre, publishing or music organisations wishing to support internships for those from under-represented communities.
The deadline for the next round is midday Thursday 26th June 2025. Those interested in applying should download the application form here: Mo Siewcharran Fund application form
