The Mo Siewcharran Fund has awarded its latest round of grants; to book charity The Women’s Prize Trust, Edinburgh-based theatre and dance organisation Imaginate, non-profit member organisation the Association of Laboratory Medicine and puppet theatre Little Angel Theatre.
In its sixth year, the Mo Siewcharran Fund continues to support a breadth of creative organisations within its mission to enable young people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds to break into publishing and theatre.
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
Since the Fund started in 2018, it has supported over 45 Black, Asian and ethnically-diverse trainees in publishing, theatre and music across the UK.
Its impact can be clearly seen across each sector: last year Creative Access found that 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.
John Seaton, Founder of the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund“Two highlights for me in the year are when the applicants for the Mo Siewcharran Fund are assessed. The successful companies this time bring to the fore publishing and theatre. They do so with panache and with a fierce sense of needing to bring about fairer and more representative workplaces. It will be a delight to work with them. It is a constant delight to work with Creative Access”.
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.
Edinburgh-based recipient Imaginate is producer of the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival and Scotland’s national charity that presents, develops and celebrates inspiring theatre and dance performances for children and young people.
Fiona Ferguson, Creative Development Director, Imaginate“We are absolutely delighted to have received this award from the Mo Siewcharran Fund that will enable us to work with a global majority Trainee on our Creative Encounters project. The level of training and care offered to the Trainee through this Fund, and the cohort they will be part of, are fantastic.”
Recipient, The Women’s Prize Trust, has a mission is to enrich society by creating equitable opportunities for women in the world of books and beyond. It believes that books by women can change the world, and supports women writers at all stages of development, providing coaching and resources to unlock potential, boost confidence and increase skills.
Claire Shanahan, Executive Director, Women’s Prize Trust“We value the full spectrum of talent, which applies to all of us who work in the world of books as well as writers and creatives. So we are thrilled to be awarded the funding to take on a trainee from an ethnically diverse background as they embark on their career. Thank you to the Mo Siewcharran Fund for the financial support and to Creative Access for their expertise and recruitment services; we know that we will be a stronger organisation benefiting from this grant and the role it enables.”
Recipient, Little Angel Theatre, uses puppetry to create and share inspiring stories; igniting the imaginations of the youngest minds. The theatre’s success has been built upon a spirit of artistic innovation and is committed to pushing the boundaries of what puppetry can be, whilst preserving its heritage.
Samantha Lane, Artistic Director, Little Angel Theatre“Having diverse puppet makers is important as it brings a variety of perspectives, cultural influences, and creative approaches to the field of puppet making; ultimately leading to a richer and more inclusive workforce that reflects the complexity and diversity of the real world. Funding to support our intern enables us to provide yet another diverse puppet maker with a year-
long, on the job, hands on experience – enriching the cultural workforce.”
The Fund was also granted to academic publishers, the Association of Laboratory Medicine, one of the world’s leading professional membership organisations dedicated to the practice and promotion of clinical science.
Victoria Logan, Chief Executive, Association of Laboratory Medicine“We are delighted to receive the Mo Siewcharran grant from Creative Access, enabling us to bring a talented intern into the Association for Laboratory Medicine. They’ll get hands-on experience in publishing and communicating scientific content to our members. We are excited to support and mentor this emerging professional, thanks to Creative Access’s generous support.”
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.
Those interested in applying should contact lucy@creativeaccess.org.uk. The deadline for the next round of applications is midday Thursday 29 November 2024.
