PROJECTS WE FUND
In fulfilling ASRADA’s mission to promote the dramatic art and ensure excellence in training for talented actors, technicians, craft specialists and writers, ASRADA is happy to promote RADA’s 2023 Big Give Christmas Challenge in support of their fundraising campaign launching November 28, 2023, and closing December 5, 2023.
Donations made directly to ASRADA by US donors in support of this campaign are not matched, but eligible to receive Acknowledgment Letters for use with US Federal Tax filings. Donations can be made at any time and for further queries, about this successful campaign and other funding projects, please contact Lisa Ramsell, Development Director, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, LisaRamsell@rada.ac.uk
From Lisa Ramsell at RADA:
THE BIG GIVE
What’s the Big Give Christmas Challenge?
It’s the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign, that connects charitable trusts with participating charities. For seven days, it offers individual supporters of participating charities the opportunity to have their donation doubled on theBigGive.org.uk.
Thank you to everyone who gave to our 2021 and 2022 Big Give Christmas Challenge, helping our campaign to recover, re-build and support our students.
The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023
Seven days to get your donations doubled and support the next generation of creative talent.
Help develop industry-ready students who can make positive change in the creative industries.
RADA’s specialist, world-leading training is expensive to run. It costs over £30,000/$US37,500 to train a student each year, with student fees only covering a quarter of the cost. The pandemic has severely impacted RADA’s finances, threatening their ability to deliver training. RADA must increase funding urgently to continue providing students with the highest standard of training that nurtures the next generation of creative leaders.
This year, RADA is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise money to help us continue to invest in our world-leading training. What this means is that for seven days from midday on Tuesday 28 November to midday Tuesday 5 December (GMT time), any donations you make through the Big Give website will be doubled.
Why raise money for training?
RADA is raising money to provide students with world-leading training so they can contribute and influence the future of the Creative Industries sector, their communities and wider society.
“RADA’s training has underpinned absolutely everything I do in my career. It is the starting point of technique, analysis, ability, aspiration, absolutely everything.”
Lolita Chakrabarti, Playwright, Actor, RADA Council Member & RADA Acting Diploma Graduate 1990
“RADA’s world-leading reputation goes before it. I can say as a graduate, as an artist, and now as Artistic Director of the National Theatre that RADA is an essential part of the cultural fabric of our country, our creative industries, and is one of the handful of British institutions that helps to shape our reputation in the world.”
Rufus Norris, Artistic Director & Chief Exec National Theatre, RADA Acting Diploma Graduate 1989
Please consider making a donation to sustain RADA’s world-leading training. Your investment in RADA’s specialist training supports talented, diverse students to become the next generation of creative leaders.
• £15/$US19 could buy a newly published play script for the RADA Library
• £45/$US56 could pay for a student wellbeing session
• £100/$US125 could provide a student with hardship funding
• £250/$312 could fund a harness and safety ropes for Technical Theatre Arts students
• £500/$US624 could fund a professional development workshop for final year students
• £1,500/$US1,873 could pay for a BSL interpreter for five days, supporting D/deaf students and young people
• £3,000/$US3,746 could pay for headshots for final year Acting students, preparing them for representation and employment
RADA is aiming to raise £70,000/$US87,400 during the Big Give week. And thanks to their match funders, all donations made directly to the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 webpage have double the impact, allowing RADA to nurture the creativity of students and continue to uphold the excellence of their training. Alternatively, to receive Acknowledgement Letters for use with US Federal Tax filings, donations can be made directly to ASRADA but will not be matched.
RADA’s generous match funders: The Reed Foundation, Zac Barratt, Judith Chan, Aidan Clegg, Alan and Ros Haigh, John Romeo, Tanya Rose, and Andrew Sutch.
To make your donation, please visit RADA’s Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 webpage. Only donations made via the Big Give Platform between 28 November and 5 December will be matched.
Thank you for being a part of this important initiative and for helping RADA continue to uphold the excellence of its training.
OTHER PROJECTS WE FUND
PLEASE HELP FUND RADA’S AMERICAN STUDENT BURSARY
RADA and ASRADA continue to search for avenues of support for talented American students of limited financial means who secure a place at RADA. Sadly, there are no scholarships in place at this time to aid Americans. Research into available funding continues, as logic defies why Americans who want to study abroad at one of the world’s most highly regarded institutions, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, can’t find aid whilst other students can at places such as the Royal Academy of Music. Please contact ASRADA or RADA if you would like to be involved in helping young Americans with limited means take their place at RADA. American RADA graduates currently on Broadway are: Imani Jade Powers in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Jenna Augen in Leopoldstadt and Peter Francis James in Funny Girl. Also, 2022 saw Eric Sirakian in The Kite Runner and Mary Mallen in Belfast Girls. In London, Jamie Bogyo recently starred in the West End’s Moulin Rouge. These are a few. Across the USA there are many more talented American RADA acting and technical graduates successfully working in the theatre, film and television industry. Please help us send the equally talented but less fortunate to RADA!
FUTURE PROJECTS
RADA’s American Masterclass Series
RADA has a long tradition of inviting the most influential figures from the creative industries to work with its student cohort. Each year a host of workshops and masterclasses is delivered to students in addition to their regular timetabled commitments. RADA draws on celebrated directors, designers and specialists to enhance the training of students by sharing valuable insights and experiences. By supporting RADA’s American Masterclass Series, ASRADA will be ensuring that students benefit from bespoke workshops and classes from experts residing or working for extended periods in the States.
PAST PROJECTS
RADA’s Musical Theatre Intensive Course Summer 2016
RADA offered an innovative five-week course for experienced performers intending to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. This Intensive was developed from RADA’s acclaimed, week-long Musical Theatre course, which rapidly achieved a distinguished reputation among Musical Theatre professionals. The rigorous program encompassed numerous elements of training taught on RADA’s other performance courses. Participants worked with the Academy’s staff on singing, voice, movement, acting, combat, clown, dance and much more.
RADA’s Summer Residency at Martha’s Vineyard
In 2011 ASRADA supported RADA’s unique opportunity to take up a collaborative artistic and educational residency for acting graduates in the United States. Six acting graduates (Justin Adams, Annika Boras, O-T Fagbenle, Katie Krane, Lauren Swann and Kett Turton) along with RADA Associate Director Nona Shepphard embarked on this two-week residency at Vineyard Arts Project, Martha’s Vineyard from 16 to 30 August 2011. The company worked on a new play called RIOT written by David Simpatico and Savianna Stanescu which focused on the riots in London. The piece was performed publicly to the local community in Martha’s Vineyard. This program is now closed.
RADA’s Sara Sugarman Bursaries
In 2007 ASRADA received a generous grant from The Annenberg Foundation which afforded ASRADA the opportunity to help with the creation of and funding for RADA’s Sara Sugarman Bursaries – a writers-on-attachment program providing two annual scholarships for young writers in honor of RADA graduate and producer Sara Sugarman. This program is now closed.