| My funding campaign... |
| For those facing similar circumstances... The search for drama funding is a frustrating one, with very limited opportunites. However, all schools encourage prospective students to look for potential contributors as soon as possible (a good start is www/ncdt.co.uk/funding), the process itself being a case of profuse letter writing to possible sponsors. These can include local businesses, charities and trusts, but the task of convincing such organisations that your cause is a sufficiently worthy one is difficult to say the least. To date, I have written approximately thirty letters and am currently awaiting replies. However, it is of crucial importance when applying that (a) you check your eligibility, (b) you detail your case as clearly and efficently as possible, (c) you supply a SAE to guarantee response and address it to the right person, and (d) that you offer something in return. The last point is particularly important when approaching businesses or trusts who do not specialise in the arts. In such cases, it will be an organisations (much more generalised) commitment to the 'local community' that you will be appealing to. By offering to publicise any contribution made, be it via local newspaper, website or through a school, this at least promises that any contribution will be publically acknowledged, thus turning your application into a potential PR opportunity for the business or trust you have approached. Getting your local paper to run a feature on your plight can be invaluable in such cases, and I intend to run a separate funraising campaign through mine (the good old Shepton Mallet Gazzette) in the spring. Oh, and for those of you applying to do a one year acting course, contacting the AHRB as soon as possible is a great first step - they regualrly contribute to tuition fees, sometimes even paying the whole thing! |
| To potential sponsors - Having completed three years at university, complete with overdraft and student loan repayments, the prospect of beginning another three years training is financially scary. As a result I have started work in my local area, but I realise that this alone will not be enough to guarantee making my financial target. Therefore, any contributions from trusts, charities or businesses would be invaluable. In order to clarify my financial position, I have estimated an approximate budget for the academic year 2004-5: Expenditure Tuition fees �1025 Accomodation �5000 (London) or �2500 (Birmingham/Cardiff) Books/Equipment �200 Food �1500 Travel �500 Bills �500 Total �8725 (London) or �6225 (Birmingham/Cardiff) Income Student Loan �1100 Weekend work (possible) �500-1500 I have only just managed to clear most of my overdraft by the new year, and at the moment the only work I have managed to get in my local area will earn me a maximum of �3-4000 after tax before I am due to begin my training. Being a graduate, any possibility of parental contributions is also completely out of the question. Therefore, ANY CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED, JUST LET ME KNOW! Its about now that I ask myself why I didn't get myself richer friends with philanthrophic tendencies.... |
| "Nowadays a drama student needs not only to have acting talent, but also be something of an entrepreneur in order to find sponsorship for his or her training, which is ludicrous" Sir Anthony Hopkins, Equity Journal 1994 |
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| A Cool Million at the Latchmere Theatre, 2002 |