The Mo Siewcharran Fund has announced the latest four recipients of its grant awards to support Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse talent entering the creative industries, according to leading social enterprise Creative Access. In the second funding round of 2026, grants have been awarded to community venue Park Theatre, historic London theatre The Old Vic, live event producers Trigger Productions, and independent publisher Hurst Publishers.
Administered by Creative Access, the Mo Siewcharran Fund provides grants toward six-month paid traineeships alongside a structured programme of mentoring, training, and professional guidance. The initiative aims to lower barriers to entry across publishing, theatre, and music by supporting organizations committed to fostering inclusive work environments.
Since its establishment in 2018, the fund has enabled 65 ethnically diverse trainees to launch careers across the arts sector. Long-term tracking reveals high success rates, with 65% of participants securing permanent employment following their placements and 70% remaining within the creative industries. Beyond supporting emerging talent, over two-thirds of host employers reported that participating in the scheme improved their internal capacity to support colleagues from under-represented backgrounds.
At The Old Vic, the grant will support an internship within the Education and Community team, offering hands-on experience and industry connections for an aspiring arts professional. Park Theatre will introduce a paid traineeship within its artistic team, while Trigger Productions plans to host a specialist role in performance archiving. Hurst Publishers will welcome a new trainee to support its global publishing output.
The fund was established by John Seaton in memory of his late wife, Mo Siewcharran, a former Director of Marketing and Communications at Nielsen Books who was passionate about increasing diversity across the arts.
Following the latest announcements, the Mo Siewcharran Fund will open its next grant round for publishing, theatre, and music organizations seeking to host paid trainees. Applications for the upcoming round close on Thursday 26 November 2026.
