Access to The Arts ™ is a national outreach and funding programme, run by READ College (a registered charity). Since the organisation was founded back in 2008, we have always whole-heartedly believed that the Performing Arts should be open to anyone who has the passion and drive to forge a career in the industry. All too often, however, people don’t see themselves reflected on stage and on screen, don’t know how to access training for a professional career, or simply cannot afford to train. That’s where Access to The Arts ™ comes in.

All of our outreach work is free to access and is delivered across the UK in communities identified as being under-represented or disadvantaged, and who can most benefit from our work. Our Widening Participation & Outreach Co-Ordinator, Amelia Stevenson, is an alumna of READ with a successful and creative career under her belt and delivers practical skills workshops, Q&A clinics and careers advice sessions in order to support people into further training. As a registered charity, there is no charge to any individual or organisation wishing to benefit from our outreach programme, and we welcome contact from schools, colleges, youth and community groups who would like to find out more about how we can help them and their young people. Workshops and courses range from a few hours to a few days depending upon the project, and our aim is to really encourage and support young people at the grass roots level to help them take the first steps into vocational training and to become artists in their own right.

Access to The Arts ™ also provides bursaries to overcome barriers to training for those who have successfully auditioned for full-time places at READ College’s Sixth Form and Foundation courses. Bursaries for READ are awarded on a means-tested basis, and are generated from charitable events, grants and donations. If you, your company, or anyone you know is able to support our work then you can make one-off or regular donations via our website.