Netflix has made a £500,000 donation to a fund set up by director Sam Mendes to help theatre workers “at breaking point”.
The Theatre Artists Fund promises one-off grants of £1000 to freelance arts workers in need of immediate cash, with Netflix donating the initial £500,000 one month after Mendes asked the streaming service to give “a fraction of their Covid-19 windfall to help those who have been mortally wounded”.
Speaking about the fund, the Skyfall director said: “It is specifically designed for theatre workers who find themselves at breaking point, for those unable to put food on the table or to pay bills, or for those considering leaving the profession altogether.”
He explained that grants were “not for buildings, or regular staff, but for freelance artists who actually make the shows that the public pay to see”.
The news comes as the UK government announced on Sunday (5 July) after months of silence that it would be offering a £1.5bn lifeline to help theatres, independent cinemas and other arts organisations stay in business while coronavirus forces them to remain closed.
