A Scottish charity has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for theatre tickets for children from poorer backgrounds
A Scottish charity is asking theatre goers to support its bid to introduce less well-off children to the arts by donating money for free tickets for families who can't afford to attend producations.
Arts and early years organisation Starcatchers is hoping to raise £800 so it can offer free seats to 45 families at theatres in St Andrews, Glasgow and Stirling.
The families well get to attend MamaBabaMe, a production by Starcatchers and Edinburgh based dance company Curious Seed. The new dance, live music and theatre experience is written for babies aged 18 months to three years and their parents and carers.
The Forward for Families fundraiser was launched by the charity because it ees the theatre as a way to enrich the lives and improve the health and wellbeing of young people regardless of their background.
Rhona Matheson, chief executive of Starcatchers said: “Babies and the adults who care for them are at the heart of everything that we do at Starcatchers.
“We believe that arts and creativity has the power to transform lives and therefore wanted to explore a new fundraising model to make our work available to families despite their financial or social circumstances.
“We understand the power that a theatrical experience can have on very young children, especially when that experience is shared with a significant adult in their life.”
Donation options start at £5, with £20 needed to admit an adult and a child together to any of the shows.
The pilot phase of the scheme will test how audiences respond but the fund is central to Starcatchers touring model, providing seats for all families at future productions at venues across Scotland.
The three venues – The Byre Theatre, Platform and MacRobert Arts Centre – will initially find families by engaging with service providers, health workers and nurseries who serve those within the community who are most in need.
Christine Devaney, artistic director of Curious Seed, said: “I’m so pleased that MamaBabaMe is the show that Starcatchers is piloting this amazing scheme with.
“It seems like such a simple and direct way that anyone who believes in the value of art and culture can support others accessing it.”
Forward for Families fundraiser runs until 19 May.
