The Foundation pursues its objective through the discretionary giving of grants, and whilst we welcome interest from composers, artists and performers, we do not invite general applications for grants, and any such applications are unlikely to be successful.

Grants the Trustees make in general need to meet the following criteria:

• the purpose of the grant is to result in the public performance, dissemination or exhibition of a new piece of contemporary art (“the work”)
• the work must be capable of being performed or shown in public
• the work should be high quality and have the potential to be significant within its field
• the work should be capable of longevity (eg through being recorded, written down, or through being scored or notated for further future performances)
• for artists, the award of the grant should stretch their creative boundaries beyond their current artistic scope
• venues in receipt of a grant must provide access to the work for the disadvantaged (eg subsidised or free tickets for the unwaged)
• grant recipients where relevant must commit to have the work performed in public by a specified date
• grant recipients may be requested by the Trustees to give a public talk to accompany the performance of the work

Helen Webb

Helen has a lifetime interest in dance.  A former teacher and lawyer, she is now a patron of the Royal Ballet School and the Rambert Dance Company.   She has previously been a freelance reviewer of dance for various titles.

John E McGrath

John has spent his career working in contemporary theatre and performing arts.  John was appointed Artistic Director of the Manchester International Festival from November 2015. Before that he was for seven years the inaugral Director of the National Theatre of Wales.  He advises the Arts Council of England and the British Council. In 2005 he was awarded the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) Cultural Leadership Award.

Nick Archer

Following a career as a diplomat in which Nick sustained a close engagement with the arts, he became Chief Executive of the Rothschild Foundation. For government he delivered the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Milan Expo – now The Hive at Kew Gardens – and the 2015 GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai. His special love is music – he was a boy chorister and is a pianist – and he has enjoyed close relationships with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic in particular.

Richard Thomas

Richard has a longstanding interest in supporting contemporary art, music and dance.  His career has included leading professional service firms, being an occupational psychologist, and being a policy official at HM Treasury.   Between 2002 and 2012 he was trustee and latterly chairman of  the national charity Pilotlight, from which he brings his knowledge of charity governance and organisational structures.  In 2012 he founded the commissioning circle for the Manchester International Festival. In 2016 he became the inaugral chair of the dance company, New Movement Collective.

Richard Thomas Foundation

Registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales Charity No: 1136375

Registered Address: 32 The Pryors, East Heath Rd, London NW3 1BS

Trustees: N.S.Archer  J.E.McGrath  C.R.V.Thomas H.E.Webb

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid tax relief for UK taxpayers. Download Gift Aid declaration form

Bank:  National Westminster Bank, PO Box 2BA, 69 Baker Street, London W1U 6AT

Accountant and Independent Examiner: MHR Consultancy

Junk Ibu Limited

Company Registration No: 09476006 (England & Wales)

Registered Address: Ferneberga House, Alexandra Road, Farnborough, GU14 6DQ

Directors:  S.A.Guild   C.R.V.Thomas   J.K.Zeußel