Katie Bradford Arts Trust

The Katie Bradford Arts Trust is a grant-making charity established in March 2019 by founder Katie Bradford, who chairs a four-person board including sector experts Josephine Hilton, Evelyn Isobel Smith, and Timothy Dutton KC. Its core mission is to advance culture and performing arts in England and Wales, with particular emphasis on theatre and opera, promoting artistic excellence, public access, and sector sustainability through strategic support for high-quality organisations rather than individuals.

The Trust funds performing arts initiatives, prioritising theatre and opera productions, training, artist development, and organisational programmes that enrich cultural life and nurture emerging talent. Beneficiaries are typically established charities like the Royal Shakespeare Company and JMK Trust, focusing on live performances, creative capacity-building, and public appreciation of the arts, with grants enabling tangible impact in the voluntary sector.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities operating across England and Wales, with a preference for medium-to-large, high-impact organisations demonstrating sector leadership and proven track records; no strict income thresholds apply, but support targets significant players over grassroots groups. Funding is invite-only, with no unsolicited applications, open calls, or deadlines—decisions are made proactively by trustees on an ad hoc basis aligned with their meetings.

Typical grants range from £5,000 to £30,000 for project and programme support. The Trust excludes individuals, scholarships, emergencies, or non-performing arts activities, distinguishing itself through its laser-focused thematic commitment, founder-driven governance, and backing of excellence-driven institutions that sustain theatre and opera's cultural prominence.