New culture scheme will give away unsold London gig tickets for free
The Ticket Bank will make about 1,000 tickets per week to London venues, like the Roundhouse and Barbican, available to people who cannot afford them in the ongoing cost of living crisis
A new scheme will give away unsold tickets for cultural events in London next year.
A Cultural Philanthropy Foundation programme, Ticket Bank will launch in January and make about 1,000 tickets to London theatres and cultural venues available to people who cannot afford them, according to the Guardian. The Roundhouse and the Barbican are among the scheme's early partners, as well as several threatres like The National Threatre, The Almeida Theatre and Tara Theatre, with more venues anticipated to sign on again of January.
“Access to art and culture are essential to the human condition, a human right," said Chris Sonnex, artistic director of Cardboard Citizens and cofounder of Ticket Bank. "If people can’t afford these riches, society is poorer off... [Ticket Bank] is a real act of change, and it will give many people, who couldn’t otherwise, the opportunity to be entertained, to see other worlds, to escape and most importantly to dream."
Ticket Bank is partnering with food banks and housing charities like Trussell Trust, Centrepoint, Longford Trust and more to increase awareness and accessibility in the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Cultural Philanthropy Foundation chair Caroline McCormick told the Guardian, “My hope is that other parts of the UK will take on the idea and replicate it in their areas."
Learn more about Ticket Bank and donate to the programme here.
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