Black Ticket Project

<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>THE HI’S AND HELLO’S</strong></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello! We are Black Ticket Project, or BTP for short. We work as a bridge organisation between independent youth workers, schools, youth groups, charities and youth arts companies and cultural institutions and organisations to widen cultural access for Black young people across England.<br><br>Founded in 2018, we work with to help build relationships between artistic institutions and communities that are often racially and socio-economically marginalised. We achieve this in a multitude of ways, including:</div><br><ul><li>Supplying free theatre tickets to young people, as well as other creative shows, talks and exhibitions</li><li>Organising free training and development opportunities for young people</li><li>Helping young people access opportunities easier by helping cover travel, accommodation and per diems costs</li><li>Covering the costs of resources and materials that may stop young people from learning or participating</li><li>Mentorship and connecting young people with industry professionals</li><li>...and anything else we can do to help!</li></ul><br>We define ‘Black’ as of Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage who identify as such.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>HOW DID YOU GET HERE?</strong></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Good question! In 2017, Inua Ellams' <strong>Barber Shop Chronicles</strong> made its debut at the National Theatre - a compelling, explosive, funny and charming story connecting Black men in barbershops all over the world. Despite the international success of Barber Shop Chronicles, it felt like something was missing in the audience development of the show. Noticing this, Tobi - with the help of friends - paid for 30 Black young people to see the show, outreaching via social media.<br><br>At the beginning of 2018, Tobi then officially partnered with the National Theatre to raise money for young people to see <strong>Nine Night </strong>by Natasha Gordon, directed by Roy Alexander-Weise. Nine Night is a play about sorrow, traditions and family, focusing on the Jamaican tradition of ‘Nine Nights’ of mourning when someone passes away. After launching a crowdfunder titled <strong>#BlackNineNight</strong>, in just 3 days she raised £2,500. Tobi connected with youth groups, charities, organisations and individuals that she felt would be interested in the show. In total, 253 Black young people were given a ticket to the show.<br><br>Altogether, across both Barber Shop Chronicles and Nine Night, almost 300 Black young people visited the National Theatre. For many of them, it would’ve been the first time they were going to the theatre.<br><br>At the end of 2018, it was estimated that over 1,000 Black young people accessed more than 1 theatre production through Black Ticket Project, and by the end of 2019, approximately 7,000 tickets had been distributed across England!</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>THAT’S GREAT, BUT WHY DO YOU DO IT?</strong></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">We don’t believe that what BTP does is particularly radical or revolutionary. What we do is achievable by any organisation, especially those with much more resource and funding than us. With that being said, we are invested in long-term, sustainable relationships being built between communities and institutions. That is why our database of communities access several shows and opportunities through us. These experiences shouldn’t feel like a phenomenon, they should be regular and a part of the cultural upbringing of young people today.<br><br>We believe the arts and creativity can be a powerful tool if distributed fairly and adequately. Representation goes beyond seeing a reflection of yourself. It is about the everyday living of communities becoming the norm and the default. </div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>COOL, SO WHAT’S NEXT?</strong></div><strong></strong><br><div style="text-align: justify;">We want to continue to build communities around England and the rest of the U.K., as well as building more opportunities for training and professional development. In the future, we hope to host more networking and mentoring opportunities, travelling opportunities for young people to visit different cities and continue to provide tickets for performances.<br><br>We’d also like to boost our team! Black Ticket Project is currently a one-woman band, so we’ll be looking into funding opportunities to grow the initiative and to reach more people.</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>COUNT ME IN - HOW CAN I HELP?</strong></div><strong></strong><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Talk about us! Spread the word and feel free to introduce us to communities you think could benefit from what we do.You can contact us on <a href="mailto:blackticketproject@gmail.com">blackticketproject@gmail.com</a>.<br><br>You can also sign up to our Patreon and donate to us every month to help financially support the work we do. All funds go towards the work we do.</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>ABOUT THE FOUNDER</strong></div><strong></strong><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Tobi Kyeremateng is a multi award-winning Cultural Producer with 9 years’ experience in performance, festivals and film. Recent credits include: <strong>My White Best Friend (and Other Letters Left Unsaid) by Rachel De-Lahay and Milli Bhatia</strong> (Royal Court Theatre),&nbsp;<strong>The Future Is Near</strong> (Tate Modern), <strong>J’Ouvert</strong>&nbsp;<strong>by Yasmin Joseph</strong> (Theatre503), <strong>BABYLON Festival</strong> (Bush Theatre), <strong>AFRO-CITY Festival </strong>(Roundhouse), <strong>Pagans</strong> (Old Vic Theatre). Film credits include: <strong>Wishbone</strong> (NOWNESS) and <strong>Secret Life of Gs</strong> by Caleb Femi, and <strong>Roots For A Crown</strong> (NOWNESS, 180 The Strand: Prada Mode) and <strong>In Praise Of Still Boys</strong> (FACT Magazine, Vinyl Factory) by Julianknxx.<br><br>Tobi has worked with organisations such as: <strong>AFROPUNK, Apples and Snakes, Battersea Arts Centre, gal-dem, Nike</strong> and <strong>Samsung</strong>, and has won awards including: ‘<strong>Inspiration of the Year</strong>’Award (Stylist Magazine’s inaugural Remarkable Women Awards 2019), ‘<strong>Best Producer</strong>’ (inaugural Black British Theatre Awards 2019), the ‘<strong>Arts &amp; Culture</strong>’ Award (Women Of The Future Awards 2019) and ‘<strong>Special Award: Producer</strong>’ (The OFFIES 2020).<br><br>She is the founder of award-winning initiative <strong>Black Ticket Project </strong>and is currently writing her debut non-fiction book, ‘<strong>THEATRE SH*T</strong>’, to be published by Jacaranda Books in 2021.</div>

Free

You'll be supporting our general activity with roughly £4 a month, which will go towards our projects, workshops, and financial subsidised support. We'll send you a bespoke 'Thank You' message as gratitude and you'll have access to our monthly updates.

High-Fiver!

$10 (£8) is roughly the price of a ticket for a young person at some of our favourite Off West-End theatres. With the Black Ticket Pledge, you'll be paying a ticket forward for a young person each month.<br><br>With this, we'll send you a bespoke 'Thank You' message to show our gratitude and an official Black Ticket Project badge!

Black Ticket Pledge

$20 (roughly £16) a month supports at least two young people to access a show. With this Paying It Forward pledge, we'll send you a bespoke 'Thank You' message as gratitude, an official Black Ticket Project badge and tote bag and you'll have access to our monthly updates!

Paying It Forward

Wow, $100! This will help subsidise travel, accommodation, and hospitality for young people across England to access opportunities and shows. With this pledge, you'll get everything noted in the other pledges, plus access to one workshop or mentoring session with Tobi Kyeremateng a year.

Choose your membership