The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has received the first external donation of £250,000 to its fund-raising campaign, 'A Stage for Success', from the Linbury Trust established by Lord John and Lady Anya Sainsbury.

Raising funds

The campaign is raising funds towards the College’s £22.5 million redevelopment project due to open in 2010.

The College has a close association with the Linbury Trust through its involvement in the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design in which Royal Welsh College students have always excelled.

This is an impressive and important project for our capital city and we are incredibly grateful to the Linbury Trust for this generous giftBryn Terfel

Wonderful endorsement

Hilary Boulding, Principal at the Royal Welsh College told 4BR: "This is a wonderful endorsement of our plans from a major UK foundation and will help enormously in our discussions with other funders as we progress the Campaign. Lady Anya Sainsbury has worked closely with the College for many years and this is a testament to her belief in the College and its new future."

Fabulous news

Patron Bryn Terfel commented: "This is fabulous news and a great incentive to the Stage for Success fundraising campaign which we launched in November. This is an impressive and important project for our capital city and we are incredibly grateful to the Linbury Trust for this generous gift. Lets hope its the first of many."

Planning permission

Planning permission has been granted for the multi-million pound development, to create a suite of world class training and performance facilities. 80% of the funding for the £22.5 million scheme is already in place, including a grant of £10 million from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The College now aims to raise £3.5 million and is seeking support from donors across Wales and the UK. Bryn Terfel launched the fund-raising campaign, A Stage for Success, in November this year. The College has also received a £100,000 pledge from the Student’s Union’s limited company, MADSU ltd.