The Common Humanity Arts Trust

Charity Number: 1185182

Annual Expenditure: £0.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1185182
  • Annual Income: £1,237,214 (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: UK (England) and South Africa
  • Founded: 2019 (registered)
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only/trustee discretion

Contact Details

Registered Office: London, England

Note: This organization does not have a publicly listed website, email, or phone number for grant applications.

Overview

The Common Humanity Arts Trust is a private charitable trust registered in 2019, closely associated with theatre producer Eric Abraham and his wife, philanthropist Sigrid Rausing. With an annual income of approximately £1.2 million, the trust operates as a vehicle for supporting theatrical productions and cultural initiatives, primarily in the UK and South Africa. Unlike traditional grant-making foundations, the trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, it proactively identifies and supports specific theatrical projects aligned with its founders' vision, particularly productions connected to the Royal Court Theatre in London and South African theatre initiatives. The trust operates through trustee discretion, with no trustees receiving remuneration, indicating a hands-on philanthropic approach from its founders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Common Humanity Arts Trust does not operate formal grant programs with application cycles or published funding amounts. Instead, the trust provides financial support for specific theatre projects identified and selected by its trustees.

Known Support Areas:

  • Theatre Productions: Direct production funding for new plays and adaptations in the UK and South Africa
  • Institutional Support: Partnership funding with established theatres including the Royal Court Theatre in London
  • New Play Development: Support for developing new theatrical works in both UK and South African contexts

Priority Areas

Based on documented activities, the trust prioritizes:

  • New Play Development: Supporting the creation of original theatrical works, particularly those addressing contemporary social issues
  • UK-South Africa Cultural Exchange: Funding productions that connect British and South African theatre communities
  • LGBTQ+ Stories and Social Justice Themes: Supporting plays that explore marginalized experiences and challenge societal norms (evidenced by support for productions like “Moffie”)
  • Established Theatre Venues: Partnering with recognized institutions such as Royal Court Theatre, Baxter Theatre Centre, and the former Fugard Theatre
  • Professional Theatre Productions: Focus on fully realized professional productions rather than community or amateur theatre

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, based on the trust's pattern of activity, they do not appear to support:

  • Open applications from unknown organizations or individuals
  • Community theatre or amateur productions
  • Arts education programs outside of professional theatre context
  • Individual artist grants or bursaries
  • Capital projects or building funds (outside of their founders' direct initiatives)
  • Projects without connection to their established network
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Governance and Leadership

The trust is closely connected to its founders, Eric Abraham and Sigrid Rausing, though specific trustee names are not publicly listed in available sources.

Eric Abraham is a South African-British theatre and film producer, former BBC journalist, and anti-apartheid activist who was exiled from South Africa in 1977. He founded Portobello Pictures in 1985 and has produced Academy Award-winning films including “Ida” and “Kolya.” In 2010, he commissioned and underwrote the R18 million development of The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town (which operated until 2021). Abraham has maintained strong connections to both UK theatre (particularly Royal Court Theatre) and South African cultural institutions throughout his career.

Sigrid Rausing is a Swedish-British philanthropist, anthropologist, and publisher, heiress to the Tetra Pak fortune. She founded the Sigrid Rausing Trust, one of the UK's largest philanthropic foundations focused on human rights, which by 2014 had distributed approximately £208.3 million globally. Together with Abraham, she co-founded Portobello Books publishing house in 2005.

The trust operates with volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, indicating a personal philanthropic commitment from its leadership.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Common Humanity Arts Trust does not have a public application process.

The trust operates on an invitation-only basis, with funding decisions made at the discretion of its trustees. Projects are typically identified through the founders' existing networks in the UK and South African theatre sectors, rather than through open calls for applications.

Organizations seeking support from this trust cannot submit unsolicited grant applications. The trust appears to function as a private philanthropic vehicle enabling Eric Abraham and Sigrid Rausing to support theatrical projects they personally identify and champion.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the trust's connection to specific individuals and institutions, potential beneficiaries would need to:

Build Connections Through Established Networks:

  • Royal Court Theatre: The trust has demonstrated support for Royal Court Theatre productions and initiatives. Organizations or artists with Royal Court connections may be more likely to come to the trust's attention.
  • Greg Karvellas: Theatre director Greg Karvellas is documented as developing new plays for the Common Humanity Arts Trust in both the UK and South Africa. He previously served as the first artistic director of the Fugard Theatre and is based in Berlin, working across Europe, UK, and South Africa.
  • Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town: The trust has partnered with the Baxter Theatre on productions, indicating an existing relationship with this venue.

Focus on UK-South Africa Cultural Exchange: Projects that bridge British and South African theatre communities appear to align with the founders' interests, given Eric Abraham's South African heritage and continued engagement with both countries' theatre scenes.

Note: Even with these connections, there is no guarantee of funding, as the trust operates purely on trustee discretion.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept applications, traditional “success factors” do not apply. However, examining their documented funding reveals what they value:

Projects They Have Supported:

  • “Moffie” (2024-2025): Produced by Eric Abraham for The Common Humanity Arts Trust, this stage adaptation of André Carl van der Merwe's biographical novel about conscription in apartheid-era South Africa premiered in London to critical acclaim (nominated for four Off West End Awards) before transferring to Cape Town's Baxter Theatre. The production exemplifies the trust's interest in bold storytelling about South African history, LGBTQ+ experiences, and social justice themes.

Alignment Factors:

  1. Personal Connection to Founders: All documented support involves projects with direct connections to Eric Abraham or individuals in his professional network
  2. Artistic Excellence: Productions supported have achieved critical recognition (e.g., Olivier Awards, Off West End Award nominations)
  3. Social Relevance: Focus on plays addressing contemporary issues around identity, justice, masculinity, and historical trauma
  4. Professional Production Values: Support for fully realized professional productions rather than development-stage work
  5. UK-South Africa Cultural Bridge: Projects that connect these two theatre communities reflect the founders' biographical connections to both countries

Strategic Approach:

Unlike traditional grant-makers where applicants must demonstrate need and impact, The Common Humanity Arts Trust appears to operate more like a production company or commissioner, with the founders acting as executive producers who identify projects they wish to champion and bring to audiences.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not an accessible funder for most organizations: The Common Humanity Arts Trust operates as a private philanthropic vehicle without public applications, making it inappropriate for inclusion in most grant-seeking strategies
  • Network connections are essential: The only documented path to support involves personal or professional connections to Eric Abraham, Sigrid Rausing, Greg Karvellas, or partner institutions like Royal Court Theatre
  • UK-South Africa focus is specific: Organizations working exclusively in other geographic regions are unlikely to align with the trust's demonstrated interests
  • Professional theatre only: The trust supports professional theatrical productions, not community arts, education programs, or amateur theatre
  • Consider the Sigrid Rausing Trust instead: Organizations seeking accessible grant funding in the arts and culture sector should note that Sigrid Rausing's separate foundation (The Sigrid Rausing Trust) focuses primarily on human rights rather than arts funding
  • Monitor supported productions: Arts organizations can track which productions the trust supports to understand evolving interests, though this intelligence is unlikely to open funding opportunities without direct network connections
  • Eric Abraham as producer: Some organizations may find it more productive to approach Eric Abraham through his production company (Portobello Productions) as a potential producer rather than seeking charitable grants from this trust

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