London ‘Ticket Bank’ To Donate Unsold Theater Tickets To Less Fortunate

As the cost of living rises across the globe, many may no longer be able to put money towards leisure or the arts. As such, a new scheme dubbed The Ticket Bank has emerged in London to put thousands of unsold theater tickets to good use. 

Beginning January 2023, seven major arts organizations—including the Barbican, the National Theatre, the Almeida Theatre, Bush Theatre, Gate Theatre, Tara Theatre, and the Roundhouse—will donate leftover tickets to the less fortunate. 

According to Artnet News, the concept was first thought up by Chris Sonnex, the artistic director of Cardboard Citizens, a local charity that stages theater performances together with, and for, those who have experienced poverty and homelessness. 

Citing arts and culture as having a “massive effect” on a person’s mental wellbeing, Sonnex told the BBC that due to the high cost of ticket prices at many theaters, “whole rafts of people are being excluded” from the experience. 

The scheme will tap into charities across the city to distribute tickets on behalf of venues, which may be in the form of special access codes to those struggling with the cost of living crisis. These individuals can then either choose a free ticket or “donate what you can.” 

As Gillian Jackson, from The House of St Barnabas, puts it, the program hopes that everyone has access to culture, as it’s one of the first sectors of life to go when finances are tight, but “is one of the most important things that we have as humans.” 

Going forward, more venues are expected to join in on the effort, and could see as many as over 50,000 free tickets available for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to attend these events. 

[via Artnet News and BBC, cover image via VVShots | Dreamstime.com]