Trust Awards $1 Million in Arts Grants to 21 Small and Medium-Sized Cultural Groups

Contact: Ani Hurwitz, vice president,
Communications
P: 212-686-0010 ext 224
E: afh@nyct-cfi.org
www.nycommunitytrust.org

The New York Community Trust Awards $1 Million in Arts Grants

21 Small and Medium-Sized Cultural Groups Get Funding

New York, June 11--As incubators of talent and laboratories for the creative process, small and mid-sized arts groups spice up the City’s cultural stew—and fuel an important part of our economy.  In an effort to make sure that the recession doesn’t get them on the endangered species list, or worse, The New York Community Trust has made grants totaling $1,000,000 to 21 groups that provide New Yorkers and global audiences with outstanding dance, theater, and literary experiences. All grants are for operating support, an exception to Trust policy, and are for two years.

Asian American Writers’ Workshop, $30,000 for readings, panel discussions, book launches, and writing workshops focused on Asian-American writers.

Atlantic Theater Company, $40,000 for the company’s new play development and production program.

Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, $20,000 for a performing arts group geared to Latino, women, and gay and lesbian artists and audiences.  Works include an adaptation of the Wizard of Oz set in the South Bronx, and readings by poet Eileen Myles and playwright Sarah Schulman.

Buglisi Dance Theatre, $30,000 to support a contemporary dance company that will tour nationally, as well as hold 40 performances, workshops, and other events for City audiences.

Chez Bushwick, $30,000 for a Brooklyn contemporary dance group that showcases emerging choreographers, houses international residencies, and provides low-rent rehearsal space.

Chocolate Factory Theater, $20,000 for a small theater in Queens that develops and presents experimental plays and contemporary dance.

Evidence, $60,000, a company that blends dance forms from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, with storytelling and modern and urban dance movement. It will perform at various Brooklyn venues and hold workshops at Medger Evers College and the Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation. 

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, $60,000 for a Flamenco dance company which, in addition to regular performances, runs a “Flamenco in the Boros” program and is preserving the oral histories of flamenco in New York with the New York Public Library,

House Foundation for the Arts, $50,000 for an interdisciplinary performance group founded by Meredith Monk. The company is also starting an after-school program at LaGuardia High School to teach the interdisciplinary performance.

Joyce Theater Foundation, $60,000 for dance presentations at the Joyce Soho.

LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, $60,000 to present and produce internationally diverse theater and dance at its theater at LaGuardia Community College. The Center’s LAB program also awards free rehearsal space to 12 dance and theater groups, giving them technical assistance, marketing support, and use of its theater.

La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, $60,000, an important venue for emerging theater, to present 60 productions, workshops, and reading of new and developing plays.

Latino International Theater Festival of New York, $30,000 for a presenter of Latino theater. In addition to featuring artists from New York, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain at a summer theater festival, this presenter will also develop and stage readings of four plays by winners of its high school playwriting competition.

Poets House, $60,000 for readings, lectures, workshops, and seminars year round.

Pregones Touring Puerto Rican Theater Collection, $60,000 for a Bronx theater ensemble that performs and tours productions rooted in Boriqua tradition. In addition to its bilingual performances in its 130-seat theater, it will hold educational workshops, master classes, and host other performing companies.

Shen Wei Dance Arts, $60,000 for the company’s ongoing work to fuse theater, visual arts, Chinese opera, Asian philosophy, and modern dance.

651 Arts, $50,000 for African-American dance, theater, and literary performances at Brooklyn venues such as the BAM Harvey Theater and the Kumble Theater at Long Island University. In addition, they will provide residencies to two artists, which include time spent working with youth in Brooklyn high schools.

SoHo Repertory Theatre, $50,000 for a small theater that develops and produces experimental American plays. The theater creates new plays in its Writer/Director Lab by pairing six emerging playwrights and directors.

STREB, $60,000 for a contemporary dance company in Williamsburg known for its athleticism, acrobatics, and gravity-defying performances. Forty dance, trapeze, and aerial yoga classes are offered weekly in the STREB Lab for Action Mechanics.

Thalia Theatre, $50,000 for its plays and musicals in English and Spanish that celebrate Hispanic culture, along with interactive musicals, a Three Kings Day celebration, and bilingual theater workshops for kids.

Urban Bush Women, $60,000 for a Brooklyn African-American dance company. Just off a tour of South America as an official cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department, this dance troupe will be performing for local audiences at Harlem Stage and the Joyce among other venues. Dancers will lead residencies at Queensborough College, Long Island University, and the 92nd St. Y.