FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2010Contact: Robin Reid, Communications Coordinator
608.232.1763
rreid@madisoncommunityfoundation.org Madison Community Foundation Creates New Fund to Support Professional Theater at Overture CenterThe Madison Community Foundation is pleased to announce a new competitive grant to support professional theater in Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts. Professional theater companies seeking to perform at the Overture Center may submit grant applications to the Pleasant Rowland Great Performance Fund for Theater in Overture Center Fund in MCF’s fall grant cycle. The grant dollars, totaling approximately $140,000 annually, are for the purpose of supporting costs associated with live theater productions.
The Fund was created in 2001 as part of the Great Performance Campaign, which resulted in $46 million in endowment funds for Overture’s eight resident organizations (Madison Symphony Orchestra; Madison Opera; WI Academy of Arts, Sciences, and Letters; Madison Repertory Theatre; WI Chamber Orchestra; Madison Museum of Contemporary Art; Madison Ballet; and Children’s Theater of Madison).
The Fund’s original purpose was to support Madison Repertory Theatre performances in the Overture Center. With the Madison Rep’s dissolution in 2009, the Madison Community Foundation Board of Governors examined various opportunities to honor the original intent of the donors, concluding that the Fund should support a broad array of professional theatre in the Overture Center.
“Conditions have changed since the fund’s inception in 2001,” explains Tom Linfield, Vice President, Grantmaking & Community Initiatives of Madison Community Foundation. “But the demand for live, professional theater remains strong. This fund will not only help support that demand, but also continue the rich legacy of high quality theater in the Madison area.”
Eligible applicants must be a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status professional theatre operating primarily in the State of Wisconsin. Applicant organizations must also meet three of the following four requirements to apply:
a) Have an equity contract
b) Have a minimum of three self-produced productions per year for two consecutive years.
c) Pay a contracted fee and/or salary to two or more actors for each production.
d) Pay a contracted fee and/or salary to at least one member of its support staff.
Applicants will follow the traditional MCF grantmaking process and timeline, which requires submission of a letter of inquiry, by July 15th, 2010. Full proposals will be due September 1st, with funding decisions made by end of October. In subsequent years the fund will be available in both the MCF spring and fall grant cycles.
Madison Community Foundation has long been a supporter of the arts in the Dane County. Through competitive grantmaking, donor distributions and endowment investment the MCF has distributed over $13 million to local arts organizations in just the last five years. Projects supported include exhibitions, performances, art education, capital campaigns and the building of arts organization endowments. The new Theater Fund will ensure that professional theater at the Overture Center continues to be supported for generations to come.
Madison Community Foundation encourages, facilitates and manages philanthropy. The Madison Community Foundation was established in 1942 as a tax-exempt community trust and is governed by a Board of Governors representing the broad interests of the community. Individuals and organizations interested in establishing an endowment with Madison Community Foundation or donating money to its general fund may get more details online at www.madisoncommunityfoundation.org.
###