NEW YORK CITY — The Shubert Foundation has awarded a record total of $30 million to 533 not-for-profit performing arts organizations across the United States. Two thousand nineteen marks the 38th consecutive year that the Foundation has increased its giving. “Our longstanding practice of providing help in the form of general operating support remains unchanged. We are convinced that talented artists and administrators are best able to decide how to use the funds we grant,” said Michael I. Sovern, The Shubert Foundation’s President.  

The Shubert Foundation is especially interested in providing support to professional resident theatre and dance companies that develop and produce new American work. “Every organization receiving a 2018 Foundation grant has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the performing arts,” said The Shubert Foundation’s Chairman, Philip J. Smith. “We want to help lift some of the financial burden so that the companies we support are able to focus on producing thought-provoking, relevant work for the widest possible audience.”

The Shubert Foundation is one the nation’s largest funders dedicated to unrestricted support for not-for-profit theatres, dance companies, professional theatre training programs, and related service agencies. Ranging from $10,000 to $325,000, the grants benefit a broad spectrum of arts organizations, from large to small, covering a wide range of locations, from urban to rural.

"The Shubert Foundation's deep commitment to the nonprofit theatre is the reason New York City is the theatre capital of the world. Our work truly wouldn't be possible without their general operating support. They make June the best month of the year!" said Ginny LouLoudes, Executive Director of A.R.T./New York.

For more information on this Shubert Foundation announcement, visit http://www.shubertfoundation.org.

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Press Contacts:

Nathalie Thomas Media and Outreach Coordinator The Alliance of Resident Theatres New York, 520 Eight Ave, Suite 319, New York, NY 10018 [email protected] 212-244-6667 x230

Bill Evans Director of Media Relations The Shubert Organization 225 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 212-944-3780 [email protected]

"A.R.T./New York goes beyond culture; it goes into education and life experience."
-Tim Robbins, ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING ACTOR 

"They're really the voice of Off-Broadway and not-for-profit theatres."
– Todd Haimes, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CEO - ROUNDABOUT THEATER COMPANY

"A.R.T./New York helps nonprofit theatre companies afford space."
– Billy Porter, TONY AWARD-WINNING ACTOR - KINKY BOOTS

"A.R.T./New York had a dream to provide their members with beautiful, state-of-the-art theatres that are on par with our Broadway companies and as I look around me, I have to say: 'Wow. I cannot wait to appear on these stages'. "
– Daphne Rubin-Vega, TONY & DRAMA DESK Award-nominated ACTOR - RENT

NEW YORK CITY—The Alliance of Resident Theatres/NewYork (A.R.T./New York) will celebrate its 2019 Gala on Monday, June 3rd overlooking the Hudson River at Current Pier 59, Chelsea Piers. With over 40 years of service to over 410 member theatres, A.R.T./New York is excited to honor three theatre luminaries: Board Chairman and visionary philanthropist, Jeffrey Gural; award-winning actress, and advocate for Asian American Artists, Mia Katigbak; and Tony and Obie Award-winning playwright, J.T. Rogers. The evening will begin at 6:00 pm with custom cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on an open floor for artists, patrons, and some of New York's most beloved philanthropists to mingle. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm, featuring new and original musical performances commemorating the lives and work of the three honorees, directed by Laura Brandel with arrangements & lyrics by Timothy Huang. 

A.R.T./New York is especially thrilled to acknowledge this year’s honorees. As powerhouse individuals in the community, they have helped to shape the nonprofit theatre field by championing growth and inclusivity both on and off the stage. With excitement toward this momentous occasion, Executive Director Ginny Louloudes says, "New York City's nonprofit theatre community is a special one, led by some of the most dynamic, creative and passionate people I've ever met. What strikes me most about all of our honorees is that they are all great risk takers. They each are adept at thinking critically, taking calculated risks, and then matching it with their talent. Our community is stronger because these individuals were courageous enough to alter the trajectory of our field for the better, and by doing so, they have given far more than they have taken."

This year's honorees are:

Jeff Gural: Chairman and Principal of GFP Real Estate; long-standing supporter of numerous New York City cultural and social organizations, and A.R.T./New York board chair.

Mia Katigbak: Obie award-winning actor, and producing artistic director and co-founder of the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO).

J.T. Rogers: Tony and Obie award-winning playwright, 2012 Guggenheim Fellow, and early Nancy Quinn fund recipient. 

Jeff Gural will be awarded the Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award named in honor of our former A.R.T./New York board chair Howard Aibel; and Mia Katigback along with J.T. Rogers will receive the Abe L. Blinder Award, named in honor of our former A.R.T./New York board treasurer and chief fundraiser, Abe L. Blinder. Previous recipients of The Kathy and Howard J. Aibel award include Florence and Richard Fabricant, Eric Gural, Ed Jones, Tim Hartzell, Lisa Cliff Kurtz, Toshiko Mori, Steve Olson, Laure Pels, Gretchen Shugart, Ted Snowdon, and Claudia Wagner. Previous recipients of the Abe L. Blinder Award include Julia Levy, Lynn Nottage, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jessie Mueller, Andy Truschinki, Pam MacKinnon, Joe Grifasi, Susan Hilferty, Sigourney Weaver, Jim Simpson, Cherry Jones, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, and Andrew Lance.

A.R.T./New York is accepting press inquiries up until Friday, May 31st. Press interested in covering the Gala should fill out this form https://airtable.com/shrXQ2veYiYuEseMg.

Press Contact:
Nathalie Thomas | Media and Outreach Coordinator
[email protected]
212-244-6667

NEW YORK CITY—National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $80 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $25,000 to A.R.T./New York Member Services. Art Works is the Arts Endowment’s principal grantmaking program. The agency received 1,592 Art Works applications for this round of grantmaking, and will award 977 grants in this category.

“These awards, reaching every corner of the United States, are a testament to the artistic richness and diversity in our country,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as A.R.T./New York are giving people in their community the opportunity to learn, create, and be inspired.”

A.R.T./New York's Member Services provide our more than 405 New York City-based nonprofit theatre member companies with the resources they need to build more sustainable companies and continue producing their diverse and innovative work for the American theatrical canon. Our services include free professional development workshops, long-term consultancies with industry experts, peer-to-peer roundtables, an annual internship fair that offers staffing support, and a growing suite of diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.

"There are thousands of organizations that exist solely because of their first grant from the NEA. A.R.T./New York is a proud member of this group and we are so grateful for their continued support of our work," said Ginny Louloudes, Executive Director of A.R.T./New York. 

For more information on this National Endowment for the Arts grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.