Merrimack Repertory Theatre Selected For $450,000 Grant

We are pleased to announce that Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) was selected to participate in the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative - as announced earlier today on The Barr Foundation's blog. A partnership between two Boston-based foundations - Barr and The Klarman Family Foundation - the initiative is a $25 million, six-year investment in 29 arts and cultural organizations from across Massachusetts. Participating organizations receive flexible, multi-year operating support grants, in addition to training and technical assistance from TDC, a nonprofit consulting and research firm. MRT's engagement in the initiative begins with two grants totaling $450,000 from Barr and the Klarman Family Foundation over three years - making it the largest foundation or government grant in the theatre's 40-year history.

Executive Director Bonnie J. Butkas said, "The Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative is an incredible opportunity to become financially stable, build capacity, and grow our focus on Equity Diversity and Inclusion. We are thrilled to work with both foundations to position Merrimack Repertory Theatre for growth and success."

"Organizations like Merrimack Repertory Theatre are the cultural hearts of their communities," said San San Wong, Director of Arts & Creativity for the Barr Foundation. "They are sites of public assembly and dialogue, often working to foster understanding and connection across cultural differences. It is our privilege to support MRT in this journey to further strengthen its financial health and capacity to adapt to change - that it might deepen and continue this work for years to come."

"Arts organizations, including MRT, play a critical role in the health of our communities," said Laura Sherman, Director, Greater Boston Grantmaking for The Klarman Family Foundation. "We are committed to strengthening this cohort of 29 arts organizations across the Commonwealth that have the ability to connect and enliven communities through culture, tradition and creative expression, and we are proud to be a part of this initiative."

Artistic Director Sean Daniels said, "This type of support for the work we've been doing for the past 3 years means we can really start to expand and grow the organization to be the real local and nationwide leader we all know it could be. The ability to create more engagement opportunities, diversify the work we do on stage and invite our community more into the creation of new work, all leads to our goal of being the leader in new play production in the country. Today we're a huge step closer."

Representing diversity across artistic disciplines, geographic reach, stages of organizational development, and budget sizes, the 29 organizations participating in the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative include two other organizations in the Merrimack Valley region, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project in Malden and Fitchburg Art Museum, as well as two other Boston-area theatres, Company One Theatre and Speakeasy Stage.

The full list of recipients:

• Academy of Music Theatre (Northampton)
• A Far Cry (Boston)
• Barrington Stage Company (Pittsfield)
• Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (Boston)
• Boston Modern Orchestra Project (Malden)
• Cape Ann Museum (Gloucester)
• Community Access to the Arts (Great Barrington)
• Community Art Center (Cambridge)
• Community Music School of Springfield (Springfield)
• Company One Theatre (Boston)
• The Dance Complex (Cambridge)
• Design Museum Boston (Boston)
• Double Edge Theatre (Ashfield)
• Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts (Boston)
• Featherstone Center for the Arts (Martha's Vineyard)
• Fitchburg Art Museum (Fitchburg)
• Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (Great Barrington)
• Merrimack Repertory Theatre (Lowell)
• New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks! (New Bedford)
• New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (New Bedford)
• Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge)
• Now + There (Boston)
• Payomet Performing Arts Center (North Truro)
• Provincetown Art Association and Museum (Provincetown)
• Raw Art Works (Lynn)
• The Record Co. (Boston)
• SpeakEasy Stage (Boston)
• Worcester Art Museum (Worcester)
• Zeiterion Theatre (New Bedford)

MRT and each participant in this initiative will receive multi-year, unrestricted operating grants. Additionally, through a grant to TDC, a nationally recognized nonprofit consulting and research group, organizations will also receive customized training and technical assistance, and be eligible for supplemental funds for targeted research, capacity building, and/or pilot projects. Last week, the foundations made the first set of three-year grants under the new initiative, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a six-year journey of learning, collaboration, and growth.

For more information about the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative page, including the ideas underlying the effort, key elements of the experience for participating organizations, selection criteria, and evaluation findings, click here.

About Merrimack Repertory Theatre: Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) celebrates 40 years this season as the Merrimack Valley's professional theatre. With a steadfast commitment to contemporary voices and new plays, MRT produces seven works, including several world premieres, each season.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Sean Daniels and Executive Director Bonnie J. Butkas, MRT strives to fulfill its mission "to share theatrical stories of human understanding that reflect and engage our community." The company guarantees that shows are accessible to audiences of all incomes; partners with businesses and non-profit groups to fully engage the community; and contributes to the economic vitality of Lowell by attracting diverse audiences from throughout the region.

Recent acclaimed productions include Daniels' own autobiographical play, The White Chip; I and You (Off-Broadway transfer) and Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson, the most produced playwright in America; Women in Jeopardy by Wendy MacLeod (directed by Daniels); KNYUM by Cambodian playwright and actor Vichet Chum; and The Lion, singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer's award-winning musical memoir (also directed by Daniels), which launched its national tour from MRT in August 2015, following critically acclaimed runs in New York and London.

About the Barr Foundation: The Barr Foundation's mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and connect all students to success in high school and beyond. Founded in 1997, Barr now has assets of $1.7 billion, and has contributed more than $838 million to charitable causes. For more information, visit barrfoundation.org or follow @BarrFdn on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Klarman Family Foundation: The Klarman Family Foundation seeks to identify areas of unmet need and advance solutions to addressing them. Underlying all of the Foundation's work is a passionate belief in the promise and importance of creative thinking, strategic leadership and strong organizations to help bring about change. As a way to learn and create greater impact, the Foundation values acting in partnership with other funders. Its work spans regionally, nationally and internationally and focuses on advancing understanding of the biological basis of health and illness; supporting the global Jewish community and State of Israel; expanding access to vital services and enrichment opportunities in Greater Boston; and ensuring a healthy democracy. Established in 1990 by Beth and Seth Klarman, the Foundation is located in Boston, MA. For more information, visit klarmanfoundation.org.

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