Wild Swan Theater Announces Grant Award To Support New Project Featuring Women In Science

Wild Swan Theater is delighted to announce a $28,270 grant award from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Charitable Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM). Funds will be used to help with the development of a new, original production and related educational programming designed to introduce young audiences to the stories of women in science. We are pleased to be collaborating with the Michigan Science Center, Leslie Nature and Science Center, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, and University of Michigan Museum of Natural History who share our commitment to our commitment to inspiring diverse audiences by offering innovative and inclusive experiences.

The CFSEM awarded grants totaling $483,220, from DADA to a diverse group of 12 nonprofit organizations that provide services to children and youth in the region. "Funding from DADA helps us fulfill our mission of producing imaginative and accesible theater," said Hilary Cohen, Co-Artistic Director of Wild SwanTheater,"We think this project offers one way to address the issues of inclusion and gender disparity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields and is an important continuation of the theater we have been making at Wild Swan for 39 years."

This original production will be developed for elementary and middle school audiences, families, and the general public. It will premiere at Washtenaw Community College during Women's History Month in March 2020. We also look forward to taking this play to our partner sites. All performances will be ASL shadow interpreted for the Deaf and audio description and pre-show touch tours will be available for blind patrons. This production will be added to Wild Swan Theater's touring repertoire, ensuring that its reach and impact continues for many years beyond the grant period.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $1 billion through nearly 66,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.

The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund was established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in 1998 by the DADA, a trade association composed of more than 200 automobile dealers in metropolitan Detroit. The Fund represents a lasting legacy of the DADA's charitable commitment to southeast Michigan.

Founded in 1980, Wild Swan Theater has earned a nationwide reputation for our critically acclaimed productions performed by our award-winning troupe of professional adult actors, dancers, musicians, and American Sign Language (ASL) performers. Wild Swan Theater is dedicated to producing professional children's theater of the highest artistic quality and to making that theater accessible to low income, minority and disabled children through low ticket prices and innovative outreach programs. American Sign Language interpretation, audio description, and back-stage "touch tours" allow us to provide a full theater experience for patrons who are blind, Deaf, mentally, or physically disabled. For more information, please visit www.wildswantheater.org.

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