NYFA Awards $3.5 Million in Grants to 33 Theaters

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has announced that 33 not-for-profit theater companies have been awarded grants totaling $3,530,000 through The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New York Theater Program. The recipients, which cover a range of small-to-mid-sized organizations-- from those which produce the classics to others exclusively devoted to the development of new work-- include The Chocolate Factory Theater in Queens, Pregones Theater in the Bronx, and St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn (a complete list follows). These two-year grants, which range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on each recipient's operating budget, support the organizations' general operations.

"We are so proud to have been entrusted to administer this program for The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation since 2008," said NYFA Executive Director Michael L. Royce. "These grants have a significant impact on the recipients' abilities to create their work and more imaginatively support their communities of both artists and audiences. "

This sentiment is echoed by Kate Loewald, Founding Producer, of The Play Company: "The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's New York Theater Program is oxygen for our theater. Their recognition and understanding of our deepest values and aspirations as an artistic enterprise is absolutely crucial to our well-being. The financial support and the dialogue about our work provide a foundation for our courage to keep reaching and searching for the boldest and best we can provide for our artists and audiences."

Vallejo Gantner, Artistic Director of Performance Space 122, another of the recipient organizations, spoke to this idea as well, "Instead of looking at purely quantifiable, predictable outcomes as their funding rationale, the Mellon Foundation courageously champions Performance Space 122 and the entire NYC theater community to collectively push the boundaries of live performance. Their commitment allows institutions to explore bold ideas, take artistic risks, and play with creative curiosity in a manner that continues to cultivate the rich cultural life that makes New York City."

The New York Theater Program is funded through a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

About New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Founded in 1971, the mission of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is to empower artists at critical stages in their creative lives. We do this through three key initiatives: funding, professional development, and online resources. We have awarded over $30 million to individual artists through our fellowship and grant programs, and Artspire, our fiscal sponsorship program, has helped artists and emerging organizations raise and manage over $50 million. We provide entrepreneurial training to nearly 1,000 artists and arts administrators annually, nationally and internationally, and our online resources are accessed by over one million artists and arts professionals each year. For more information, visit www.nyfa.org.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New York Theater Program Grant Recipients:

3-Legged Dog

Ars Nova Theater

Big Dance Theater

The Chocolate Factory Theater

The Civilians

Clubbed Thumb

Dixon Place

Elevator Repair Service Theater

The Foundry Theatre

HERE Arts Center

Hip-Hop Theater Festival

Lark Play Development Center

Ma-Yi Theater Company

Mint Theater Company

National Asian American Theatre Company

National Theater of the USA

New Georges

New York City Players

Page 73 Productions

Performance Space 122

The Play Company

Pregones Theater

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater

Repertorio Espanol

Siti Company

Soho Rep

St. Ann's Warehouse

Target Margin Theater

The Vineyard Theatre

Women's Project & Productions

The Wooster Group

The Working Theater

Young Jean Lee's Theater Company

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