Bristol Riverside Theatre Receives $50,000 Grant

Bristol Riverside Theatre has announced the receipt of a $50,000 grant from J.P. Mascaro & Sons, a local waste removal and recycling company to help save BRT's summer ArtRageous program. An unexpected loss of funding for the ArtRageous program threatened to necessitate cutting scholarship money for 100 kids. The grant from Mascaro & Sons, combined with a $25,000 matching grant from the Grundy Foundation which was matched by support from Arkema, Milestone Bank, and The Bucks County Foundation, has restored opportunities for 118 children to attend this summer.

ArtRageous is a unique six-week summer program primarily for at-risk youth in Bristol. Administered by professional teaching artists, the camp stimulates creative thinking in a fun and structured environment, building basic life skills and increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy through the performing arts. ArtRageous aims to deter negative behavior and teach creativity and imagination as a means of boosting the ability to improve impulse control. 100% of the kids attending receive scholarships.

"More than half of our kids are single parent families, and nearly 1/5 of our students have a documented learning disability. For many of our kids, this program is their only access to the arts and the only opportunity for safe expression of their hopes and dreams," said Susan Atkinson, who created the ArtRageous program with then Education Director Phyllis Slattery. "Now in its tenth year we are proud that 100% of our first class went on to college, many the first in their families to attend. These kids have gone from having major behavioral issues to being productive college sophomores."

"The community support for retaining this program has been very gratifying, confirming the important role that the arts and BRT play in the lives of Bristol's children," continued Managing Director Amy Kaissar. "I am hopeful that we can reel in the last bit of money to fully fund the summer scholarships."

Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 68 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by Theatre Philadelphia. In addition to its mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children's theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts. Currently under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker, Founding Director Susan D. Atkinson, and Managing Director, Amy Kaissar, BRT continues its 27th season. For information, visit www.brtstage.org.