Wilbury Group Receives $75,000 from State Cultural Facilities Grant Program

The Wilbury Theatre Group proudly announces themselves as the recipients of a competitive Cultural Facilities Grant in the amount of $75,000. Administered by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the grant will be used for upgrades to the Wilbury Group's new performance space at 40 Sonoma Court, Providence, including the implementation of improved HVAC, safety, accessibility, and acoustic upgrades.

The State Cultural Facilities Grant Program is a matching grant program meant to promote careful planning for capital improvement, preservation and renovation projects for public and nonprofit artistic, performance centers, historic sites, museums and cultural art centers located around the state. To date, the Wilbury Group is already well on the way to meeting the match requirements through individual donations collected through the the Homecoming Fund campaign currently running, as well as a $15,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation for administrative expenses, a $7,000 grant from Ocean State Charitable Trust for HVAC upgrades, and an $1,800 grant from the Paul V. Sherlock Center for the Disabilities for the construction of a new, fully ADA compliant ramp.

"On behalf of our Board of Directors, and all of the incredible artists who work with us, we are so grateful to the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, the Rhode Island Foundation, Ocean State Charitable Trust, and all our individual supporters for the confidence they've shown in the work of The Wilbury Group and our dream of a home for adventurous artists and audiences in Providence," says Wilbury Group's Founder and Artistic Director Josh Short. "For a long time The Wilbury Group was seeking a place to produce our work and call our own in Providence, and when we found our Olneyville home last spring we thought it couldn't get any better than that, but with this grant it does. In the coming weeks and months we'll be upgrading the heating system in the performance space as well as adding air conditioning for those summer months, adding handicap accessible bathrooms, improving the acoustics in the space, making a number of aesthetic improvements, and more."

This is the second Cultural Facilities Grant awarded to The Wilbury Group since the program started. That first year the Group was awarded $25,000 that was used to find and do the initial Phase I work on a new performance space. Phase II begins in January 2017 and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2018.

ABOUT RISCA'S STATE CULTURAL FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM The State Cultural Facilities Grant Program (SCFG) was created because state lawmakers and voters recognized that many significant cultural properties in our state need extensive repairs or restoration, and that these organizations contribute significantly to the state and local economy. These facilities and the organizations that enliven them contribute to the quality of life in Rhode Island and ensure that our arts and cultural activities continue to inspire new generations. Moreover, the arts and cultural sector creates jobs, stimulates tourism, and builds and revitalizes our downtowns, neighborhoods and communities throughout the state. Learn more about RISCA and the State Cultural Facilties Grant Program here.

ABOUT THE WILBURY THEATRE GROUP
Founded in 2010, The Wilbury Group is an ever-evolving collaboration of artists committed to presenting adventurous audiences with the highest quality professional theatre. Founded on the belief that quality theatre should be an affordable and accessible means of enrichment to the community; The Wilburys present contemporary, experiential theatre that simultaneously engage, inspire, and provoke thought among audiences.

As an important arts organization in a quickly changing world, the Wilbury Group maintains a commitment to offering students and audiences from throughout New England access to our programs through our outreach, education, and new work development programs. A promising and important cultural organization in Providence, The Wilbury Group is proud to serve our diverse and evolving community.

The Wilbury Group's 2017/18 season is supported by The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Ocean State Charitable Trust, and the Rhode Island Foundation. Learn more at www.thewilburygroup.org.