Berkeley Rep Receives Grant from National Endowment for the Arts

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The funds will support The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.

"It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to Berkeley Repertory Theatre, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities, and connections the arts bring."

"We're thrilled that the NEA has chosen to support this project," says Berkeley Rep Managing Director Susan Medak. "The Ground Floor is one of our more important R&D programs. It's a critical investment in improving the quality of work on our stages, and supporting the innovative artists who are reshaping the American theatre canon."

The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

ABOUT THE GROUND FLOOR: BERKELEY REP'S CENTER FOR THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORK

As the umbrella for all new play activity at Berkeley Rep, The Ground Floor is a bold initiative designed to raise the bar on the Tony Award-winning nonprofit's already successful record of artistic innovation. Think of it as an incubator for theatrical start-ups or a top-notch R&D facility for artists. The Ground Floor was launched with seed funding from the James Irvine Foundation's Artistic Innovation Fund, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and ArtPlace. The Ground Floor is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts/Art Works, Time Warner Foundation Inc., the Tournesol Project, Bank of America, Michael & Sue Steinberg, and individual supporters of Berkeley Rep's Create Campaign. For more information on each project, and for future announcements or opportunities to interact, visit berkeleyrep.org/groundfloor.

ABOUT BERKELEY REP

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. In four decades, four million people have enjoyed nearly 400 shows at Berkeley Rep. These shows have gone on to win five Tony Awards, seven Obie Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Its bustling facilities - which include the 400-seat Peet's Theatre, the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, and a spacious campus in West Berkeley - are helping revitalize a renowned city. Learn more at berkeleyrep.org

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