Shubert Foundation Awards 18M+ in Grants in 2010

At a time when good news for performing arts organizations in search of funding has become all too rare, The Shubert Foundation announces a record $18,215,000 in grants to support operations of a record 450 nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. in 2010. In conjunction with the announcement, The Foundation has just published the annual report that details its gifts for the year.

With arts groups across the board feeling the pinch as a result of significant cutbacks by traditional funding sources, The Shubert Foundation continues to buck the trend by increasing its funding for the 31st year in a row. The Foundation's board also committed to increase funding again in 2011.

The Shubert Foundation is the nation's largest foundation dedicated to unrestricted funding for nonprofit theatre and dance companies. Grants ranging in size from $5,000 to $275,000 have been awarded to a broad spectrum of theatre and dance companies with programs that include experimental, contemporary and classical works, located in urban and rural areas from Maine to
Alaska, Florida to California.

$13 million of The Foundation's 2010 grants have been allocated to theatre companies in 42 states, while dance companies receive $2.5 million of The Foundation's funding. The remainder has been distributed to other performing arts organizations, professional theatre training programs and human service agencies.

In light of substantial governmental and corporate funding cutbacks to arts organizations during the current recession - over half of the groups receiving Shubert funding this year had previously scaled back annual budgets - The Shubert Foundation not only increased its funding in 2010, but has given one-third of this year's recipients larger allocations than last year.

"We are proud to be helping vital arts institutions when they need it most," says Michael I. Sovern, President of The Shubert Foundation, Inc.

Roche Schulfer, Executive Director of Goodman Theatre in Chicago says, "We cannot begin to describe the positive impact that this extraordinary gift has had on the Goodman Theatre in this current economic climate. The vision of The Shubert Foundation in providing unrestricted general operating support for companies across the country has been the most important factor in the
growth of American theatre and dance over more than three decades."

And Sharon Gersten Luckman, Executive Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater notes, "The Shubert Foundation truly stands as a model for other funders in recognizing the necessity of general operating support."

States Ginny Louloudes, Executive Director of Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, "With its philosophy, generosity and continued support, The Shubert Foundation proves itself to be by and for the people who make theatre."

The $18,215,000 allocation of Shubert Foundation grants in 2010 is up over $625,000 above the 2009 amount of $17,588,000. In the first decade of the 21st century - from 2001 to 2010 - The Shubert Foundation has increased its grants by nearly $6 million, topping $152 million for the decade. The number of grant recipients has increased from 334 in 2001 to 450 today.

Chairman Philip J. Smith states, "We are especially proud that we can provide increased support when our constituency is experiencing an unprecedented loss of contributed income. In the face of an alarming decline in arts funding, we feel more compelled than ever to deepen our commitment to arts organizations that enrich our society."

In addition to its support for dance and theatre companies, The Shubert Foundation is also committed to making quality theatre accessible nationwide by extending support to children's theatre companies and groups that work on behalf of underserved populations.

The Shubert Foundation, Inc. was established in 1945 by the legendary team of the brothers Lee and J.J. Shubert, who produced more than 520 plays, musicals and revues, as well as owning and operating a nationwide network of legitimate theatres.

The Shubert Archive, a comprehensive collection of material related to the Shuberts' historic and contemporary theatrical activities, also operates under the aegis of the Foundation. The Archive is accessible to scholars by appointment and at www.shubertarchive.org.

For more information on The Shubert Foundation, please visit www.shubertfoundation.org