The LIT Fund to Award Five $1,000 Grants Dedicated to Artists Pay

In response to participant feedback, the LIT Fund, the only charitable organization exclusively dedicated to the independent theatre sector of New York City, will be giving away five $1,000 grants this year to help companies and individuals pay artist fees.

"Actors, writers, directors and designers always seem last in line when the money gets handed out," says the Fund's executive director, Randi Berry. "This new funding initiative will directly address and change that for five of our participants this year."

In its first two years the Fund has annually given a $5,000 Community Resource Grant to a project that benefits the entire independent theatre sector. After surveying the 170 participants (including such downtown stalwarts as PS 122, Dixon Place, HERE, FringeNYC and The Civilians), the need and desire to pay artists emerged as a clear priority. "We strive to listen and respond to our participants and let them tell us where the money should go," says Fund board chair, John Clancy. "Our goal is to make the funding process as transparent, simple and democratic as possible."

In keeping with the Fund's core ethos of "radical transparency," grantees will be chosen by lottery, giving all eligible applicants an equal chance. Lots will be drawn by Fund supporters Taylor Mac, Olympia Dukakis, Anne Washburn and other luminaries of the independent theatre sector. Any participant of the LIT Fund putting up a show in a 99-seat theatre or less in New York City during the 2015-16 season is eligible. This continues the Fund's tradition of creating a simple, transparent, and fair granting process. Lots will be drawn and money will be given on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30pm at Parkside Lounge, 317 Houston Street on the Lower East Side.

The LIT Fund is designed to financially and otherwise assist organizations and individual artists creating independent theatre in the five boroughs of New York City. The intent of the Fund is to protect, sustain and strengthen this vital segment of American theatre, in any economic environment and to further enhance its positive impact on the cultural landscape of the city. At the core of the Fund is the simple idea of theatre people helping theatre people. Money for the Fund comes from organizations, companies, venues and individual artists donating five cents (0.05 $) per ticket sold to their performances. Additional donations are solicited from patrons of the arts. All money collected goes solely to the independent theatre territory.