TimeLine Theatre Company Receives MacArthur Award

TimeLine Theatre Company today was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. The Award recognizes exceptional nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated creativity and impact, and invests in their long-term sustainability with sizable one-time grants.

"Since our founding, TimeLine has sought every day to fulfill our unique mission and to continue the legacy of Chicago theater companies that started small, dreamed big and matured into prominent organizations that enrich the cultural landscape of the city," Artistic Director PJ Powers said. "To receive this award from the MacArthur Foundation is an extraordinary acknowledgment that we are succeeding in that goal, and provides invaluable financial support as TimeLine embarks upon ambitious plans for our future."

TimeLine was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. To date over 19 seasons, the company has presented 66 productions, including nine world premieres and 26 Chicago premieres. Plays have explored everything from the AIDS epidemic to the war in Vietnam, to international arms negotiations, recent financial scandals and the Chicago police torture scandal. Creating an intimate, immersive theatre experience is one of the ways the company brings history to life, fostering conversation and inviting audiences to consider what our past experiences can teach us about our present circumstances and future choices.

TimeLine also brings theater and history education to Chicago Public Schools with its Living History Education Program, an arts integration residency that is closely in tune with the company's mission. The curriculum is designed to teach theatre skills while fostering the capacity to think creatively, make connections, and understand history and the world at large. More than 3,000 students from eight Chicago schools have actively explored theatre and history since the program began in 2006.

TimeLine Theatre will use the majority of the $625,000 that accompanies the Award to establish a restricted, Board of Directors-managed reserve fund to provide additional long-term financial stability and support strategic goals. A portion of the funds will be used in the short-term to upgrade the company's technology infrastructure.

"This is a significant moment in TimeLine's history," Managing Director Elizabeth K. Auman said. "As we prepare for our 20th Anniversary season and continue to plan for a new home, this award gives us enormous encouragement and the ability to move forward in a much more secure way."

"The confidence the MacArthur Foundation has shown in TimeLine Theatre by awarding this generous grant is truly humbling," TimeLine Board President John M. Sirek said. "Running a mid-size arts organization is challenging. Making it thrive even more so. These funds will help TimeLine continue to build upon its already solid foundation while taking our art and organization to the next level."

The Award has been presented annually since 2006 to organizations across the country and around the world that demonstrate exceptional creativity and effectiveness. This year's 14 recipients are drawn exclusively from Chicago's diverse arts and culture community in order to strengthen the city's vibrant cultural life and underscore the Foundation's commitment to its hometown. Each year, MacArthur supports more than 300 arts and culture group in Chicago, awarding more than $10 million in grants, mostly through general operating support.

"These superbly imaginative organizations exemplify Chicago's thriving arts and culture community, which is vibrant and economically vital to the region," said MacArthur President Julia Stasch. "Support for these diverse and leading organizations reflects our enduring commitment to Chicago and to its cultural life that enriches us all."

According to MacArthur, the Award is not only recognition for past leadership and success but also an investment in the future. For these Awards, the Foundation does not seek or accept nominations. To qualify, organizations must demonstrate exceptional creativity and effectiveness; have reached a critical or strategic point in their development; show strong leadership and stable financial management; have previously received MacArthur support; and engage in work central to one of MacArthur's core programs

Additional information about this year's MacArthur Awards is at macfound.org/MacAward.

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