INTAR THEATRE Awarded $750,000 Grant by The Mellon Foundation

International Arts Relations (INTAR Theatre) will receive a grant of $750,000 from the Foundation to support the building of capacity and sustainability practices for one of the nation’s oldest Latiné theatres. This unparalleled gift marks the largest grant in the company’s history and a deep commitment from the Mellon Foundation to the ambitious work of INTAR.
 
This grant, distributed over the course of three years, will offer INTAR the ability to raise staff capacity in a sustainable way, offering the company room for growth and stability as it looks towards its 60th anniversary season in 2026.
 
“For generations, INTAR has served as a touchstone for Latiné theater makers in NYC and nationally,” said Stephanie Ybarra, program officer for Arts and Culture at the Mellon Foundation. “It is more than an artistic home; it is a dynamic and thriving community of artists whose contributions to our field and our future are undeniable, and we are humbled to walk alongside them on their journey.”
 
“This support from Mellon comes at a crucial moment for INTAR as we expand our commitment to the artists, staff and audiences that make up our community,” shared INTAR’s Artistic Director Lou Moreno. “This Award will re-girder our mission, affirm our 58 years of cultural significance, and support us in fostering all of the collaborators who work directly with us both on and off our stage.”
 
“As the caretakers of a vital platform for Latiné artists in the American theatrical landscape, we believe to invest in our people is to invest in the future.  The growth INTAR is experiencing is not for glory or ego but for a conscious and humane expansion of our infrastructure for what our programming requires. This partnership between INTAR and the Mellon Foundation is vital to the pursuit of our goals,” shared INTAR’s Producing Director Nidia Medina.
 
The 2023/24 INTAR season began in November 2023 with the presentation of José Rivera’s Sonnets for an Old Century from INTAR’s Unit 52, an ensemble of non-union, early career acting professionals. The season continued in January 2024 with the world premiere of Florencia Lozano’s immersive installation piece, Fun with Panic Attacks. The season will conclude with the world premiere of The Hours Are Feminine written and directed by José Rivera. Performances will begin on Saturday May 11 and will continue through June 9, 2024.