The Keegan Theatre Chosen as Recipient of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Arts Innovation and Management Grant

The Keegan Theatre today announced that it is a recipient of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) grant program. The invitation-only program seeks to strengthen the organizational capacity and programming of small and mid-size cultural organizations in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Through the $43 million multi-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide unrestricted general operating support as well as arts management training to recipient organizations in areas that include fundraising, strategic planning, marketing and board development.

"Keegan is thrilled and deeply honored to be named a recipient of this extraordinary grant program," says Susan Marie Rhea, Keegan's Artistic Director. "Not only will the financial support provide a substantial boost to our operating budget in the seasons ahead, Keegan is eager to avail ourselves of the arts management coursework that is offered to recipients. We're at a crucial point in Keegan's growth, and receiving expert training in strategic planning, among other things, will have invaluable impact on all aspects of our work and our future."

AIM targets arts non-profits because of the vital role that they play in building communities, driving local economies and supporting artists. "The arts inspire people, provide jobs, and strengthen communities," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies. "This program is aimed at helping some of the country's most exciting cultural organizations reach new audiences and expand their impact." Bloomberg Philanthropies will develop curricula and conduct seminars for the program in partnership with leading experts, including the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, led by Institute Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan. AIM organizations will engage in activities that strengthen their long-term health and goals, and will receive one-on-one consultations and implementation support for organization leaders and their boards.

All organizations invited to participate in the 2018 expansion of the AIM program are nonprofits that have been in existence for at least two years. Participating organizations will be required to secure 20% of their AIM grant in matching dollars; reach 100% board participation in fundraising; and maintain up-to-date information in DataArts, an online management tool that assists arts organizations across the country in collecting, learning from, and using data effectively. The grants will be unrestricted to allow recipients to utilize the funds to address their greatest needs.

Since 2011, AIM has helped more than 500 small and mid-sized organizations in all creative disciplines, including theater, visual arts, music, film, literature and dance. Participating organizations reported significant improvements in board development, fundraising and overall income over the two-year program.

The Keegan Theatre's mission is to take audiences to the vital heart of the theatre experience, featuring extraordinary artists in an intimate setting exploring the human condition. The company is committed to work that is fueled by the highest caliber acting and design; a directing approach that honors clear, authentic storytelling; and a collaborative artistic environment where all are welcomed and can thrive. Keegan produces eight to ten powerful productions of classic and modern plays and musicals each season, programming that represents a range of theatrical approaches and diverse voices for the theatergoer: from large rock musicals to intimate dramas, American classics to world premiere Irish plays, complex investigations of the human condition to celebrations of life in family-friendly programming. In the three years following the purchase and renovation of its historic Dupont Circle home, Keegan has aggressively expanded its programming roster - including a transformative theater education program and an off-mainstage production series for emerging artists - broadening its reach in the DC region, impacting thousands of District schoolchildren, residents and visitors, and contributing significantly to the city's roster of affordable, accessible cultural offerings.

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