IRT Lands Grant to Support Student Initiatives
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Repertory Theatre has secured a $500,000 gift from the Cohen Family Foundation. The organization plans to use the funding to help provide opportunities for students throughout Indiana to experience live theatre at the Indianapolis venue. November 11, 2013
News Release
(November 11 – Indianapolis) – A $500,000 endowment gift from The Cohen Family Foundation will provide students across Indiana the opportunity to experience live theatre at the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT). The $500,000 grant from The Cohen Family Foundation will be used to establish the Cohen Education Fund at the IRT. One of the primary goals of the Alan and Linda Cohen Education Fund is to provide youth the opportunity to experience and learn about theatre, with a special emphasis on underserved youth who may not otherwise have this opportunity. The grant will be used to support the IRT’s ongoing efforts to serve all 62 counties across Indiana and provide students with the ability to experience live theater and integrate experiences into learning opportunities across multiple disciplines, including language arts, social studies, history, visual arts and character education.
“We believe theatre can be used as a primary tool to bring meaning into the lives of students, making the arts an invaluable component of their education,” said Janet Allen, Executive Artistic Director and CEO, IRT. “This generous gift from the Cohen Family Foundation will allow more Indiana students the opportunity to engage in literature and history through theatre. This is an exciting partnership for us as we continue to introduce live theatre to Indiana students.”
Through the Cohen Family Foundation grant, and with support from other donors, thousands of students will receive subsidized tickets to IRT matinees, transportation assistance, and in-school and on-line educational support services.
Everyone has access to quality art at the IRT. Last year alone, the IRT provided 105,472 live professional theatre experiences for audiences. These experiences included 41,747 students and teachers from 57 of Indiana’s 92 counties, making the IRT one of the most youth-oriented professional theatres in the country. A staff of more than 100 seasonal and year-round employees creates eight productions exclusively for Indiana audiences. Actors, directors and designers are members of professional stage unions.
About the IRT
Founded in 1972, the IRT is the largest and leading fully professional not-for-profit theatre in the state and has grown into one of the leading regional theatres in the country. The IRT continues to be one of the top-flight cultural institutions in the city and state, providing experiences that engage, surprise, challenge and entertain. Source: Indiana Repertory Theatre