LOS ANGELES -- Sixteen local theatre groups have received grants from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in the fiscal year 1998-99. The total amount awarded to 115 nonprofit arts organizations was $1, 269,000, a record for the agency. Grants totaling $730,000 were awarded in 1997-98.
The increase was made possible by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, Chair, authorizing $600,000 for a 3-1 match of a $125,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and a $70,000 challenge grant from the California Arts Council.
Of the $1, 269,000, the largest portion--$505,000--went to mid-size organizations with annual operating budgets between $100,000 and $800,000. Mid-size group have been the focus of the restructuring of the Commission's grant programs.
Among the Large Budget Organizations were such recipients as the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum and the Pasadena Playhouse. The former was awarded $60,000 to support educational outreach and community outreach ticket subsidy programs; the latter received $15,530 to support a marketing audience development plan.
Other big winners in the theatrical community were Bilingual Foundation of the Arts ($18,383), East West Players ($18,804), L.A. Women's Shakespeare Co. ($18,000), Shakespeare Festival/LA ($16,349), Odyssey Theatre Foundation ($13,549), The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum ($10,547), City Garage ($13,680), A Noise Within ($13,879) and Fountain Theatre ($12,629). Also on the grant list were such companies as Celebration Theatre, Cornerstone Theatre Co., Highways Performance Space and Venture West Theatre Co.
For a complete list of winners, contact the Commission at (213) 974-1343.
-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent