Grantee Database
THEATRE BAY AREA
Grant Year
2024-25
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$20,832.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, Theatre Bay Area will sustain and expand its Arts Leadership Residency (ALR), which funds aspiring artistic directors and managing directors in residence at Bay Area theatres for a 12-16 week period during which the residents are mentored by the artistic and/or managing directors and lead a significant mainstage project during the season. Unfortunately, the past corporate sponsor of this program is no longer able to continue their support, so a grant from the CAC will ensure this important leadership pipeline program continues into 2025. The ALR provides $12,000 in funding per resident to the host companies, facilitating deep and substantive mentorship for emerging arts leaders from historically marginalized groups — a vital investment in the long-term sustainability of the Bay Area theatre workforce.
Organization Summary
TBA’s array of programs and activities encompasses:
– Professional Development: Includes monthly webinars, roundtables, and the weekly Writers’ Room, in partnership with Z Space. TBA’s major convenings include the annual General Auditions, which connects 200+ actors with over 100+ producers and casting directors, and the annual TBA Conference, which convenes over 200 theatremakers for a full day of learning and community building.
– Grants and Awards: Include the Hewlett Foundation-funded CA$H Grants program; the annual Rella Lossy and Glickman Awards for local playwrights; the Arts Leadership Residency Program; the annual RHE Artistic Fellowship; and the Mary Mason Lemonade Fund. Collectively, these programs will contribute over $175,000 to Bay Area theatremakers in FY26.
– Audience Development: TBA helps theatre companies grow their audiences through initiatives like the Bay Area Audience Database (shared by 27 organizations with access to 870,000 households), a regional Postcard Distribution Network, Bay Area Theatre Week promotions, the monthly TheatreGoer e-newsletter (9,200+ subscribers), robust website and social media promotion, and the TBA Highlights program celebrating values-aligned productions.
– Research and New Initiatives: TBA continues to explore innovative research initiatives and pilot programs that address current challenges facing theatremakers. We aim to offer creative programmatic responses underpinned by high-quality research. TBA is currently exploring new models for sharing administrative, box office, and technical staff among various theatres.
– Arts Advocacy: TBA is a staunch advocate for theatres and theatre artists at the local, state, and federal levels. Our advocacy emphasizes the value of the arts to policymakers and the general public. TBA partners with advocacy groups like Arts for a Better Bay Area, and Bay Area Arts Together to effect policy change and secure increased arts funding. Recent successes include the passage of SB 1116 and initial funding for the Performing Arts Workers Equitable Payroll Fund.
Organization
Theatre Bay Area
Address
499 Alabama St. #450
SAN FRANCISCO
94110
County
San Francisco
Region
Bay Area – San Francisco
Phone
(415) 430-1140
Congressional District
11th Congressional District of California
State Assembly District
District 17
State Senate District
District 11
