SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe recently received an Arts Appreciation Grant of $30,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant will support WBTT’s operations as well as the costs associated with its 2020-2021 season, which includes “The Soul Crooners,” “Ruby,” “Pipeline,” “Smokey Joe’s Café” and holiday production “Black Nativity.” This is the fourth Arts Appreciation grant WBTT has received from Gulf Coast, including an emergency award in May to help offset the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gulf Coast’s Arts Appreciation Grants offer unrestricted funding to cornerstone arts organizations, in recognition of their contributions to our region’s economy and quality of life, to further their missions. A streamlined application and reporting process enable Gulf Coast’s arts partners to keep their focus on what they do best: to present world-class performances and collections.
“We are so grateful to be included, once again this year, as a recipient of Gulf Coast’s Arts Appreciation Grants—it shows the foundation’s continued confidence in us as a thriving and important part of Sarasota’s arts community,” said WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach. “These funds are particularly beneficial as we navigate the ongoing financial and logistical challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Many thanks to Gulf Coast Community Foundation for its generous support of WBTT and our arts community.”
Founded in 1999, the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida, Inc. is the only professional black theater company on Florida’s West Coast. Its mission is to produce professional theater that promotes and celebrates the African-American experience, to attract diverse audiences, to support and develop African-American artists, and to build the self-esteem of African-American youth.
For more about WBTT or its upcoming season of shows, call 941-366-1505 or go to westcoastblacktheatre.org.
About Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida, Inc. is the only professional Black theater company on Florida’s West Coast. Its mission is to produce professional theater that promotes and celebrates the African American experience, to attract diverse audiences, to support and develop African American artists, and to build the self-esteem of African American youth. For more information, visit the website at westcoastblacktheatre.org or call 941-366-1505.
About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
For 25 years, together with our donors, and community partners, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has transformed our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, we have become the philanthropic home of more than 1000 families who have established charitable funds here, and we have invested $385 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.