THRIVE! Uplifting Theatres of Color is being offered with generous support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, and developed and administered by Theatre Communications Group (TCG) with an Advisory Circle of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC*) theatre leaders. THRIVE! provides unrestricted funds for those who have all too often been outside the grantmaking sector’s funding opportunities: Black theatres, Indigenous theatres and Theatres of Color (BITOC*) based in the US (including Tribal Nations and US Territories) which are closely connected to and have positive impact on their chosen communities.
To do their best work, BITOC need support for salaries, rent, supplies and activities, as well as funds to offset loss of income caused by the pandemic. THRIVE! is providing general operating support so that BITOC can do what they do best - serving communities through theatre. THRIVE! aims to ease some of the pressures that BITOC face in fundraising, assist them in investing in their staff and artists, and help in their organizational success, beyond the scope of artistic projects and programming.
To address historical funding inequities (see BITOC Funding Facts and FAQs), a minimum of 30% of the grants will be awarded to Indigenous theatre organizations, a minimum of 20% will be awarded to Black theatre organizations, with the remaining amount open to all other Theatres of Color. These distribution percentages were jointly created with the THRIVE! Advisory Circle.
