Artist and Production Support Grant

Grant Information
Categories	Arts
Location	United States
Cycle Year	2023

Organization Information
Organization Name (provided by applicant)	Ruskin Group Theatre Company
Organization Name (provided by automatic EIN validation)
EIN	02-6577706
Website	http://www.ruskingrouptheatre.com

Contact Information
Contact Name	Producing artistic director Mike Myers
Phone	3104133618
E-mail	mikemyers29@me.com
Address	3000 Airport Ave Santa monica CA 90405

Additional Information
Used for	Ruskin Group Theatre will use any funds awarded by the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation to aid in artist compensation and production material costs. In the current calendar year we have paid nearly 100 artists; from actors, to playwrights, musicians, directors, designers and builders. The cost of living that artists experience in this region is quite high, and the average costs of building materials has risen exponentially in the past few years.
Benefits	Grant funding will benefit both performing artists who reside in the area, as well as our patrons through their exposure to professional productions of world class theater. Our productions have had a far ranging reach over the years, as audience, though primarily residing in Southern California, have come from throughout the United States to see such productions as "Sideways", "Sneaky 'Ol Time", and our recent production of "A View From the Bridge". Most actors and designers don’t earn very much in a year of spot work, so our theater provides them with an opportunity to continue to sharpen their skills and remain engaged in their craft when between jobs.
Proposal Description	Grant funding will be applied to artistic pay and production material costs. This is an exciting, yet nerve wracking time in the history of Ruskin Group Theatre. We are embarking on a new chapter in our journey as a performing arts venue. This year, we will move from our current location at 3000 Airport Ave., Santa Monica, to 2800 Airport Ave. The new facility is more then double the size of our current location, and will include two stages. The main stage will seat 80, yet maintain the intimate appeal for which we have become known. The second (studio), space will have flexible seating with a maximum capacity of 60, and will facilitate live music as well as more experimental plays and workshops. In 2023, we had our best year yet at the box office, all while not raising ticket prices. At the new venue, we will be producing more shows with the two spaces and anticipate our operational budget to nearly double in size. This past year, we produced three major plays (“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”; “Picasso at the Lapin Agile”; and “A View From the Bridge”), and continue to offer our monthly series, “LA Cafe Plays” and “Library Girl”. Additionally, we hosted several live music performances by local artists. At year’s end, we will have expended nearly $100,000 in artist pay and another $100,000 in production costs. The new venue, with additional programming, will increase our operational budget to its highest level yet. We offer the highest quality production and performance values at an affordable price for our audience, and as well provide a safe, fertile space for artists to continue to develop their craft and grow in their field of practice.