Causes: Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Centers

Mission:
Richmond CenterStage is a catalyst for a creative andvibrant arts scene throughout the Richmond region. Through our four arts venuesand education center, we want to promote an inspiring environment where performingarts will flourish and strengthen the Virginia capital region’s cultural, social and economic vitality. We support the relationships among visual, performingand cultural arts and create transformational educational opportunities forK-12 students through collaboration between regional arts groups, educationalsystems and the community.
We are serious about the arts. And we are seriouslyfun.

Programs:
Withour endowment, we want to ensure that Richmond is a vibrant, lively city;broaden our arts programs; assure more years of outstanding artistry andinnovative new programming; and build non-traditional audiences and bring indiverse acts. The CenterStage Foundation works closely with communitypartners including the City of Richmond, Venture Richmond, and the Alliance forthe Performing Arts to ensure that our plan dovetails with the broader-scalevision for the City. For instance, program funding has been put towards FirstFridays, a community celebration held near the first of every month that bringscitizens from around the community to downtown. Program dollars have also rented out performance spaces, allowing thosein the community to see a show for free. Our carefully-crafted plan reflectsthe needs of this community and the community's ability and desire to supportits performing arts. It involves and benefits not only the major performingarts organizations, but also the small, community-based, and alternativeperforming arts organizations that are flourishing in our region. TheFoundation is focused on fundraising, education, master planning and buildingthe endowment for future generations to come.