Live Arts Theater is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a General Operating Support grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, acknowledging our impactful contributions to Virginia and its citizens. The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) is the State agency dedicated to investing in the arts across the Commonwealth of Virginia. VCA plays a crucial role in enhancing Virginia’s economy and arts ecosystem through substantial grants. Supported by the General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, the VCA invests millions of dollars annually in communities across Virginia. For the 2024 grant cycle, the Commission received applications from nonprofit arts organizations, local governments, and other entities throughout the Commonwealth, ultimately awarding 656 grants totaling more than $5 million in arts investments.
“We are honored to fund and to recognize those supporting a vibrant Virginia. We know – and the data proves – that the arts serve an integral role to positively impact communities and the greater state,” said Virginia Commission for the Arts Executive Director Margaret Hancock. “We value the VCA’s grantees and are proud to support their operations and arts-centric initiatives that drive the local economies, educational offerings, tourism efforts, and creative outputs that truly elevate Virginia.”
Thanks to the funding received from the Commission this year, Live Arts will be able to: move forward with plans for five new mainstage productions; expand the WATERWORKS new works festival to its third year; and provide educational programs for youth aged 4-17 and grow adult educational opportunities. Live Arts shows are selling out and the volunteer roster increased to over 1,200 strong members! Season subscriptions and single ticket sales are reaching the goal of welcoming patrons to compelling productions throughout the year.
“As Board Chair of Live Arts, I extend our heartfelt thanks to the Virginia Commission for the Arts for their support. Live Arts’ 34 years of making theater and forging community in Charlottesville is only possible thanks to the generosity of organizations and individuals who understand the vital importance of investing in the arts,” says Miller Susen, Live Arts Board Chair.
About Live Arts
Founded in 1990, Live Arts is celebrating more than 34 years of forging theater and community. Powered by more than 1,000 volunteers, Live Arts is a national model for engaged community theater, known for exceptionally high caliber productions, provocative programming and for supporting new works. Live Arts is guided by these organizational priorities: Artistic Integrity; Educational Excellence; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; and Volunteer & Community Engagement. As the anchor tenant in a four-story space, Live Arts proudly serves as a vital cultural resource in the heart of downtown Charlottesville with two state-of-the-art stages, rehearsal studio space, a library, and a rooftop event space.
About the Virginia Commission for the Arts
The Virginia Commission for the Arts, established in 1968, is the state agency dedicated to investing in the arts across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VCA fulfills its mission through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, distributing grant awards to Virginia artists; arts organizations; educational institutions; nonprofit organizations; educators; and local and tribal governments. Learn more at www.vca.virginia.gov.
For More Information Please contact Marketing Coordinator Madison Weikle by email at madison@livearts.org or phone at 434-977-4177 x103, or visit livearts.org.
