Gulf Coast Community Foundation Awards FST $45,000 Arts Appreciation Grant

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is delighted to announce that the nonprofit theater has been awarded a $45,000 “Arts Appreciation” grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. These grants were given to cornerstone Sarasota arts organizations, enabling them to concentrate on what they do best: advance their artistic missions. Thanks to Gulf Coast, these funds will provide key support for FST’s Winter Mainstage and Cabaret Seasons, which will begin in early 2021. 

“In these uncertain times, we are thankful for the support of organizations like Gulf Coast Community Foundation,” said Richard Hopkins, FST’s Producing Artistic Director. “They recognize the importance of art in our community, and this grant will enable us to do what we’ve done for the past 47 years: produce the best in contemporary theatre at an affordable price.”

Gulf Coast awarded Arts Appreciation grants to 10 arts organizations in the region, including FST, acknowledging their contributions to the economy and helping bolster the area’s reputation as a leading artistic and cultural haven. Florida’s largest subscription theatre, FST produced over 20 productions in 2019, reaching over 235,000 attendees.

“Our region’s beloved arts and cultural organizations have been hit as hard as any by the impacts of COVID-19,” said Mark Pritchett, President | CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “This flexible funding is designed to help partners like FST remain resilient and productive in this terribly challenging time, because our community needs them.”

ABOUT GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
For 25 years, together with its donors, 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, it has become the philanthropic home of nearly 1,000 families, individuals, organizations, and businesses that have established charitable funds there, and has invested over $390 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.

ABOUT FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE
Known as Sarasota’s Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Artist Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company then acquired the former Woman’s Club building, becoming the first permanent venue. Shortly after Producing Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins arrived, the building was purchased and renamed The Keating Theatre. In the years that followed, Florida Studio Theatre established itself as a major force in American Theatre, presenting contemporary theatre in its five theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Gompertz Theatre, the Parisian style Goldstein Cabaret and John C. Court Cabaret, and Bowne’s Lab Theatre.  

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience.  As FST grows and expands, it continues to provide audiences with challenging, contemporary drama and innovative programs.