Gulf Coast Community Foundation Invests in WBTT

September 29, 2021 – Sarasota

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe recently received an Arts Appreciation Grant of $30,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant will support WBTT’s operations as well as the costs associated with its 2021-2022 season, which includes “Eubie!” “Ruby,” “Broadway in Black,” world-premiere one-act plays “From Birmingham to Broadway” and “Float Like a Butterfly,” and holiday production “Joyful! Joyful!”  This is the fifth Arts Appreciation grant WBTT has received from Gulf Coast, totaling $135,000 since the first award in 2018. 

Gulf Coast’s Arts Appreciation Grants offer unrestricted funding to cornerstone arts organizations, in recognition of their contributions to our region’s economy and quality of life, to further their missions. A streamlined application and reporting process enable Gulf Coast’s arts partners to keep their focus on what they do best: to present world-class performances and collections. 

“We are so grateful to be included, once again this year, as a recipient of Gulf Coast’s Arts Appreciation Grants—it affirms the foundation’s continued confidence in us as a thriving, unique and important part of Sarasota’s arts community as well as a valued contributor to the region’s economy,” said WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach. “These funds will be tremendously beneficial as we contend with the continued logistical and economic impacts of the pandemic. Many thanks to Gulf Coast Community Foundation for its ongoing generous support of WBTT and our arts community.”

Founded in 1999, the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida, Inc. is the only professional black theater company on Florida’s West Coast. Its mission is to produce professional theatre that promotes and celebrates African American history and experience, engages a broad base of patrons and audiences, supports the development of a dynamic group of aspiring artists, and builds self-esteem in youth of color.

For more about WBTT or its upcoming season of shows, call 941-366-1505 or go to westcoastblacktheatre.org.