BCF Awards $1,500 Grant for Theatre Education Outreach

The Branford Community Foundation, the leader in supporting a variety of local philanthropic needs, programs and services for 35 years, has distributed a $1,500 grant to Shoreline Arts Alliance to support two theatre education outreach programs for Branford children and seniors.

Since 2002, Shoreline Arts Alliance has presented free, professional quality, classical theatre, outdoor summer performances of Shakespeare on the Shoreline, drawing crowds from all over the Shoreline community with engaging, entertaining and educational performances. In conjunction with the summer 2015 production of Comedy of Errors, and in collaboration with Shakesperience Productions, Shoreline Arts Alliance has developed two educational outreach programs for additional learning opportunities including: 1) a pre-show Round Table forum for the residents of Evergreen Woods to discuss the play, enjoy script readings and encourage main stage production performance auditions, and 2) present a special August performance for children and families of The Prince and the Pauper at the James Blackstone Memorial Library. Both programs are designed to engage young and more seasoned theatre lovers with a greater appreciation of the arts through the timeless and universal message of classic theatre.

Shoreline Arts Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating artistic activity of the highest caliber by presenting performances by local, national and international artists; by sponsoring competitions and other activities to encourage and educated artists and arts participants of all ages; by assisting member arts and cultural organizations; and by helping to build the infrastructure of the arts on the Shoreline. Shakesperience Productions is a nonprofit professional educational theatre company.

The Branford Community Foundation benefits all residents by pooling contributions from like-minded citizens, managing these funds with professional guidance, and then carefully granting a portion of the income generated to local, nonprofit organizations. As a multipurpose permanent local charitable endowment, the Branford Community Foundation helps to build a healthy and successful community by supporting everything from basic needs and health services, to local environmental issues and education, to the arts and other programs.