PushPush Theater Receives Grant from Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund

(May 10, 2007, ATLANTA) - Today PushPush Theater received $68,000 over 3 years to fund the position of Business Manager. The grant, awarded by the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund at its annual luncheon, was part of a total contribution of $500,000 given to only ten small and medium-sized arts organizations in the metro area.

"We are the foundation of Atlanta's arts community as we are the only organization in the metro area that provides much needed assistance to the smaller arts organizations," says Lisa Cremin, director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund. "These grants mean that an organization will be able to build cash reserves, hire a marketing pro, erase debt, or stabilize its management."

"The competition for grants is extremely competitive. This year we were able to fund only 26% of the dollars requested. We encourage all Atlantans to support the Arts Fund's growth," says Lisa Cremin, director of the Arts Fund, noting that this year she received more than $1.9 million in requests from organizations.

PushPush, an award-winning theater dedicated to the development Atlanta's performing artists, envisions being a force in the Atlanta's cultural progression by encouraging artistic and cultural growth and offering the outcomes to the community through a wide range of innovative programming. The company achieves this mission primarily by providing distinctive opportunities for Atlanta's performing artists to grow, push boundaries, take artistic risks, explore new ideas, and collaborate.

Now celebrating its 10th year, the organization begins a new strategic phase to build stability around its unique mission. The Business Manager position will be critical to the organization's continued growth and to the pioneering of New Street Arts, the newly appointed name of its Decatur venue, and the umbrella project under which the many artists and groups working there, including PushPush, will organize. Sighting models like Joseph Papp's Public Theater, La Mama Exp. Theater, and Creative Capital Foundation as its national inspirations, this grant will help the organization better manage its business, shared space, and transition into a new phase - all while growing its mission: to be an incubator for the development of adventurous ideas by supporting artists in the performing arts, film & video, and in emerging fields.

A partnership of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Arts Fund is the foundation of Atlanta's arts community. It provides stabilization grants to arts organizations in 23 counties with operating budgets under $1.5 million. It is the only general arts endowment that focuses exclusively on the hundreds of arts organizations in the region. Each spring the Arts Fund awards sizable grants to organizations that demonstrate community support and a commitment to organizational planning and development. Over the last 15 years the Arts Fund has given away nearly $5.5 million in grants and services to 74 different organizations.

For more information about the Arts Fund, go to www.MetroAtlantaArtsFund.org or contact the director, Lisa Cremin at 404-688-5525. For more information about the Business Manager Position at PushPush Theater contact Shelby Hofer at shelby.hofer@gmail.com.