Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Receives $10 Million from The Annenberg Foundation in Support of a New Citywide Arts Festival.
June 18, 2008
Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers announced today that The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has received a grant of $10 million from The Annenberg Foundation to establish an annual, month-long, citywide arts festival, beginning in April 2011. The festival, currently in the early planning stages, will involve all nine Kimmel Center Presents series, the resident companies of the Kimmel Center, as well as arts organizations across the city of Philadelphia. Funds from the Annenberg grant will support programming, commissioning, unique production costs, management and marketing of the festival. The Kimmel Center will organize, coordinate and collaborate with arts and culture organizations throughout the region on an annual, themed festival which will highlight the unique artistic and cultural treasures of Philadelphia as well as visiting guest performers. The theme of the inaugural festival will be announced at a later date.
Major goals proposed for the festival will be to involve a very high percentage of Philadelphia’s arts and cultural organizations around a unique theme each year; encourage collaboration and co-productions among arts groups to present rarely performed works; create broad-based awareness of the festival both locally and nationally through extensive marketing and promotional efforts; commission new works for both Kimmel Center Presents and select Philadelphia area arts organizations; offer both paid and free events; and incorporate educational outreach programs through partnerships with regional school districts.
"I can think of no better tribute to the Kimmel Center than the show of support from The Annenberg Foundation for our vision of a citywide arts festival," said Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Chairman William P. Hankowsky, "The Kimmel Center is uniquely positioned to act as a catalyst for creative collaborations both with its resident companies and arts organizations throughout the city."
"We are honored that Mrs. Annenberg shares our dream to have the Kimmel Center not only present great art while hosting the amazing talent brought to our stages by our resident companies but also to showcase the quality arts and cultural organizations present throughout the City of Philadelphia," said Anne Ewers, "As we further develop our partnerships, I believe we can shine a bright light on the unique and diverse offerings we enjoy everyday, bring new works to life, and share all of it with Philadelphia and the world."
"We are thrilled to support such a bold and innovative idea that encourages collaboration among Philadelphia’s art organizations," said Gail Levin, executive director of The Annenberg Foundation, "Spotlighting the arts and culture that Mrs. Annenberg has enjoyed and supported for many years in Philadelphia, and sharing it with the world through a citywide arts and cultural festival gives us great pleasure. We hope everyone in the city will embrace this festival and match her incredible generosity."
Established in 1989 by Walter H. Annenberg, The Annenberg Foundation provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally through its headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania and offices in Los Angeles, California. Its major program areas are education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation operates a number of initiatives which expand and complement these program areas. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.
Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, provides a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents sponsored by Citi and Cadillac Broadway series of performances, as well as arts in education and community outreach. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music together serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations including: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®. Kimmel Center, Inc. owns, manages, supports, and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra Association.
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