WBTT receives grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe recently received an Arts Appreciation Grant of $15,000 from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant will support WBTT's operations as well as the costs associated with its 2018-19 season, which began in October with a sold-out run of Raisin. The remainder of the season includes Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul, holiday offering Black Nativity, The Amen Corner, and Love Sung in the Key of Aretha.

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 use as they best see fit. A streamlined application and reporting process enables 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 and excited to be included this year for the first time in Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Arts Appreciation Grants—it shows the foundation’s confidence in us as we near our 20th season, as a thriving and important part of Sarasota’s arts community,” said WBTT executive director Julie Leach.

WBTT was founded in December 1999 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization by local actor, singer, director, and playwright Nate Jacobs. It is the only professional black theatre company on Florida’s west coast and one of just three in the state. WBTT’s mission is to produce professional theatre that promotes and celebrates the African-American experience, to attract diverse audiences, to support and develop African-American artists, and to build the self-esteem of African-American youth.

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

PHOTO ID: (From l-r) Veronica Brady, senior vice president for philanthropy for Gulf Coast Community Foundation, with WBTT's founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs and executive director Julie Leach
Photo by Sharon Kunkel/Wordslinger Marketing & PR

About Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe:
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida, Inc. is the only professional black theater company on Florida’s West Coast. The mission is to produce professional theatre that promotes and celebrates the African-American experience, to attract diverse audiences, to support and develop African-American artists, and to build the self-esteem of African-American youth. For more information on WBTT, visit the website at westcoastblacktheatre.org or call (941) 366-1505.