Newberry Opera House receives Grant from State Arts Commission
October 14, 2014
NEWBERRY, SC – The Newberry Opera House was awarded a general operating support grant for $31,490 by the South Carolina Arts Commission for the 2014-15 seasons. The purpose of the highly competitive General Operating Support is to strengthen arts organizations that bring ongoing arts experiences and services to individuals, communities, and other organizations throughout the state by providing consistent, unrestricted support for basic operations. Applicant’s range from emerging to established arts organizations, including arts centers and producing entities. This is a four to one matching grant with the Opera House matching the grant with more than $125,000 dollars.
These funds will assist the Newberry Opera House in maintenance and operating expenses. The Opera House has a 1.6 million dollar budget in which ticket sales account for approximately 72% of their yearly budget with the rest of the monies donated by generous individuals, received from local industries and granted by foundations.
The Opera House continues to lead the development of Newberry, bringing in more than 100,000 people annually to the small city, and by publicizing Newberry County as a destination for industry, for relocations and simply as a beautiful friendly place to visit.
About SCAC: The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission is working to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina and by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Newberry Opera House recently announced its new season headlined by Art Garfunkel, John Oates, Justin Haywood, lead singer of the Moody Blues, the Impressions, Don Williams, Habana Sax, March Fourth, a circus-like marching band with roots in Afro-Cuban music and the gypsy tunes of the Hungarian plains.
The first Broadway play of the season is “The Lady with all The Answers”, a journey in a day in the life of Ann Landers. And all this is just in the month of October!
For more information on the South Carolina Arts Commission please, visit
http://www.southcarolinaarts.com and for information on the shows at the Opera House visit www.newberryoperahouse.com or phone 803-276-6264.
