Giving Tuesday

As Giving Tuesday approaches, we reflect on the power of your support and its impact on the arts. Your contributions to the Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education & Development Fund are pivotal in nurturing emerging talent and fostering innovative projects.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve made remarkable progress in our first full year. In partnership with Open Jar Studios, we launched the Spark Grant Program, which has already awarded five space grants to develop exciting new works. Next Thursday marks a milestone with the first industry reading of a project powered by the program: Ocean Walk by Gianfranco Lentini.

We also celebrated our first Arts Education Advancement Scholarship recipient, Matthew Feinstein, who pursued a transformative summer internship in London. There, Matthew took classes and explored the inner workings of producing for both the West End and Broadway. He shared:

"By receiving this scholarship, I have been able to get flights, room/board, and some food taken care of during my time in London and couldn't be more grateful. I am so pumped for the future and to have the opportunity to study and educate myself in another side of theatre."

This Giving Tuesday, we’re setting a new goal: to raise $5,000* to expand the Spark Grant Program and launch the On Deck Program, a new initiative designed to demystify careers in the arts. This program will connect students with working professionals through masterclasses, talkbacks, and educational experiences, helping them gain career insights, enhance their skills, and build long-lasting connections. We aim to pilot this program next spring.

Your tax-deductible donation is a step toward a richer, more vibrant artistic future. Join us in empowering the next generation of creative leaders by contributing to the Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education & Development Fund today.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

*We'll be subtracting from the Givebutter goal for any donations received outside of the platform.