The grant goes towards general operations of the MCA, meaning musicals such as Chicago, upcoming this weekend, are able to happen each and every year
Mainstage Center for the Arts in downtown Blackwood learned last week it had received a $20,000 grant from the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey. The grant will help fund the program’s arts and arts education services.
“The grant from the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey will enable Mainstage to carry out our important work with arts education, primarily through our studios and large Summer Stage program, where we reach more than 800 students per year with audiences of 30,000,” said Joe Bretschneider, MCA executive director. “This will benefit the community we’ve been a part of for 30 years, providing a creative, vibrant and nurturing environment for youth and adults, as well as improving their quality of life.”
The MCA has received a grant from the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey for five consecutive years, however this is the first year it has received $20,000, the highest amount that it awards.
According to Bretschneider, the MCA wants to allow those in the community to be more well-rounded through the arts, while providing affordable prices thanks to sponsors and grants like this.
Bretschneider wrote the grant application and says they stress the connection between MCA giving back to the community. Due to the consistently high number of students who go through the numerous programs year after year, while attracting a large following for shows and programs as well, he feels that signals to the foundation they have an important place within the community.
Although there are two main types of grants, with one for specific projects, the MCA continues to receive general operating grants.
“That’s the thing that’s awesome for us and other people who receive Horizon grants, is that they are general operating grants,” Bretschneider said. “So we can put it towards anything that has to do with arts education or arts performance.”
Bretschneider also said they enjoy having the chance to show those in and out of the local community the work the MCA is doing by creating these partnerships, and than thanking those that make these programs for local children possible.
The grant money can go toward anything that helps students and those with the MCA, such as the the Summer Stage program, Studio Education Program, the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival and more.
Another example would be helping to run and fund plays, shows and musicals the MCA puts on year round, such as with the high school edition performance of “Chicago” the MCA is putting on Friday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 2 and 7 p.m. at Camden County College.
Stacy Napolitano with the MCA says the play is similar to the original performance, with the omission of adult language, sexual references and two songs.
The collaboration for this show, according to both Bretschneider and Napolitano, features current and past MCA students, making for a unique performance. Past students have come through, enjoyed the programs and moved on to become professional directors or performers, but then return to pass on their knowledge and experience.
Bretschneider feels that is the most unique part of receiving the grants, because they make such a turnaround possible for all.
“That’s what Horizon is funding, they’re funding that whole experience,” Bretschneider said.
