Keep Borderlands Theater Open
Donation protected
For over 30 years Borderlands Theater has presented award-winning new works reflecting the diversity, heritage, and most politically charged issues of the border region. Most recently, we've doubled down on our commitment to collaborate with community resulting in some of the most innovative and impactful productions Tucson has seen, such as: MÁS, based on 400 pages of interview transcripts with activists at the heart of the ethnic studies (HB 2281) battle; BARRIO STORIES, an epic immersive theater experience honoring Tucson's original Mexican-American barrio, torn down in the name of urban renewal; STANDING WITH SAGUAROS, an eco-theater investigation of the iconic Saguaro cactus in partnership with the National Park Service; and SONORAN SHADOWS, a multigenerational project that brought Patricia Preciado Martin's stories of growing up in Tucson to life through the magic of shadow puppetry in neighborhood parks. Except for MÁS, all these events were Pay What You Can. Tucson, we know that you've noticed the unique work Borderlands Theater is doing and want our work to continue.
The Bad News:
We are artists and dreamers running this theater on a shoestring budget (and still getting coverage by American Theatre Magazine), presenting numerous donation-based/free events (because we believe that theater is for EVERYONE) while relying (too) heavily on national grants with no major donors to help if a grant falls through. That's exactly what happened last November when we weren't awarded a major NEA grant (though, we won two other NEA grants this year, so not too shabby). We now face a $20,000 deficit by the end of the fiscal year. Even with admission income from our last production of the season, SHOOTING COLUMBUS (which is free for indigenous persons), Borderlands will run out of operating funds by the end of March 2017. When that happens, we will not be able to pay our staff, office rent, liability insurance, or basic utilities and will have to shut our doors for good.
The Good News:
If we can just get through the end of the season in July, we've got some incredible opportunities to keep us fiscally robust moving forward.
- We moved to the historic Sosa Carrillo Fremont House in early February. SCFH will provide new revenue streams as a venue for music and other events, rentals, and a variety of classes we can now offer.
- An expanded season of five productions starting with Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan's BUILDING THE WALL, a startling vision of the consequences of Trump's authoritarian policies. The season also includes the 21st annual A TUCSON PASTORELA, THE MERMAID HOUR by David Valdes Greenwood, and the second installment of the BARRIO STORIES PROJECT: BARRIO ANITA.
- The establishment of an individual donor program, starting with the hiring of a part-time development director.
Where Your Donations Go:
-Staff wages through July. We're not extravagant, our tiny staff of four makes between $10 - $17/hour and half the staff goes on leave for the summer. Total $10,830.
-Office rent for the next five months. $850 a month or $4250 total.
-Liability insurance. $650/month for five months or $3,250 total.
- Basic utilities and office expenses for the next five months totaling $1,670.
Our deadline to raise $20,000 is March 27, 2017.
The Bad News:
We are artists and dreamers running this theater on a shoestring budget (and still getting coverage by American Theatre Magazine), presenting numerous donation-based/free events (because we believe that theater is for EVERYONE) while relying (too) heavily on national grants with no major donors to help if a grant falls through. That's exactly what happened last November when we weren't awarded a major NEA grant (though, we won two other NEA grants this year, so not too shabby). We now face a $20,000 deficit by the end of the fiscal year. Even with admission income from our last production of the season, SHOOTING COLUMBUS (which is free for indigenous persons), Borderlands will run out of operating funds by the end of March 2017. When that happens, we will not be able to pay our staff, office rent, liability insurance, or basic utilities and will have to shut our doors for good.
The Good News:
If we can just get through the end of the season in July, we've got some incredible opportunities to keep us fiscally robust moving forward.
- We moved to the historic Sosa Carrillo Fremont House in early February. SCFH will provide new revenue streams as a venue for music and other events, rentals, and a variety of classes we can now offer.
- An expanded season of five productions starting with Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan's BUILDING THE WALL, a startling vision of the consequences of Trump's authoritarian policies. The season also includes the 21st annual A TUCSON PASTORELA, THE MERMAID HOUR by David Valdes Greenwood, and the second installment of the BARRIO STORIES PROJECT: BARRIO ANITA.
- The establishment of an individual donor program, starting with the hiring of a part-time development director.
Where Your Donations Go:
-Staff wages through July. We're not extravagant, our tiny staff of four makes between $10 - $17/hour and half the staff goes on leave for the summer. Total $10,830.
-Office rent for the next five months. $850 a month or $4250 total.
-Liability insurance. $650/month for five months or $3,250 total.
- Basic utilities and office expenses for the next five months totaling $1,670.
Our deadline to raise $20,000 is March 27, 2017.
Organizer
Border Lands
Organizer
Tucson, AZ