With these questions in mind, I invited a trio of experts to share advice, geared toward anyone just starting to navigate the world of grants, foundations, and donors. Anne Rawn, Cherise Solomon, and Josh Marchesini each bring a different perspective to fundraising and development.
"I disagree with how the Western world has equated shadows with darkness and ignorance and evil," says Rollins. "Shadows are equally as important as light. We give them no notice, once we grow up past a certain age. But they are necessary for us to process the world, and see in three dimensions, and understand movement and texture."
"I’ve always loved the idea of art happening everywhere, from street art to yarn bombing," says Kwan. "We’re in a society right now that keeps dehumanizing us in so many ways. Art is a necessity in that it keeps us human."
"From 2010 to the pandemic, [Aluna Theatre's] energy was totally devoted to creating a community of Latinx artists," says this year's Silver Ticket Award recipient. "Now they’ve grown up, and a lot of them are being produced by other companies. Creating that space has been a huge responsibility and I never take it lightly."