Public Theater
Program: Access to Arts
Area of Work: Arts
Grant Purpose: Public Works Program
Overview
Conceived over 60 years ago as one of the nation’s first nonprofit theaters, The Public has long operated on the principles that theater is an essential cultural force and that art and culture belong to everyone.
Grant
Purpose: To support the Public Works programs in New York City.
Public Works, a major program of The Public, aims to restore and build community by connecting people through theater—both performing it and experiencing it. Working with eight partner organizations across New York City, Public Works engages community members as active participants and creators — taking classes, attending performances, and joining in the creation of ambitious works of participatory theater. Public Works deliberately blurs the line between professional artists and community members, creating theater that is not only for the people, but by and of the people as well.
Impact
Public Works celebrates ten years with the production of AS YOU LIKE IT in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater with a full 4-week run during 2022’s Free Shakespeare in the Park. The cast will be comprised of over 100 community members from partner organizations, Fortune Society, Brownsville Recreation Center, DreamYard, Military Resilience Foundation, Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, Casita Maria, Children’s Aid Society, and Domestic Workers United.
Photos by Joan Marcus.