Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope has received a grant from the Small Business Association, through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.
The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered arts venues.
The grant of $2,543,050 will allow the Playhouse to recover from the financial devastation of the 2020 pandemic year. The grant award is being used to cover fixed operating expenses — including payroll, office rent, utilities, insurance, equipment, and maintenance — as well as other expenses related to the return to normal operations. The theater must continue to raise funds to cover production and operational expenses as it readies itself to return to a full production season in summer 2022.
“This is welcome news indeed,” said Alexander Fraser, producing director and CEO. “We were faced with a significant shortfall due to the pandemic. Thanks to our donors, we were able to retain and re-hire a majority of the dedicated staff of theater professionals who helped us get to where we are today. The SVOG will allow us to plan our return to full-time programming next season.”
