We build bridges over barriers to provide arts for all.
Support & Donate
Our fourth year of existence has been a rollercoaster of success, growing pains and great pride. Our programs are increasing, our partnerships are forming, and our community is growing. We are thankful to continue to be supported by The Springboard Foundation for the next four years. Their services continue to mentor us and help lead our organization through capacity building, board development and recruitment, and organizational development. We are also honored to be supported by The Illinois Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts, and The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) this year.
We are big dreamers over here at Downstage Arts, and if you've been with us since the beginning you know that we not only dream big, but achieve big. We believe in a future where we are all healthy, where there is equity and justice, and where performing arts education puts the student, as a whole human being, first. That's how we do everything at Downstage Arts. We won't stop building programs until we can create that future in the arts.
This year we’ve:
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Enrolled SEVENTEEN teens (our biggest class to date) in our flagship program, The Teen Cohort, where we mentor seniors in their college and theatre conservatory application process - all the way through decision day.
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Placed 100% of our graduates in one of their top five schools.
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Held a Back-to-School event where we gave away over 100 backpacks with school supplies, food and gifts to families in our community.
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We’ve hired five artists to teach and lead our programs.
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We’ve brought in seven guest artists to talk to our students about colleges.
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We gave two hundred hours of free private voice, piano, guitar, and acting lessons to students.
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We've taught 5 free classes to kids in our community.
Typically, these types of programs cost families $20,000 per year.
Our programs are free.
Our staff members are paid.
And we are so excited about the futures of our organization and the arts industry.
But that future can’t exist without you.
Providing this work for free takes the support of generous donors. We hope you will donate or pledge today so that we can keep providing this support to young artists and expand our offerings. Even if you donate just $5, we are so thankful for your support and trust.
We hope you will join our current donors, The Springboard Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, DCASE and The National Endowment for the Arts in helping us build this future.
How your help is used
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$100 covers the cost of sheet music for our cohort class
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$200 covers the cost of college application fees for one student
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$250 covers the cost of audition attire for one student
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$300 covers the costs of one self taping prescreen audition for one student
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$400 covers the cost of headshots for one student
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$500 covers the cost of professional masterclasses for one student
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$650 covers the cost of one student to receive coaching on their audition pieces
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$1,300 covers the cost of audition accompaniment for one student
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$1,500 covers the cost to participate in group classes for one student
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$1,800 covers the cost of private voice lessons for one student
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$2,500 covers the cost to receive private acting coaching for one student
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$3,000 covers the cost of plane tickets for one student's audition travel
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$3,500 covers the cost of lodging and food for one student's audition travel
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$4,000 covers the cost of seeing professional shows and development opportunities for one student for one year
Donor Wall
The Springboard Foundation
Beacon Donuts
Lowell Bostrom
Norma Castrejon
Dawn LaFleur
Deborah Conway
Judy & Jerry VanSchyndel
Suzanne Delrow
Kevin James Sullivan
Kayla & Eric Forschler
Trevor Kristensen
Janine Colletti
Leann Barrette & Dan Tozzi
Ryan Berry
Nicole Danielle
Madeline Bunke
Marina Claudio
Lucy Riner
Jenny & Steve Kupitz
Jennifer Keeney
Jennifer Snyder
Holly McCormack
Julia Calcagno
Rebecca & Luke Wilson
The Kelleher Family
Betty Glass
The Betts Family
Kara Leman
Daniel Pulvino
Linda Mauro & Michael Coelho
Mia Coelho & Brian Curth
Roseanne & Pete Tozzi
Chris Tozzi
Lindsay Cummings
Desiree & Mike Habrat
Lanny & Linnea Wilson
Kayla Sivesind
Janie Killips
Dean Corrin
Kelsey Ann Wacker
Eddie Lynch
Joseph Waytula
Steven Mendivil
Molly Luther
Rachel Means
Tony & Sandra Smith
Shirley Coehlo
Teresa Leman
Richard Kilgus
Mayela Carrasco
Eric Cho