OVERTURE CENTER FOUNDATION INC

Overture Center is the largest performing arts center in Wisconsin. We aim to enrich the lives of individuals and the community by creating, encouraging and catalyzing extraordinary arts experiences. Overture Center is committed to ensuring access to the arts is open to all community members, regardless of age, race, background or finances. Our objectives include:

-- Present a broad spectrum of high-quality arts programming

-- Develop audiences for, and deepen audience engagement with, the arts

-- Advance the missions of our resident companies and other local artists and arts organizations

-- Maintain a facility that elevates the work of our artists and the experience of our patrons

-- Steward our resources and opportunities wisely and achieve our goals in an efficient manner

-- Develop an effective, productive, talented professional staff

Partnering with local community and charity organizations in the Madison area allows Overture to offer under-served communities subsidized tickets and event spaces. Working closely with local public school districts and educators enables programs like OnStage performances and the Every Given Child initiative to collaboratively grow.

Providing access for Madison-based artists and performers to develop and share their skills strengthens the arts community on the whole. Overture's Teaching Artist Training program and gallery spaces focus on local artists, providing training and avenues for their work to have positive impacts on our community.

Providing diverse programming with a wide range of season performances and community programs encourages audiences of all interests to engage with the arts.

With seven performance spaces, eleven resident organizations, and a dedicated and professional staff, Overture Center is uniquely equipped to be the arts and cultural center of Madison and surrounding community.

Madison, WI was named the 12th city in the country to be selected to participate in the John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts' "Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child" program. Overture has taken a leading role in carrying out the initiative, representing the Madison arts community in partnership with the City of Madison and Madison Metropolitan School District, convening the Madison Arts Education Roundtable, and hosting the Arts Education Fair. With the world-class research and resources available through this initiative, Overture Center has the opportunity to be a part of a national conversation and movement for arts accessibility.

Overture Center has seen a number of community programs grow and deepen in the last several years:

Kids in the Rotunda: This popular free performing arts series offers a chance for children ages 9 and younger to be introduced to the magic of the arts. The number of performances each year increased from 27 to 30 in 2012/13, and attendance continues to reach over 31,000 a year. Partnerships with Madison's Central Public Library and Little Om Big Om yoga have resulted in new opportunities to integrate the KIR arts performances with education and wellness.

Tommy Awards: Providing a platform for local high school students to explore a future in the performing arts, the Tommy Awards brings educators, industry professionals, and theater experts together to review productions at area high schools.Two outstanding performers advance to The National High School Musical Theatre Awards competition in New York City. Since 2012, Overture's Tommy Awards program has grown from 44 participating schools to over 60. Over 8,500 people participated and attended in 2014, with Overture's partnership with Wisconsin Public Television broadcasting the awards across the state. Last year, a new partnership with the Marcus Center of the Performing Arts in Milwaukee extended the reach of the program, inspiring hundreds more Wisconsin high school students to pursue active participation in the arts.

Teaching Artist Training: With long-term goals including the cultivation of leaders and systems for arts access and equity, Overture has become a leader in training Teaching Artists. Local artists participate in a three-day seminar and then create and implement a residency with mentorship from Overture Center and other Teaching Artists. Not only does the training prepare artists to work with children, but they also become a part of the professional network of Overture Center Teaching Artists to share ideas and resources. Local schools are able to access this network, bringing fresh, inspiring artists into the classroom and community centers around the city. In 2015-2016, we are proud to have nineteen artists on our roster able to provide a variety of arts residencies in Madison's schools.

Overture Center continues to work towards building new audiences and providing access to all members of our community. Overture's Race to Equity initiative will be an integral part of that work in the coming years.