HOOSIER SHAKES INC

The goals of Hoosier Shakes are:
1) to vitalize the performance of Shakespeare and other drama for the diverse communities of Grant and Wabash Counties, Indiana by presenting inspiring, accessible, literate, experiential theatrical performance;
2) to foster community and fellowship around the enterprise of theatre in outdoor and other beautiful spaces.
3) to provide exceptional avenues for artists and audiences of all backgrounds to take part in recovering the joys of Shakespeare and live performance.

We intend to...
Hire skilled people in the field of theatre
Expand our resources
Establish a repertoire of Shakespearean works and original pieces
Perform at other theatre festivals
Establish permanent facilities
Host Shakespearean Festivals at nearby Indiana Wesleyan University
Travel around the community of Grant County, IN; and beyond

Our organization has garnered local support and begun to attract regional funding through local and statewide grant awards.
Our Board of Directors is knowledgeable, committed, and represent a broad spectrum necessary for longevity.
The local university (Indiana Wesleyan University) has made a long-term commitment to provide housing and rehearsal space.
Local community support is growing as well. The Honeywell Foundation was so pleased with the quality of our work they requested for us to return next summer as a participant in their Summer Arts Festival. Main Street Marion is planning on our return again this summer as well.

Regarding Long-term Venues...
from the Honeywell Foundation...
"Hoosier Shakes' performances became known as 'Shakespeare in the Garden' around the Honeywell Foundation. Charley Creek Gardens is a property that became part of the Honeywell umbrella in 2015. While it is a beautiful garden and cultural center, we have been looking for signature programming that will bring life to the venue. Hoosier Shakes was a wonderful addition to the CCG offerings. We see a future where we continue to build an audience for high quality, entertaining Shakespearian performances in this location in collaboration with Hoosier Shakes.
"The members of the company were wonderful to work with. They were extremely professional. Their passion for the subject matter shone through both during the performances and while they greeted the audience members afterward. Programming of this quality is exactly what the Honeywell Foundation is looking for as a regional arts center with audiences attending our events from a ten county radius.
"We look forward to working with Hoosier Shakes in the future, both for additional performances and through our Educational Outreach Program. EOP takes artists into nearly one hundred schools in Northern Indiana each year to provide arts-in-education experiences."

Regarding Educational Outreach...
from the Community School of the Arts...
"CSA provided Hoosier Shakes actors with temporary rehearsal space at their downtown Marion location, and mutually promoting each other's events through social media and print. CSA also co-hosted an event with Hoosier Shakes called “Shakes and Shakespeare" which involved taking several CSA students to see a performance of "Twelfth Night"; many of them had never seen or read this play before, and were immensely entertained by it. This event was completely free of charge, though the quality of the performance certainly merited payment! Perhaps the most valuable collaboration between CSA and Hoosier Shakes was a masterclass held at CSA and lead by one of the professional actors from the Hoosier Shakes company. The class focused on analyzing Shakespearean text, and provided students with excellent tools to better understand characters in Shakespearean plays, all with a practical emphasis on application. Because of our partnership, we were able to offer this class completely free of charge, which is uncommon for a class lead by a professional with this level of training.

Regarding Increased Funding...
Hoosier Shakes was awarded an Indiana Arts Commission Arts Project Grant for the year of 2017 from the Regional Initiative Grant [RIG] Program in November 2016.
The RIG program supports different arts organizations through the contribution of funding. By doing this, the program will ensure that all Indiana citizens can have access to quality arts and cultural activities. Regional Initiative Grant programs include Arts Project Support and Mini grants, Arts Operating Support I and Arts Operating Support II.