Grants to Sustain The Luke

We are fortunate and grateful to receive funding from area foundations, businesses and private donors to support the operations and programs of The Luke Theatre. We have great news about some exciting recent developments!

The Marjorie Luke Theatre Sustainability Fund
With the support of an anonymous private donor, The Luke Theatre Sustainability Fund has been established with a $150,000 gift. $50,000 of this gift is a matching gift and we have begun work on matching it to create a $200,000 Sustainability Fund. The Sustainability Fund will provide approximately $20,000 of general operating funds on an annual basis to support staff salaries, insurance, promotion, the Dreier Rent Subsidy Fund and equipment needs. Our goal is to grow this fund to act similar to an endowment, which will have a long term, positive impact on The Luke Theatre's financial security.

Our first match for this gift is a generous $10,000 grant from the Kirby Jones Foundation. This family foundation donated $10,000 last year to purchase a new computer light control board for The Luke. Every dollar raised toward general operating will be matched, up to $40,000 over the next year. In this economy, how many ways can you make your investment double?! Here is your opportunity to make a major difference at The Luke, by donating whatever you are able, and know that the value of your tax-deductible gift will be matched.

Santa Barbara Foundation Supports Promotion Campaign and VIVA EL ARTE
Independent Promotion Campaign
The Santa Barbara Foundation has generously granted funds for two important programs at The Luke. A $16,000 grant will support a year-long promotional campaign featuring weekly color display ads in the Santa Barbara Independent. These ads will promote "What's Happening This Week at The Luke." When space permits, the ads will also feature important information about The Luke with interesting "did you know?" tid bits of facts, history and news. Everyone that has events at The Luke will be featured in these ads, at NO COST, thanks to the support of the Santa Barbara Foundation. This valuable added "extra" is already being applauded by our renters as a wonderful addition to their event promotional efforts. We hope to build audiences and increase awareness of grass-roots arts organizations as well as The Luke Theatre with this campaign.

VIVA EL ARTE de SANTA BARBARA Series
The Santa Barbara Foundation also granted a $45,000 grant to The Luke Theatre for the collaborative VIVA EL ARTE Series, now in its fourth season. This is the second grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation supporting this free community series of concerts and outreach activities featuring music and dance artists from the USA and Latin America. See our VIVA EL ARTE page on this website for full details of this exciting family series.

High Tide Foundation and Towbes Foundation Support Rent Subsidy Fund

The High Tide Foundation in Santa Barbara has been generously supporting the Dreier Family Rent Subsidy Fund for three years and recently granted $2,000 for this model Fund. Renters of The Luke are able to apply for cash grants to underwrite some of their rental costs at The Luke Theatre. High Tide has been a consistent donor to this Fund which helps generate rent income for the Theatre, while directly supporting area youth-related arts and educational organizations.

The Towbes Foundation has also been a consistent donor to the Dreier Family Rent Subsidy Fund and recently contributed $5,000. The Towbes Foundation has been a key donor since the inception of the Marjorie Luke Theatre and was one of the first foundations to support the renovation of the Luke Theatre. Michael Towbes sets the standard for philanthropic giving in Santa Barbara and is a strong supporter of the arts in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara County Arts Commission Grant

The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission has been funding the Luke Theatre since we began operating. We are grateful to have recently received a $9,000 grant to partially support the salary of our General Manager Rick Villa. The Luke Theatre is funded in part by the Organizational Development Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.