Overview

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, is the hub of the not-for-profit theatre community, well known for our conferences, publications and grantmaking programs. Founded in 1961 to fuel the emerging regional theatre movement, TCG established a vital communications network for theatre professionals in pursuit of theatre as an art form rather than as a profit-driven enterprise. Our early programs were designed to seed and stabilize a field in its infancy, supporting artistry and offering tools for sustainable management. At the end of the 2004-2005 fiscal year, we boast a membership of 436 not-for-profit theatres in 47 states and the District of Columbia, as well as over 17,000 individuals nationwide. The growth of our constituency is a benchmark of our success in fulfilling our mission: to strengthen, nurture and promote the professional not-for-profit American theatre.

TCG's programs and services enable our geographically, culturally and economically diverse constituents to learn the best practices of the field from one another. We bring people together at national meetings that establish peer professional networks for theatre artists, managers, trustees and educators. As a national center, TCG is in a unique position to gather and disseminate industry information and dramatic literature. Our publications include national research on the finances and practices of the theatre field, American Theatre magazine, the ArtSEARCH employment bulletin, and approximately 15 theatre books a year, including plays by America's best emerging and established playwrights. As a grantmaking organization, TCG provides theatres and theatre professionals with financial resources to promote career development, artistic collaboration and the creation of new work. In our role as the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute, a network of theatre centers in over 90 countries, TCG links members to the international theatre community. With our partners in the American Arts Alliance, TCG advocates for the field in Washington and alerts members about timely legislative developments. In all of our endeavors, TCG seeks to increase the organizational efficiency of our member theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field, and promote a larger public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre.