Britt Receives Largest Grant Award In Its History

Britt Performance Garden

Britt Festivals announces the largest grant award in the organization’s history, in the receipt of a $200,000 grant award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The grant will go toward the construction of a new performance garden on the Britt grounds in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Britt Executive Director Donna Briggs says of the award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.  “We have been working closely with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust since March of 2011.  Their expert guidance and steadfast belief in the project led to a successful proposal.”

The performance garden is also funded by significant support from other grantors, and is contingent on full funding. Construction of the project is tentatively planned to begin October, with completion planned for the spring of 2013.

The performance garden is a major initiative to add to and diversify Britt’s overall programming opportunities. While maintaining the new Table Rock Café concessions area, the performance garden will replace the Table Rock Café stage. An additional performance space of this size will increase Britt’s programming options, creating the opportunity to offer smaller, more intimate concerts, including chamber music, jazz combos, acoustic folk and family concerts. This space creates the opportunity to take advantage of “dark nights,” when there is nothing scheduled on Britt’s main stage, by offering additional shows geared toward smaller audiences, or providing opportunities for venue rental.

Briggs says, “We plan to create a special concert series for the Garden that will feature local and regional artists, and performers in genres such as chamber music and jazz. We are confident that programming of this kind will broaden our appeal to our community.”

In addition to concert programming, the performance garden increases Britt’s ability to expand educational offerings. Briggs says, “the Garden will provide a space we can use for family concert programs, pre-concert talks during our Classical Festival, a performance space for our summer camp concerts, master classes with some of our main stage artists and guest soloists, and many other educational events.”

The performance garden project will also include an improvement in accessibility on the Britt grounds. Britt is working with designers, engineers and contractors to enhance the ADA compliant accessibility and improved lighting. For the past 50 years, patrons with disabilities had no access to the concessions area. This project will provide ADA pathways and lighting to the new concessions area as well as the Performance Garden, giving all attendees improved opportunities to enjoy the Britt Experience. Enhanced lighting will also increase safety for all patrons, and decrease the likelihood of injuries.

The award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is the lead award in a list of organizations, all for the performance garden. Other funders include:

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation: $50,000 (as a portion of the previously announced grant)

West Coast Events: $50,000

Ben B. Cheney Foundation: $25,000

In addition, significant in-kind support is being provided by the Ausland Group; Galbraith & Associates, Landscape Architecture; and Alan Harper, Attorney-at-Law, Real Estate & Land Use. The total value of all in-kind support to date is $250,000.

To fully fund this project, which is valued at a total of $823,000 (cash and in-kind), Britt has some funds still to raise. A key part of that funding will be the “Pave the Way” project, in which patrons can purchase engraved bricks for $250 or $500, and show their support in a lasting way. The bricks will become the Britt Performance Garden’s new pathway and seating area. The Pave the Way project offers a unique way for people to show their support of Britt. The bricks can be etched with the names of individuals, a business, or a tribute honoring someone special. These personalized pavers will be available for purchase on the Britt Hill throughout the summer season.

Final design of approved Britt Master Plan elements are subject to the City of Jacksonville Historical and Architectural Review Commission (HARC) review and approval. Design submittal is planned for this summer.