THE WINGSPACE RELIEF FUND WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE UNRESTRICTED RAPID RELIEF MICROGRANTS TO FREELANCE DESIGNERS AND DRAMATURGES EXPERIENCING ACUTE FINANCIAL STRAIN RELATED TO COVID-19.

Launched in April of 2020, the Wingspace Relief Fund raised and distributed over $50,000 in rapid-relief grants ranging to over 100 designers and dramaturgs throughout the metropolitan area. The last round of disbursements went out in July of 2020, with a final donation to See Lighting Foundation before taking a pause. Thank you to everyone who contributed for ensuring the continued health and vibrancy of our community. The need for fiscal relief within the design community has not gone away and Wingspace intends to relaunch efforts after mapping out a new strategy for securing funding.

If you are an NYC-based freelance theater designer or dramaturge who is not affiliated with an institution and does not have access to unemployment insurance benefits or a financial safety net, this fund is for you. If you would like to receive a notification when the fund has been re-launched, please enter your email address below.

“Having an organization of designers I look up to watching smaller designers’ backs makes me realize why I do this for a living in the first place. The theater community is strong and we help each other when we are down. Thank you to all that have donated. You have no idea just how much you have helped.”

“Having the support of Wingspace makes me feel like my work is recognised and appreciated, and gives me the energy to keep going until we see the other side of this.”

“Your kindness is not only a financial help but also encouraging me to survive this crisis.”

“I am truly grateful for your generous financial and emotional support for theater designers. It gives us hope, and also encourages us to help each other out during this difficult moment.”

“It means a lot to know that I will be able to pay my utilities this month without fear. Any sort of certainty like that is hard to come by nowadays, and it is an amazing feeling.”

The fund is a project of Wingspace Theatrical Design. It was launched with a $15,000 donation thanks to the generosity of a fervent supporter of New York theater companies and independent artists. The first phase was fiscally sponsored by Notch Theatre Company, who also provided a great amount of administrative support and passion.

Contributors: Adam Salberg, Adrian Jones and Allison Silverman, Alena Smith, Amanda Clegg Lyon, Amith Chandrashaker, Andrea Lauer, Anita Shah and James Dunne, Ann Marie Lonsdale, Anne Hamburger, Anne Medlock, April Harris, Barbara Cokorinos, Barbara Samuels, Beth Clancy, Bobby Marcus, Brian Mertes, Bruce Allardice, Victoria Abrash, Chris Muller, Christine Jones, Christopher Brown, Christopher Cartmill, Clay Paky SPA, Czerton Lim and Jessica Lustig, David Zinn, Deadria Harrington, Dominique Hill, Donald Holder, Edward T Morris, Elizabeth Robinson, Eric Ting, Eva Pinney, Florian Staab, Gennie Neuman Lambert, Giovanna Almeida, Grant McDonald, Guthrie Morgan, J Richey Nash, Jackson McHenry, Jacquelyn Kepley, James Bundy, James Glavan, James Suit, JAW Productions Inc., Jen Moeller, Jennifer Tipton, Jennifer Tyliszczak, Jenny Kennedy, Jessica Holt, Jeunee Simon, Jim Oberman, Jimmy Lawlor, Joanna Settle, Joel and Elise Kent, John Demous, John Dufour, John Lee Beatty, Jonathan McCrory, Joshua Benghiat, Joshua Warner, Karen Hartman and Todd London, Karin Anderson, Kate Freer, Katie Pearl, Kaylee Levine, Kip Fagan and Heidi Schreck, Kirk Bookman, Kristin Horton, L Wood, Leigh Silverman, Marika Kent and Itamar Moses, Melissa Mike, Melissa Phipps, Meredith Lynsey Schade, Michael Quatttone and Kala Smith, Moira Squier, Narelle Sissons, Nic Cory, Octavia Driscoll, Oliver Butler, Oliver Wason, Patricia and Kenneth Terrell, Peter and Diana Boodell, Reza Behjat, Rolin Jones, Roman Tatarowicz, Russell Metheny, S. Kennedy, Sam Savage & Ellen Goldman, Sandra Goldmark, Sara Ryung Clement, Scott Bolman, Shelley Miles, Susan Harvey, Susan Hilferty, Tammy Honesty, The McGurk/Nativ Giving Fund, Tribeca Lighting, Twi McCallum, Val Ramshur, Valerie Ramshur, Wendy Vanden Heuvel, Wilson Chin. And a big thank you to all our donors who wish to remain anonymous.

About Notch Theatre Company: Notch creates community-responsive theatre to drive change around the pressing issues of our time, offering communities nationwide a platform to tell their stories on stage and be their own change makers.

A big thanks to Melissa Kievman who brought us all together to make this emergency fund happen. 

(Image above from Denver Center Theater's production of Oklahoma! Set: Wilson Chin, Costumes: Jeff Cone, Lighting: Diane Ferry Williams, Sound: Philip G. Allen. Directed by Chris Coleman, Choreography: Dominique Kelley. Photo credit: Wilson Chin)