Nashville Ballet has the opportunity to raise all the funds necessary to complete construction on its new building, with a pledge from The Martin Family to match up to $1 million in donations. From now until Jan. 6, all gifts made to Nashville Ballet’s ELEVATE campaign to build the future of Nashville Ballet will be matched, dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of each donation.
A single gift of $1 million would be the largest donation to Nashville Ballet in the company’s history. The company is now asking the community for $1 million to pair with the $1 million in matching funds from The Martin Family. The $2 million raised by this initiative would achieve the final fundraising goal for Nashville Ballet’s Capital Campaign—ELEVATE to build the future of Nashville Ballet.
“My family believes in the transformative power of art, especially dance, and is committed to supporting local organizations that offer the community the opportunity to personally experience the arts,” Charlie Martin said. “We want all of Middle Tennessee to invest in Nashville Ballet and develop the same sense of pride we have in our city’s cultural treasures. With having children now enrolled in School of Nashville Ballet, I want them to see how important it is to support organizations that have such a positive influence on individual participants and the city at large.”
Nashville Ballet publicly launched its Capital Campaign—ELEVATE to build the future of Nashville Ballet—in August. With the assistance of strong ELEVATE Campaign leadership, and through generous support from Board of Directors and close friends, Nashville Ballet has already raised $3.9 million towards its $5.5 million ELEVATE goal.
Funds generated by the Capital Campaign allowed Nashville Ballet to purchase the adjoining space, previously occupied by Climb Nashville, in 2012. Construction is currently underway to expand into the additional space, which will add 13,000 square feet and three new dance studios. The expansion will also allow School of Nashville Ballet to increase its enrollment by approximately 1,200 new students (doubling current enrollment) and add new classes for children and adults. Renovations will also include new locker rooms for students, a larger lobby, improved traffic flow both inside and outside of the building, expanded administrative space, multiple conference rooms, additional offices and a control room for the facility’s black box theater space.
“Our dream is to make School of Nashville Ballet into a facility where we can grow our own professional dancers, plus send trained artists out into the world to illustrate the talents of Music City,” Nashville Ballet Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling said. “We hope Music City will join us in this wonderful opportunity and challenge. The generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses across Middle Tennessee will contribute to our expansion so that we can train the next generation of Nashville artists and arts patrons. The Ballet is incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community over our 29 years of existence.”
The Martin Family already holds the title of largest single donation to Nashville Ballet for its $750,000 donation to purchase its existing building in 2001, providing its name to the structure – The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet.
For more information about the ELEVATE Campaign, to see renderings of the future Nashville Ballet facility and to donate to the ELEVATE Campaign, please visit www.NashvilleBallet.com/ELEVATE.
About Nashville Ballet
Nashville Ballet is the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee. Nashville Ballet presents a varied repertoire of classical ballet and contemporary works by noted choreographers, including original works by Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling. Nashville Ballet and the second company NB2 (a pre-professional training company) serve more than 60,000 adults and children annually through performances and our outreach and community engagement programming. Curriculum-based outreach programs bring dance education to community centers, public libraries and public elementary, middle and high schools across the state. The School of Nashville Ballet provides world-class instruction in ballet and other forms of dance for dancers of all ages.
Nashville Ballet is funded in part by Ingram Charitable Trust, Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, Tennessee Arts Commission, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, The Shubert Foundation, Caterpillar Financial, The Memorial Foundation, The Dollar General Foundation, Publix Super Market Charities, The HCA Foundation, The Mall at Green Hills, Gateway Tire & Service Centers and thousands of individuals who contribute to our annual operating fund.