Initiative helps cultural organizations in U.S. and United Kingdom strengthen technology and management practices to improve operations and drive revenue
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) has been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program, the Troupe has announced.
“This initiative helps cultural organizations across the U.S. and [United Kingdom] to strengthen technology and management practices to improve operations, drive revenue, increase fundraising, engage broader audiences, and deliver dynamic programming,” a news release explains.
“WBTT was driven to apply for the opportunity” as its strategic plan for the next three to five years identified the need to expand its geographic reach and audience demographics, a news release explains. “Of particular urgency is WBTT’s desire to grow the percentage of its Black and younger audiences,” the release adds.
“Digital infrastructure improvements through WBTT’s website will help the organization to better communicate in an exciting way with younger and more diverse populations who live comfortably in a digital world and expect dynamic, user-friendly digital formats,” the release points out. “The redesigned website will also help WBTT to efficiently reach larger regions, where print and TV media markets are more expensive, and allow the organization to engage in relevant ways through the digital platforms and social media frequented by members of the Black community,” the release adds.
“As a Black theatre, we work diligently to provide relevant programming to the community, seek diversity on our board and staff, and build meaningful relationships in the Black community,” said WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach in the release. “Our digital infrastructure improvements are going to help us to better engage more diverse patrons and supporters as well as provide a more modern, user-friendly tool for all who wish to learn more about us, purchase tickets and/or provide financial support,” she noted. “We are immensely grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for this incredible opportunity!”
WBTT’s marketing and communications director, Beth Graves, is serving as the Bloomberg Tech Fellow and project manager with this effort, the release says. Her work includes consultation with WBTT’s assigned digital adviser and collaboration with other organizations in the program, the release adds.
“Over the past three years, the Digital Accelerator Program has been a catalyst for strengthening nearly 150 cultural organizations across the U.S. and U.K. [United Kingdom],” the release points out. “To date, the 40 institutions that were part of the first cohort cumulatively grew an additional $20 million in new revenue (including through fundraising),” reached more than 1 million new audience members, and engaged more than 4,000 new artists and partners, the release notes.
“WBTT is one of 200 total nonprofit cultural organizations that have been accepted into Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program, spanning artistic disciplines and organization size in 52 U.S. and 28 U.K. cities, the release adds.
For more about WBTT, visit westcoastblacktheatre.org.