IN OUR PROGRAM WE OFTEN HIGHLIGHT REGIONAL NONPROFITS FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THEY DO IN AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER IS NO DIFFERENT.

FROM OVERCOMING OBSTACLES BROUGHT BY THE PANDEMIC - TO OFFERING INVALUABLE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS - THE APT IS EXPANDING - SEE HOW THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF ARTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUBURN IS IN GOOD HANDS!

>> AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER WAS STARTED IN ABOUT 2005 BY A GROUP OF FOUR AUBURN NEIGHBORS WHO WANTED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE HERE IN AUBURN AND IN THE REGION.

IN 2015, WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND A WAY TO HELP SUPPORT OURSELVES.

HOW DOES A NON-PROFIT ART CENTER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN A SMALL TOWN, SUPPORT THEMSELVES?

THE ANSWER IS THAT HAVE YOU TO HAVE MANY, MANY FINANCIAL LEGS TO YOUR TABLE AND WE SET UP A FUNDRAISING PLAN WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND THAT FUNDRAISING PLAN INCLUDES STATE GRANTS, FEDERAL GRANTS, LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, REGIONAL FOUNDATIONS, NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND OUR OWN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

SO WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING WHICH WAS DONATED TO THE NON-PROFIT SO THEY OWN IT.

AND IT'S 26,000 SQUARE FEET.

AND FOR THE FIRST 15 YEARS, WE WERE OCCUPYING ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF ONE FLOOR.

IN 21, NEW YORK STATE HAD A GRANT THAT CAME UP THAT WAS FOR NON-PROFITS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, AND WE APPLIED AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET IT.

AND SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT GRANTS IN ALL DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE ADDED UP TO ALMOST $2.5 MILLION.

AND WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR FUNDING TO COME IN BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE NEAR THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND THE FINAL PROJECT IS A VERY LARGE ROOM AKIN TO THE PALACE IN WEST SYRACUSE AND THAT IS GOING TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO ENGAGE THE MOST PEOPLE.

CAFE 108 WAS THE FIRST PART OF THAT PROJECT.

IT WAS PHASE 1, WHICH IS IN THE FRONT OF OUR BUILDING.

IT USED TO BE A LAWYER'S OFFICE.

WE CREATED ABOUT 10 JOBS AND WE SERVE REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL FOOD AND COFFEE, AND ALL OF THE PROFIT AND ALL OF THE TIPS GO TO AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER.

AND THAT IS HELPING TO SUPPORT THE REST OF THE PROJECT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER HAS DONE SINCE OUR INCEPTION IS TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ARTS.

AND WE OFFER MANY, MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE EITHER FREE OR PAY WHAT YOU CAN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AS SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS KIND OF ARE DEALING WITH BUDGETARY RESTRICTIONS, AS FAR AS THE PERFORMING ARTS GOES, WE REALLY WANT TO WORK IN TAN TANDEM WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS.

WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY AND HELP THE CHILDREN EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEIR SKILLS.

>> THE MAIN CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS CHANGING.

AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WHEN YOU ARE DONE WORKING, AND WHEN YOU ARE DONE, YOU KNOW, RAISING YOUR FAMILY AND DOING ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

WELL, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER HELPS PROVIDE.

YOU GO TO THE MOVIES AND YOU GO TO A CONCERT AND YOU GO ON TO THEATER AND YOU SEE A COMEDIAN AND SEND YOUR KIDS TO ACTING CLASS OR MUSIC CLASS WHERE YOU CAN GO SEE THEM AND ENJOY THEIR GROWTH.

UNDERSTAND AND I WORRY THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT SEEING THAT AS A PRIORITY.

SO THAT'S WHY ECONOMICALLY WE ALWAYS HAVE TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL TABLE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS HAVE OUR HAND OUT BEGGING.

WE WANT TO CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY.