What We Do
Our Mission
Our mission is to help the not-for-profit performing arts community of the Chicago-land area. The arts enrich our lives and our society. We volunteer in belief that our efforts will help them continue to do so.
Fostering an Active Arts Scene
Our most visible presence in the arts community is providing volunteer ushers to companies who otherwise could not provide this essential service. But we do more, much more.
The Saints also, through membership and benefit fundraising, provide direct financial grants to not-for-profit companies to support special artistic and capital projects in a competitive, annual program.
Additionally, if a performing arts organization needs help, we do whatever we can to accommodate them. Opportunities to assist include box office, database entry, answering phones, assisting with mass subscription mailings , distributing posters/flyers, driving and housing out-of-town actors/directors, re-organizing costume areas, monitoring audition calls, assisting at benefits and fund-raisers.
An Amazing History
The Saints began our unique mission in 1980 as a volunteer arm of the late Saint Nicholas Theatre. After the closing of the Saint Nicholas Theatre, those Saints members, all of a dozen, sought another theatre to contribute their services. They finally selected the Organic Theater Company. Business at Organic was booming with E/R. but as it became more financially secure, it had less need for volunteer services. With Organic’s encouragement, Saints members began volunteering for other performing arts organizations. Eventually, the Saints became an independent organization. We believe that the Saints is the first and only organized volunteer support group with hundreds of members serving the diverse performing arts community of a major city and its suburbs.
Members Have Access To
- A monthly newsletter, the Spotlight, listing the current many volunteer opportunities.
- CyberLine, the thrice weekly email volunteer updates
- Six general membership meetings per year featuring speakers on various aspects of the performing arts
- Preferential ushering sign-ups for over 50 companies including theater, music, dance, and performance art
- Discounted (and sometimes free) tickets.
- An opportunity to socialize with others interested in the performing arts or members of the performing arts community.
Strong . . . and Growing
Our membership has steadily grown. In 2008, in addition to thousands of ushered performances that same year, we also provided outstanding performing arts majors with over $27,000 in scholarship assistance, and over $20,000 to performance companies who were recipients of our Grant Program. In 2010, we welcomed over 2000 members ranging from 16 years of age to 'well seasoned." These members come not only from Chicago and the nearby suburbs, but from Indiana, Ohio, Florida and several other states and Canada!
Please consider joining us or helping us in our work through a donation!