Milk Crate Theatre

'The connections we've made mean we'll be running theatre with the homeless tomorrow, and for many days after' Beck Ronkson, artistic director, Milk Crate Theatre.

Milk Crate Theatre is different.

At Australia’s only theatre company solely dedicated to the homeless and disadvantaged community, everyone is a potential performer, opinions are heard and issues are thrashed out live on stage.

A Darlinghurst Theatre Company initiative that collaborates closely with a network of homeless services, Milk Crate Theatre was initiated in 1999 when South Sydney Council approached Darlinghurst Theatre Company to do a performance for the homeless community. They found a partner in Wesley Mission’s Edward Eagar Lodge and have continued ever since.

These days, with workshops, outreach projects and performances Milk Crate offers its participants a way of taking complex and intense parts of their lives and exploring them in a creative way, and in a safe space.

Artsupport Australia has assisted Milk Crate Theatre by mentoring the company on how best to develop philanthropic sources of income and opening doors to philanthropic funding, which in turn has helped change the way they work.

Beck Ronkson, artistic director of Milk Crate Theatre says 'We were struggling with the fact that hardly anyone wanted to fund our core operating costs, which is the pumping heart of what we do. Philanthropic support has covered those costs, which ultimately means our work can grow and flourish. We can offer more consistent and sustainable programs, which is vital when you’re working with a community that is so highly transient.'

Artsupport Australia has been mentoring the Milk Crate Theatre team in how to develop pitches and materials like organisational fact sheets and clear financial information for funding proposals. Artsupport Australia has also able been connecting Milk Crate Theatre with potential funders.

One donor Artsupport Australia has facilitated has recently pledged $50 000 per year, for the next three years. Rather than a gift made at arms length, the donor has now become an advocate in other funding circles for the work that Milk Crate Theatre do.

For an organisation working with a community that can find it hard to be heard, philanthropic funding is now helping to open doors - and discover that on the other side there are people happy to listen, and eager to see their work continue.