Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training | The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage

Pig Iron Theatre Company creates original performance works that share a joint focus on collaboration, improvisation, innovation, and experimentation, and which redefine theatre as an interdisciplinary art form, resulting in unique experiences for audiences. The Center supported the pilot year of the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training, a two-year certificate program for actors and directors that takes place in the Fishtown area of Philadelphia. Pig Iron launched this new program not only to generate revenue and engage new talent, but also to perpetuate the company's artistic output through an organic process. Grant support helped the company to expand its staff, to secure its foundation as the pilot program launched, and to engage consultants regarding human resource issues, fundraising, school enrollment, and overall management. The school's pilot year was an unqualified success, attracting students from across the country and mobilizing Pig Iron's members to teach while sustaining their ongoing artistic practice. [fn]Management grants, through the Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative, were awarded from 2009 through 2013.[/fn]