Who we are
We are a Sacramento-based performing arts collective. We are a nonprofit composed of three programs: improv, theatre, and arts incubation. Our goal is to provide unique, inclusive performing arts opportunities that create joy and community for a variety of experience levels. We also want to empower members of our community to do the same!
Empire Arts Collective was founded in 2015. Since then we have achieved a lot: we have hosted poetry workshops and Hamilton sing-a-longs, we have offered improv and devised theatre classes, we have produced brand new, self-generated plays and a live, musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We've created myriad works of art, and (arguably more importantly), we've created a community of artists and friends who support each other no matter what.
What we believe
We believe that sharing resources and working together as an inclusive community is the best way to accomplish our goals and create joyful, life-changing art.
Our values include hard work, creativity, basic kindness, aiming for greatness, and long-term community investment.
What we do
We currently operate three performing arts programs. All of our programs aim to be equally appealing to brand new and experienced artists. We keep it exciting and accessible.
Improv - Through improv, we provide performers of all backgrounds with more opportunities to create in a collaborative environment that includes performances, workshops, and classes. This program is one of the only open improv performance groups and the only woman-run comedy program in the greater Sacramento area. Our improv program does not require experience prior to participating.
Theatre - We are one of the only performing arts organizations in the region to consistently produce devised theatre, which is theatre created as a group and without a script. Our devised theatre program creates brand new plays for the Sacramento region, which elevates our cultural status. We also train artists to create devised theatre, which benefits our entire arts scene.
Arts Incubation - We train artists and provide resources so new projects can flourish. Over the years, we have helped artists launch their careers and we have developed new arts programs that benefit the Sacramento area.
Our mission:
To provide joy and community for all through unique, inclusive performing arts opportunities.
To incubate unique, collaborative performing arts projects that create joy and community for all, regardless of experience level.
To help performing artists of all backgrounds produce and participate in unique, joyful community arts.
Our goal is to meet our annual overhead expenses so that we can focus our attention on improving production value, incubating new projects, and compensating our artists and leaders.
Our Big Day of Giving goal is to raise $5,000, which would give us peace of mind as we move into programming the second half of the year.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) is part of our core principles. Our organization recognizes the reality that cultural biases and systemic racism impact communities of color in the Sacramento area, and beyond, and it is part of our ongoing goals to dismantle those systems through racially equitable practices.
We look for creative ways to rethink systems and policies to better serve and support communities of color whenever possible and are in an ongoing process of examining and questioning the practices that have been traditionally deemed “professional,” which have been part of the oppression of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
As we create our events, programs, and collective projects, we continuously strive to provide an inclusive, accessible environment with a low barrier to entry for anyone interested in experiencing the beauty and joy of the performing arts.
We hope to continue and expand our focus on creating works that are open and welcoming to adults of every age, ethnicity, race, color, religious background, nationality, ability, gender identity, and sexual identity.
Organization name
Empire Arts Collective
Tax id (EIN)
81-2974146
Mission Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Operating Budget
$0-$50,000
Organization Need
Funding: Unrestricted
Local Counties Served
Sacramento
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
2791 24TH ST Room 13Placer County, CA, US
Sacramento County, CA, US
Yolo County, CA, US