Detroit Opera has announced a new $3 million grant from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation in Birmingham.
The grant will support general operations and a new initiative that expands the range of performances, artists, and experiences for audiences at the Detroit Opera House.
“On behalf of Detroit Opera, I’d like to thank the Erb Family Foundation for its tremendous support and investment in the future of our company,” says Patty Isacson Sabee, president and CEO of Detroit Opera.
“Detroit Opera House is more than just a stage for opera, it is a community asset for downtown Detroit that must evolve to meet modern audience needs and financial realities. This funding will give us the flexibility to reimagine and reinvest in the potential of the Opera House and our company as a whole, as we continue our mission to serve the Detroit community in new and exciting ways.”
The Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation carries on the founders’ desire to build strong communities on a base of care, participation, and shared responsibility.
The couple’s commitment to giving back has shaped a lasting legacy for the health of the Great Lakes, support for Detroit-area cultural organizations, and the advancement of Alzheimer’s research and sustainable business practices.
The latest grant builds on a longstanding relationship that has seen nearly $1.5 million awarded to Detroit Opera since 2009.
“Fred and Barbara were deeply committed to investing in the people in their community, and Detroit Opera is a perfect example of that principle in action,” says Melissa Damaschke, president of the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation.
“From its early days … in downtown Detroit, to its recent reinvention as a national destination for progressive opera, Detroit Opera has continuously found new ways to give a voice to the community. The Erb Family Foundation is happy to play a role in its next phase, and we’re eager to see how this company continues to enrich the cultural fabric of Southeast Michigan.”
Detroit Opera aspires to influence the future of opera and dance, creating an ambitious standard for American opera and dance that emphasizes community, accessibility, artistic risk-taking, and collaboration. It was founded in 1971 as Michigan Opera Theatre by the late Dr. David DiChiera.
For more information, visit detroitopera.org.
