Statements

Mission

Providing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to gain education in the arts and perform significant roles in integrated performances, enabling them to enhance their social skills through artistic expression and to grow in confidence both on and off the stage.

Background

Backlight is a place for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to gain quality education and professional performance opportunities, as well as build community, friendships, and work as a team toward a common goal without the concern of ever "aging out". People of all ranges of abilities are able to participate and Backlight instructors cater both classes and individual roles to meet students exactly where they are at and give them challenges according to their capabilities and desires. In performances, Backlight students are given lead roles, professional-level opportunities, and the tools they need to take steps toward holding jobs in the arts. At Backlight Productions, we rally professionals and youth performers to use their time and talent to take the spotlight off of themselves and use their talents selflessly for the benefit of artists with IDD who are usually lost in the background in the performing arts world. Professional actors, musicians, dancers, companies, techs, playwrights…they come alongside our students, teaching them, rehearsing with them, then performing or working alongside them as equals. Backlight seeks to create a community where individuals with IDD are shown respect as artists, challenged to continually learn and achieve throughout their lives as they grow in confidence both on and off the stage.

Impact

Backlight is on a tremendous growth trajectory as awareness of the program spreads and increases are seen in student enrollment, audience attendance, donor support, professional arts community involvement, and youth program involvement.

Accomplishments from the past year include:
1. Growing in revenue by 36.3%
2. Producing a 10-year anniversary musical at Tennessee Performing Arts Center featuring 86 artists with IDD and 16 professional artists from our community
3. Being featured in a documentary that is being developed and pitched to major streaming services

Accomplishments from current year include:
1. Adding a Kids program to accommodate students of all ages
2. Adding a class in Davidson County to accommodate students driving long distances
3. Hiring a third full time employee and restructuring our Board of Directors
4. Taking initial steps toward franchising
5. Establishing partnerships with Christ Presbyterian Academy & Independence High School to regularly involve high school students in our productions

Needs

Backlight's greatest current needs include:

1. Awareness/marketing of new classes and locations and opportunities to speak at public events and share about program
2. A new, highway accessible, rehearsal space in northern Williamson County with the financial support to renovate/suit it to fit needs of individuals with IDD where Backlight Productions is the primary lessor and can offer as many classes as desired on the best days and times for our students in a safe and supportive environment
3. Advisory Board members that can assist with plans for franchising
4. Volunteer set builders, visual and performing artists, live production team workers, seamstresses, administrative aids, student aids...and more.
5. An interactive smart white board for approximately $4,000

CEO Statement

I chose the name "Backlight Productions" because of what a physical "backlight" is and is used for. Backlights are lights used to shine BEHIND an actor to: 1. Keep him/her from blending into the background 2. To showcase the actors purity and innocence. MY VISION FOR BACKLIGHT AS A COMPANY IS THAT THOSE INVOLVED WOULD ACT AS BACKLIGHTS TO OUR PERFORMERS AND STUDENTS.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers
Secondary Category:	Arts, Culture & Humanities  - Performing Arts
Tertiary Category:	Education  - Special Education

Areas Served

Middle Tennessee

TN - Williamson