OUR VISION
“Dare to Dream!”
Ezibu Muntu has made dreams come to fruition for forty-six years. It has sustained the dream from an initial generous donation by Virginia Commonwealth University in 1973, to the powerful impact it has in the region today. This financial support sponsored the company’s brilliant genesis. That genesis was the dream of bringing into existence a community based entity that would expose thousands of citizens to rich African culture, history and values, while fostering children’s ability to dream. In addition, it provided the opportunity to experience safe, enriching and uplifting community activities, including positive reflections and finding joy in belonging to a heritage of richness and majesty.
Ezibu Muntu’s seventy-five member company’s success can start to be measured by the following: The children’s performance company, eighteen in total; the number of collaborations the company has partnered with up and down the Eastern Seaboard; the thousands of performances in schools, colleges and civic settings; and the tens of thousands of lives that have been transformed as a result of the company’s impactful artistic excellence.
After forty five years Ezibu Muntu is, by the force of its far reaching inspiration, naturally transitioning to the next level. Its current location can no longer house their tremendous growth. Ezibu Muntu seeks to become even more invested in the community with the creation or purchase of a 20,000 square foot facility in Richmond Virginia’s culturally rich and diverse community. By becoming property owners, and collaborating with like-minded community organizations as their tenants, Ezibu Muntu will have a more powerful, positive impact.
These organizations, under the EM Productions banner, will become a part of a more diverse artistic community bringing in additional transformative art forms, for example: multi-media, theater, writing, and music. The Event Center will offer classes and special events to the community and will partner with organizations that require additional space to extend their services to the community.
This facility will offer a state-of-the-art platform conducive for multiple uses, from concerts to conferences, including tele-conferencing, banquets, receptions, seminars and workshops that extend into teaching, internships and mentoring.
Ezibu Muntu (The Company) has taught African culture to children and adults, and now recognize it is time to incorporate, collaborate and expand horizons further. What better way than by being the owners of a transforming multi-level, multi-use cultural center, The Company will attain financial stability for another forty-six years and beyond while establishing the foundation to teach and show children and adults how to build dreams and establish legacies. Leading by example!
The following entities have expressed interest in collaborating with The Center: The Black Repertory Theater, The Black History Museum, The Jackson Ward Heritage Foundation, and The Virginia Black Music Foundation.
Please go to our “donate” page to see how you can help.
Founder Tanya Dennis
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
MUSIC Concert Saturday, July 18, 2020
CARPENTER THEATER
RICHMOND, VA
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Ezibu Muntu Cultural and Educational Center, the iconic dance company of Richmond Virginia for forty-six years, has arrived at a juncture in their sterling career that the 78-member company is now prepared to extend its artistic reach into theater, music and art. Ezibu Muntu’s EM Productions staff consists of five 1973 charter members from the original company with the exception of Tony Hall: Renee Knight, Tanya Dennis, Brenda Bentley, Karen Barber, Tony Hall, and Nancy Nelson-Ewing.
Being a non-profit 501 (3)(C) we do not possess available resources to produce the first event alone and will be seeking corporate donations. The Mayor’s office assisted us in securing the Carpenter Theater, which is affiliated with Dominion Power. Dominion Power currently donates to our annual gala.
Ezibu Muntu seeks to fill a void in the Richmond community. The Company, always the torch bearer of African culture have a responsibility to provide access to African American art and history from an authentic point of view. Who better to tell “our” story and express “our” history then us!
African Americans have a rich culture that is embedded in Americana. Jackson Ward was once known as “The Harlem Renaissance of the South.” EM Productions mission is to restore that cultural flavor back into Richmond’s artistic community.
There is a long-term agenda connected with EM’s Music concerts that has been addressed in our previous outreach to the City. The development of an event center in the city of Richmond
Ezibu Muntu’s plan is to approach the City and County regarding surplus property with the hopes of securing land that will enable the company to erect a 15,000 – 20,000 sq. ft sprung structure to house an event center that will serve as a theater, community hall and teaching center for African American music, theater, dance, art and technology. We are also looking at existing structures but find we lack the deep pockets of Richmond developers. Any donation of vacant land or a building would be appreciated
Each event will cost approximately $$30,000 – $90,000 depending on artist and venue. Start-up costs including the first event will require $80,000. Now that we have secured the Carpenter Theater, we are in the process of presenting grant applications and sponsorship letters for remaining funds.
The Carpenter Theater seats 1,800. Even at 50% capacity the concert series would be a profit generating event.
Marketing strategy would heavily highlight that the Music Series is a fundraiser to establish a black arts cultural center in the city of Richmond and is a tax write-off to the participant. We look forward to seeing you in July 18, 2020!
Tanya Dennis, Founder
Ezibu Muntu Dance, Education, Culture