(Neither is the air conditioning, but we’re keeping in on anyway.)
The Reality: Planet Ant is Under Attack.
For more than 30 years, Planet Ant has been a staple of Metro Detroit. It’s a place where risks are taken, legends are born, and lives are changed. But right now, we are facing an external threat that we can't "yes and" our way out of.
We have lost nearly 50% of our annual grant funding.
In the nonprofit world, "grant cuts" sounds like a boring bureaucratic hiccup. In the real world, it means the foundation of our house has been hit by a wrecking ball. The institutions that used to support the arts are pulling back, leaving independent theaters like ours to fend for themselves.
Why This Matters
When grants disappear, the attack is on:
Our Local Artists: The people who write, perform, and tech the shows you love.
The Training Center: The scholarships and spaces that keep our community growing.
The Buildings: Keeping 3 locations running isn't cheap.
You: Our community represents something the powers that be find scary. Smart creative people working together for the greater good.
How You Can Fight Back
We aren't asking for a handout; we're asking for a buy-in.
[DONATE DIRECTLY] – Whether it’s $5 or $500, every cent goes directly into the "Keeping the Lights On" fund.
[TAKE A CLASS] – Our Training Center is the heartbeat of the Ant Hill. Invest in your own creativity to fund ours.
[SEE A SHOW] – Fill the seats. Bring a friend. Every ticket is a vote for independent art.
[VOLUNTEER] – We need hands on deck. If you have time and talent but no cash, we want you in the trenches with us.
The Money Stays Here.
We want to be 100% transparent: Every dollar you spend at Planet Ant, whether at the Black Box, a class, or the donation jar, goes directly toward paying local artists and maintaining this space. We don’t have a "corporate office." We have 4 part time employees and a volunteer Board of Directors.
Times are tough, and we know they’re tough for you, too.
We appreciate you more than we can put into words (also because we can't afford a professional copywriter right now).
Thank you for your patience with us. Sometimes a payment might be late, sometimes a thing is gonna be broken for longer than we want it to be, but we’re working hard to make sure our environment and our messaging only improves.
Together, we are your theatre. With all of us working together, we can make it.