Innovation

The initial benefits of being a struggling startup may be few, but Pittsburgh’s  Quantum Theatre has stepped up for the arts.

Quantum Theatre Tech Circle is an innovative partnership that gives early stage and small, emerging growth technology companies an opportunity to participate and support the arts in Pittsburgh.

In this first-of-its-kind opportunity, Quantum and Seagate have partnered to create the Seagate Tech Circle of donors. Seagate has committed to a financial match for donations of $500 or more by any tech-based, for-profit company in the region with revenues up to $10 million annually.

“It’s in everyone’s interest for creative people in the city to know each other,” says Karla Boos, the creative genius behind Quantum, a unique laboratory for local theatre with a penchant for staging productions in unlikely places. “We inspire each other. There are ripple effects you can’t know going in. Creativity fosters more creativity.”

Last year Quantum produced Shakespeare’s Cymbeline with design collaboration by Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute.

For up and coming companies who aren’t able to make sizable gifts, this is a chance to support an innovative arts organization at a modest level. It also gives small firms a chance to connect with Quantum and other tech people before or after the show at mixers, receive tickets for productions and  build company branding through visibility in production materials.

Tech Circle members include deeplocal, Plextronics, Redpath, Thoughtform, Crystalplex Corp. and Etcetera Edutainment .

“It’s a nice perk for companies, says Mary Murrin of Carnegie Learning, the Quantum board member who came up with the idea. “I’d like to see people achieve great success here and become lead sponsors for something like this, as well as other great artistic projects in Pittsburgh.”

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Karla Boos, Mary Murrin, Quantum Theatre