Eccles Family Gifts Endowment to IRT
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA $2 million gift from Reverend M.E. and Katie Eccles to the Indiana Repertory Theatre in downtown Indianapolis will endow an artistic director position. The position will be named in honor of M.E. Eccles’ mother, Margot Lacy Eccles. The gift names the position in perpetuity to represent her commitment to the arts and her long relationship with the IRT’s current artistic director Janet Allen.
“My mother Margot Lacy Eccles loved Indianapolis, specifically the arts community, and she cared very deeply for Janet Allen,” M.E. Eccles said. “While the artistic director’s position will be named after my mother, it is because of Janet’s leadership and lasting contributions over the last 20-plus years at the IRT that we are making this gift.”
Allen has been the IRT’s longest serving artistic director and was surprised with the announcement after the opening night performance of Morning After Grace. A new plaque and photo of the two women will be installed in the Grand Lobby to commemorate the gift.
Pictured L-R: Central Indiana Community Foundation’s Vice President for Development and Strategy Rob MacPherson; Mrs. Katie Eccles; Reverend M.E. Eccles; Janet Allen; IRT’S Vice Chair Mark Shaffer; IRT’s Managing Director Suzanne Sweeney; and CICF’s President and CEO Brian Payne