The purpose of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (Park) is to provide opportunities to experience live performances, related educational programs, and associated recreation in a pastoral setting within the National Capital Area.
The success of presenting performing arts at the Park
depends on a partnership between a government agencythe National Park Serviceand a private organizationthe Wolf Trap Foundation.
The Wolf Trap Foundation, a private not-for-profit corporation founded in 1968 at the request of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for artistic programming, public relations, marketing, box office functions, and providing stagehands and certain other employees who are directly related to the presentation of performing arts.
These functions are integral to the presentation of live performances.
The National Park Service oversees park management, sponsors interpretive and educational programs, and directs operation and maintenance of technical equipment and backstage facilities that serve performing artists.
This agreement is to facilitate the transfer of funds to support the operations of the Wolf Trap Foundation at the Filene Center, which is the primary performing arts facility within the park.
These funds are appropriated annually by Congress for two purposes:
1) To pay a portion of the costs of the union stagehands that work backstage at the Filene Center; and 2) To offset some of the cost of Filene Center operations and productions incurred by the Wolf Trap Foundation.