Darren Sussman to Introduce the Institute of Financial Wellness for the Arts

TheaterMania and OvationTix cofounder and former president Darren Sussman will introduce his next venture, the Institute of Financial Wellness for the Arts (IFWA), at the Friars Club on September 12. Attending the event will be current cast members from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Phantom of the Opera, and SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as Broadway producers and not-for-profit industry executives.

The Institute of Financial Wellness for the Arts is a new company launching later in the fall that is committed to bringing valuable financial education and planning solutions to arts organizations, professionals, and artists nationwide.

"Especially in times of acute financial pressure, rising costs and reductions in public funding for the arts, it's never been more important to take self-ownership for our individual financial security," said Sussman in a statement. "I come from the arts, originally as a musician who had to deal with my own lack of financial confidence and discipline. Through the experiences of building TheaterMania and OvationTix I was lucky enough to have surrounded myself with the right people to help guide me along the way. I'm ready to share what I have learned to help an industry segment that is mostly overlooked by the financial world."

Arts-focused financial adviser Bailie Slevin, a key member of the IFWA team who serves as one of the company's senior educators, will share the stage with Sussman as they offer a preview of the groundbreaking programs IFWA will implement. The IFWA will offer a variety of financial education curriculums customized for arts organizations, professionals, and artists. In addition, the IFWA will facilitate coaching, goal setting, and planning for individuals, as well as unique employee benefit and savings plans tailored to the needs of big and small organizations. The programs — for artists and arts professionals at all income levels, and in cities across the country — will be provided free of charge, and with no administrative burden to the organizations.