Best Grants for Theater in Missouri

Missouri Arts Council

The Missouri Arts Council supports the arts that strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of our state.

Established as a state agency in 1965, the Missouri Arts Council is a division of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Council is funded through the Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Cultural Trust, and National Endowment for the Arts.

The Missouri Arts Council is the state agency dedicated—as public leader, partner, and catalyst—to broadening the growth, availability, and appreciation of the arts in Missouri and fostering the diversity, vitality, and excellence of Missouri’s communities, economy, and cultural heritage. The grants we award make possible quality arts programming to communities both large and small throughout the state. We provide grants to arts projects that meet our strategic goals:

• Engage people in meaningful arts experiences
• Grow Missouri’s economy using the arts
• Strengthen Missouri education through the arts

In addition to funding, we provide technical assistance in community development, fundraising, marketing, grant writing, arts education, artistic disciplines (visual arts, music, literature, theater, dance, festivals, and film/media) and more.

Annual Grants

Annual Grants are designed for experienced Missouri Arts Council applicants with large budget arts projects. The annual application is extensive and more demanding with a rigid deadline schedule, a more competitive review process, and a longer turnaround. While the request amount is higher, organizations receive a smaller percentage of their request based on our funding. 

Annual Grants: Organizations of Color

Organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Organizations where a majority of the board and staff (combined) are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (as reflected in the Demographic section of the application).
• The mission of the organization has historically served people of color. Supports arts projects created by and/or targeted to African-American, Asian-American, Latino/Hispanic, and Native American communities. 

Graduating high school seniors in Missouri planning to major in theatre, nursing, music, or law enforcement at a four-year college can apply for the Connors, Helen L Memorial Scholarship; awards US $100 - US $500 for tuition. Administered by the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri, this supports students from St Joseph or Mid-Buchanan High School.

Missouri nonprofit arts organizations presenting public theater or other arts programming in Missouri can apply for Missouri Arts Council’s MAC Annual Grants, with awards up to US $40,000 for eligible project costs. Focused on arts and cultural programming, this funding can support performances, festivals, exhibitions, education programs, and related theater expenses such as artist fees, venue rental, and marketing.

LRPenn.com is home to the novels, plays, and screenplays of LR Penn. His books specializes in Thrillers, Dramatic Comedies, and Film Noir. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, grants may be available to nonprofit theater companies in the United States with 501(c)(3) status that are staging productions of plays written by LR Penn.  

What is Emergency Assistance Fund

Emergency Financial Assistance is available to eligible performing arts and entertainment professionals:

• In times of unexpected critical need.
• To assist towards basic living expenses, such as health care, housing and utilities to prevent eviction or shut-offs.

Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund

The Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund offers emergency financial assistance to current or former employees of Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund offers crucial financial support and counseling for individuals in the theatrical exhibition and distribution sectors facing health-related challenges. This fund assists with medical expenses, housing emergencies, and essential services like vocational rehabilitation and equipment aid. Eligible applicants must have a minimum of three years in exhibition or five years in distribution. The fund aims to provide a safety net for those impacted by illness, injury, or significant life changes.

The BTCF: Simple Gifts Fund Grant supports young artists aged 13-19 in the Berkshire Taconic region, providing financial assistance for summer enrichment programs in the arts. Established in 1998 in memory of folk singer Bill Crofut, the fund aims to empower youth through small grants that can cover costs for tuition, art supplies, or living expenses. The grant fosters creativity and personal growth, ensuring that young individuals have opportunities to pursue their passions.

The Student Ambassador Program by USITT offers a unique chance for student members to connect with international theatre professionals during the Annual Conference. Participants will engage in meaningful conversations and networking opportunities, including a special luncheon and the International Reception. This program aims to foster collaboration and mentorship among emerging designers and experienced industry leaders, enhancing professional growth within the performing arts community.

The Lazarus Family Scholarship in Bioethics and Humanities, offered by the AMA Foundation, supports students engaged in bioethics or the humanities, including art, music, and literature. This scholarship aims to foster the next generation of physician leaders by providing financial assistance to those who are committed to advancing health equity and community service. By recognizing diverse fields of study, it emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in medicine and the humanities.

The Founders Concept Development Grants, offered by the Children's Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA), support US non-profit theatres in developing innovative concepts and strategies for engaging young audiences. This initiative emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to enhance the quality of theatre for youth. CTFA encourages artists to explore new ideas while ensuring that all children have access to impactful theatrical experiences. This grant embodies a commitment to fostering creativity and excellence in youth theatre.

The ISF Film Scholarship Program, initiated by the Islamic Scholarship Fund, supports Muslim students pursuing careers in film and media. With scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, the program aims to enhance Muslim representation in media and counter negative portrayals. Eligible applicants must be full-time students or professionals in relevant fields, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. This initiative not only fosters talent but also empowers voices in policy-making and public opinion.

The Joe Salek Scholarship for Theater Arts Trust, administered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports students pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts, including acting, playwriting, and design. Open to high school seniors and college students in the USA, this scholarship requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment. Renewable for up to one year, it aims to empower the next generation of theater artists by providing essential financial aid for tuition, fees, and living expenses.

The Helen Duranleau-Brennan Theater Scholarship, offered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, supports students pursuing theater studies. Eligible applicants must be graduates from specific Davenport high schools, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and be enrolled in a four-year program or graduate school for theater. This scholarship provides up to $1,000 annually, renewable for up to four years, encouraging students committed to theater-related disciplines and community service.

The Jerry and Martha Taylor Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, supports students from Rock Island County pursuing post-secondary education. With awards of up to $1,000, this scholarship is not renewable and is open to applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Preference is given to students majoring in journalism, theater arts, or special education, or those attending accredited trade schools.

Secondary school theatre educators in Missouri can use this grant for professional development, training, and classroom or production needs. With a mission to connect performing arts design and technology communities, United States Institute for Theatre Technology provides up to US $500 for workshops, conferences, travel, software, equipment, and student training-related expenses.

Emerging theater and entertainment design professionals in Missouri and across the U.S. can access leadership development through the Sherry Wagner-Henry Board Fellowship, valued at US $3,000 - US $3,500. Focused on nonprofit growth and governance, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology invites active USITT members with recent service to apply.

Theater educators, scholars, and practitioners fostering public engagement with Shakespeare may be eligible for the SAA Shakespeare Publics Award, including those based in Missouri. Shakespeare Association of America recognizes pioneering, culturally significant projects that build broad and diverse Shakespeare publics through teaching, scholarship, performance, and/or activism, with at least one primary collaborator an SAA member in good standing.

Native-led performing arts organizations, businesses, collectives, and individual Native artists in Missouri can receive US $30,000 for live theater and other performing arts productions that are in active stages of production. First Peoples Fund supports U.S.-based Native performers and groups presenting multi-artist live productions, including original or re-adapted plays and performances in Native communities.

High schools producing theater that explores diverse perspectives can receive US $10,000 to support a play or musical with professional mentorship. Grants from Educational Theatre Association Foundation help Missouri and other U.S. schools hire performance and technical theatre mentors who reflect their students and host multiple performances plus a community dialogue event.

High school seniors in Morris County, New Jersey pursuing post-secondary arts education can receive support for tuition through the Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship, which awards US $5,000 for artistic studies. Grants from Arts Council of the Morris Area help students in dance, drama, theater, visual arts, or music continue their formal training.

Missouri theater and other arts-focused high school seniors may be eligible for the Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship, which supports post-secondary study in dance, drama, visual arts, or music. Offered by Arts Council of the Morris Area, this $1,500 award is paid directly to the recipient’s chosen college or arts program for tuition.

Emerging U.S.-based music critics and arts writers can receive US $5,000 in unrestricted fellowship support to advance their writing careers. Grants from Japanese American National Museum help Missouri and other U.S. writers of color produce critical, analytical work on live or recorded music, with added opportunities to publish on the Democracy Center blog and present a public talk.

Theater artists and arts organizations creating environmental, climate-focused, or other social justice projects in Missouri may be eligible for support, with priority for U.S.-based work. With a mission to open doors for underrepresented artists, Puffin Foundation invites proposals for solution-focused environmental artistic activism in theater and other visual and performing arts disciplines.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater companies in Missouri and nationwide can receive US $20,000 - US $30,000 to fund paid apprenticeships for early-career theater administrators and technicians. Arts Midwest’s Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships program supports community-based, cross-sector theater work, including roles like technicians, set designers, assistant directors, operations, HR, communications, and marketing staff.

Individual professional dramatists needing help with essential living costs can receive US $500 bridge grants for housing, food, health care, and other basic needs across the U.S., including Missouri. Dramatists Guild Foundation supports playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists who meet professional criteria and have limited savings, offering non-emergency financial relief.

Building a global community of creative problem solvers, effective collaborators, and empathetic individuals through theatre

Our Mission and Goals

The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).

ETF advances the field of educational theatre by broadening representation and increasing access for all. ETF’s programs aim to support students, educators and the field at large by realizing three strategic goals:

• Subsidizing new, emerging, and underserved student theatre programs;
• Creating paths for theatre educators to develop new skills; and
• Commissioning research to showcase the value of a theatre education.

Educator & Program Grants

Giving school theatre programs a boost

The Thespian Growth & Excellence Fund is committed to supporting the ongoing development of theatre programs and the pursuit of excellence for educators, students, schools, and communities by offering a number of grants that assist in EdTA membership, teacher support, and programmatic resources for theatre in schools.

By the end of 2024, the Thespian Growth and Excellence Fund has awarded 349 grants to 276 schools, totaling $286,167 in assistance provided to school theatre programs, many at schools with Title 1 designations.

Equipment Upgrade (up to $5,000)

Can be awarded to help school theatre programs with large technical purchases that upgrade the resources available for theatrical use, such as lighting and sound equipment.

The EdTA Thespian Growth & Excellence Grants support theatre programs by providing financial assistance for troupe expenses, including travel to professional productions and participation in state conferences. Founded by the Educational Theatre Foundation, these grants aim to enhance educational theatre access and representation. By the end of 2024, 349 grants totaling over $286,000 will have been awarded, benefiting schools with Title 1 designations and empowering students and educators in their creative pursuits.