Best Grants for Theater in Massachusetts

501(c)(3) educational, medical, and cultural/arts organizations in Massachusetts and the broader Maine-focused region can apply for Davis Family Foundation project grants supporting innovative, evidence-based initiatives. Theater and performing arts groups whose primary mission is cultural/arts and whose projects benefit Maine community members or learners may be eligible under the foundation’s cultural/arts guidelines.

With a mission to support creative practice, Mass Cultural Council provides Massachusetts theater and other creative individuals with unrestricted $5,000 grants to advance their artistic work. Eligible applicants are adult artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners who are full-year Massachusetts residents and not currently full-time students, with awards distributed to ensure geographic diversity by county.

Emerging theater and entertainment design professionals seeking nonprofit leadership experience can access a 12–18 month board fellowship that covers travel, accommodations, and mentorship, valued at US $3,000 - US $3,500. Focused on leadership development, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology invites U.S. members, including those in Massachusetts, to deepen skills in governance and sector service.

Theater organizations and collaborators fostering broad, diverse Shakespeare audiences through teaching, scholarship, performance, or activism in Massachusetts may be eligible, provided at least one primary collaborator is a Shakespeare Association of America member. The Shakespeare Association of America recognizes pioneering, culturally significant projects with its SAA Shakespeare Publics Award, honoring impactful Shakespeare-related public work.

Massachusetts LGBTQIA+ artists 30 and under working in theater, writing, music, visual arts, or other mediums can access funding through Provincetown Art Association and Museum for a one-week creative experience in Provincetown. The Nicholas Dahl Visiting Artist Scholarship covers lodging, a PAAM workshop and materials, studio use, membership, and local arts visits during the off-season.

Native-led performing arts organizations, businesses, collectives, and individual Native artists in Massachusetts can receive US $30,000 for live theater and other performance productions in active development. First Peoples Fund’s Native Performing Arts Live Production Grant supports U.S.-based Native creators presenting multi-artist live productions, including plays, tours, and community performances, excluding film projects and student coursework.

High schools producing theatre in Massachusetts can apply for the Craig Zadan Pathway for Equity in the Arts Grant to stage a play or musical that sparks dialogue on diverse perspectives and experiences. Grants from Educational Theatre Association Foundation provide US $10,000 for production costs, professional mentors who reflect the student body, and related community engagement events.

Graduating high school seniors in Morris County, New Jersey pursuing college-level studies in dance, drama, visual arts, or music can receive scholarship support for tuition through the Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship. Grants from Arts Council of the Morris Area recognize artistic excellence and dedication, and theater-focused students may be especially interested in this opportunity.

Massachusetts theater and other arts-focused students may be eligible for scholarships supporting post-secondary arts study. Morris Arts’ Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship awards US $1,500 to a graduating high school senior in dance, drama, visual arts, or music. Funds are paid directly to the recipient’s chosen college or arts program for tuition.

Emerging U.S.-based music writers of color can receive US $5,000 to advance their criticism careers through the Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship, including opportunities to publish and present at the Democracy Center at JANM. Grants from Japanese American National Museum help individuals, including those in Massachusetts theater communities who write about music, deepen their critical practice.

Theater artists and arts organizations creating environmental artistic activism projects in Massachusetts can apply for funding to produce solution-focused work on climate and other urgent issues. With a mission to support underrepresented artistic voices, Puffin Foundation provides U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, and fiscally sponsored groups with support for environmentally conscious creative projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater companies in Massachusetts 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 theater work, including cross-sector activities, and requires a cash match equal to or greater than the grant request.

Individual professional dramatists in Massachusetts can receive one-time need-based support for essential living expenses such as housing, utilities, groceries, health care, and dependent care. Dramatists Guild Foundation supports theater writers across the U.S. with $500 Bridge Grants, serving playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists facing severe financial hardship.

Theater and media arts artists and small arts nonprofits in Massachusetts can seek support for video/film or live theater projects through the Puffin Foundation’s Annual Artist Grant Program. Grants from Puffin Foundation help U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients with SSNs fund new creative work, with awards up to US $3,500.

Grants help Massachusetts theater students and performers from the Nantucket community pursue accredited training or college programs in the theater arts, with awards ranging from US $1,000 - US $10,000. The Community Foundation for Nantucket supports individuals attending professional performing arts training programs, colleges, or universities focused on theater-related education.

High school seniors in Massachusetts planning to study theater at a U.S. university can receive annual scholarships up to US $10,000 for tuition through the American Theatre Wing’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative. Funding supports any theater discipline, with awards renewable for four years plus mentorship, master classes, and career-development opportunities.

Emerging musical theatre composers, lyricists, and librettists working professionally in Massachusetts can receive US $10,000 in unrestricted support for their artistic careers. The Jonathan Larson Grants from American Theatre Wing back individual writers or collaborative teams creating new, fully producible musical theatre, including artists who reside or work in the U.S. at least part-time.

Public K–12 schools and 501(c)(3) parent groups in Massachusetts can seek funding to create or enhance in-school theater programs with equipment, instruments, and production materials. Focused on theater education, American Theatre Wing invites under-resourced schools to apply for up to US $50,000 to support plays, musicals, and related classroom resources.

The Asian Cultural Council's Graduate Fellowship provides financial support for travel and living expenses to graduate students from Asia studying in the U.S. It offers $15,000 for one academic year, potentially renewable for another year, covering essential costs while pursuing full-time coursework. This initiative fosters international cultural exchange and enhances academic training in the arts. Eligible applicants must be enrolled full-time in accredited graduate programs and commit to at least two consecutive semesters of study.

The Asian Cultural Council's Individual Fellowship provides artists, scholars, and arts professionals from Asia and the United States with opportunities for self-directed cultural exchange and research in unfamiliar regions. This program supports activities such as interviews, workshops, and archival research, fostering cultural immersion and collaboration. With a funding limit of $35,000, the fellowship encourages innovative proposals that enhance creative perspectives and relationships among peers, while also ensuring strong eligibility criteria for applicants.

The Asian Cultural Council's New York Fellowship offers a transformative six-month program for artists, scholars, and arts professionals from Asia. Participants engage deeply with New York City's vibrant cultural landscape, attending performances, exhibitions, and workshops while building networks with local communities. This unique opportunity fosters peer-learning and individual artistic development, encouraging fellows to incorporate their experiences into their practices and contribute to their home cultures. The fellowship emphasizes exploration, exchange, and support, culminating in a rich cultural immersion.

The Howard Fellowships, administered by the George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation, support early mid-career artists and scholars with $40,000 awards for independent projects in selected fields. This unrestricted, non-residency fellowship encourages significant creative development and public visibility through exhibitions or publications. Applicants should demonstrate a promising program of work and must currently reside in the U.S. or its territories. Ten fellowships are awarded annually, promoting artistic and intellectual advancement.

The Arts Fund Grants provide vital support for emerging artists from Australia and the USA, facilitating their artistic development through grants of up to $5,000. This funding can be used for travel, living expenses, tuition, and other related costs. Eligible applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of either country and have a formal offer from an accredited institution. The program emphasizes merit-based opportunities across various artistic fields, fostering international collaboration and cultural exchange.

The ASTR Thomas Marshall Graduate Student Awards aim to support graduate students researching theatre or performance by assisting with the costs of attending the annual ASTR conference. This grant offers up to three honorariums of $800 each, along with complimentary conference registration. Eligibility is open to any graduate student in relevant fields, with selection based on the applicant’s interest and academic achievements.

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Geographical Area

The official geographic service area of Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc., beginning to our west and traveling clockwise, includes the following communities in addition to Marshfield (It also includes towns and rural areas between these communities.): Chili, Granton, Neillsville, Loyal, Greenwood, Withee, Owen, Spencer, Unity, Colby, Curtiss, Pittsville, Abbotsford, Dorchester, Stetsonville, Medford, Stratford, Rozellville, Hewitt, Auburndale, Blenker, Milladore, Sherry, Arpin.

James Brasington Theater Scholarship

This scholarship is for a student wo is attending school full-time pursuing an undergraduate degree intending to study theater arts. Preference to a student who shows interest in and affinity for the art of acting and shows financial need. This scholarship can be renewed 3 additional years.

Armstrong County Community Foundation

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Susan Falsetti-Burdett Memorial Scholarship Fund for Music

Born in Kittanning in 1957, Susan Burdett was the daughter of Aldo and Dorothy (Trenchik) Falsetti, and was a lifelong resident of our community. Susie was a loving daughter, sister, mother, wife, and friend. She taught music to many over the years, and also taught at Divine Redeemer School. She was caring, compassionate, sharing and understanding. Her charity will live on through this Susan Falsetti-Burdett memorial Scholarship Fund for Music.

Scholarship Details

• Available to High School Seniors
• Nonrenewable

All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.

Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida connects people who care with causes that matter. Since 1964, we have served the citizens of Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, Clay, and Putnam counties through a range of charitable and civic activities, while helping individual donors achieve their philanthropic goals. We believe in Giving Back. Forever Forward.

Scholarships

Thanks to generous donors, The Community Foundation offers several scholarships each year that benefit students in Northeast Florida who are seeking post-secondary degrees.

Bernie G. Yvon Memorial Fund Scholarship

For High School Seniors & College Students in The Theatre/Performing Arts

The purpose of the fund is to perpetuate the legacy of Bernie G. Yvon by supporting students pursuing study in the Theatre/Performing Arts with need-based scholarships. In this tenth year (2026), amounts up to $2000 each will be available from contributions to the fund via The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. In selecting the successful candidate(s), the review committee will consider the following:

• Knowledge of Bernie G. Yvon
• Theatre/Performing Arts potential and past experiences
• Financial need
• Academic record
• Two letters of recommendation
• GPA