Best Grants for Theater in Colorado

Colorado 501(c)(3) presenters, government units, higher education institutions, and tribal governments can use this funding to present touring performing and literary artists. Creative West provides flat US $2,000 - US $3,000 grants for artist fees, travel, facilities, accessibility, marketing, and administration, prioritizing rural and smaller-budget organizations presenting theater and other performing arts.

Colorado-based nonprofits and PK–12 schools can apply for Equity in Arts Learning grants supporting projects that bring professional artists into educational settings for youth ages 4–21. Focused on arts learning and equity, Think 360 Arts invites Colorado theater and other arts organizations to design multi-week, no-cost, accessible programs for historically marginalized young people, with awards of US $10,000 - US $25,000.

Colorado nonprofit professional theatres producing contemporary plays on current social issues can access funding through the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. Grants of US $10,000 - US $25,000 support production costs, community engagement, and select change-capital projects for organizations with at least two years of history and $1,000,000 in annual operating revenue.

Colorado 501(c)(3) public charities and eligible governmental entities planning major capital projects can seek funding for land, building purchases, construction, expansion, renovation, or land acquisition. With a mission to strengthen long-term community assets, Gates Family Foundation supports facilities for arts and culture, including theaters, as well as education, parks, community development, and services for children, youth, and families statewide.

Theater and arts organizations or projects in Colorado that involve SAA members and work with Shakespeare performance, teaching, scholarship, or activism may be eligible for recognition through this award. The Shakespeare Association of America honors pioneering, culturally significant efforts that foster, engage, support, and sustain broad and diverse Shakespeare publics.

Native-led performing arts organizations and individual Native performing artists in Colorado can receive US $30,000 to produce live theater and other performance projects in active production stages. First Peoples Fund’s Native Performing Arts Live Production Grant supports U.S.-based Native creators presenting multi-artist live productions, including plays, touring performances, and community-based shows, both in-person and virtual.

High schools producing theater in Colorado can apply for US $10,000 to stage a play or musical that sparks dialogue on diverse perspectives and experiences and engages professional mentors. Grants from Educational Theatre Association Foundation support productions during the 2026–27 school year that include mentoring, multiple performances, and at least one community event.

Graduating high school seniors in New Jersey pursuing theater, dance, music, or visual arts studies can receive the Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 toward tuition. Grants from Arts Council of the Morris Area help support artistic excellence and further arts education, which may interest theater-focused students beyond Colorado-specific opportunities.

Colorado high school theater, dance, music, and visual arts students may be eligible for the Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship, which supports Morris County, New Jersey seniors pursuing post-secondary arts studies. Administered by Arts Council of the Morris Area, this US $1,500 award is 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 in unrestricted fellowship support to deepen their critical writing on live or recorded music. Grants from Japanese American National Museum help Colorado theater and performing arts writers who focus on music criticism or sound-centered work advance their early-stage careers.

Theater and other arts organizations or individual artists creating environmental artistic activism projects in Colorado may be eligible for funding to address pressing climate and environmental issues through their work. With a mission to support underrepresented artists, Puffin Foundation prioritizes solution-focused U.S.-based projects that educate the public and consider environmental impacts of their methods and materials.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater companies in Colorado and nationwide can receive US $20,000 - US $30,000 to support paid apprenticeships for early-career theater administrators and technicians. Arts Midwest’s Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships program funds roles like technicians, set designers, assistant directors, operations, HR, communications, and marketing staff for at least six months of community-based theater work.

Professional playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in Colorado facing severe financial hardship can receive US $500 for essential living costs such as housing, food, utilities, health care, and dependent care. Dramatists Guild Foundation supports U.S.-based dramatists who meet professional criteria and have not previously received a Bridge Grant.

Grants from Puffin Foundation help Colorado theater and media arts projects with up to US $3,500 for video/film, theater, and live performance work. Individual artists, nonprofits, or fiscally sponsored projects led by U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients may be eligible, with a focus on smaller-budget projects and rotating genres every other year.

The American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) David Keller Travel Grants support untenured scholars with terminal degrees in attending the annual ASTR conference. With up to three $800 honorariums and complimentary registration, the grants aim to foster active participation in the organization. Eligible recipients include independent scholars and adjunct faculty, with selection based on their interest and achievements in scholarship and service. This initiative enhances networking and professional development within the theatre research community.

High school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing theater studies at accredited U.S. universities can receive annual scholarships up to US $10,000 through the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative. American Theatre Wing provides Colorado theater students with multi-year tuition support, plus mentorship, master classes, and career development opportunities for a wide range of on- and off-stage disciplines.

Emerging musical theatre composers, lyricists, librettists, and writing teams creating new, fully producible stage works and eligible to work in the U.S. can receive US $10,000 in flexible support for their artistic careers. American Theatre Wing’s Jonathan Larson Grants may benefit Colorado-based or Colorado-connected theatre artists developing contemporary musical theatre in English.

Public K-12 schools and 501(c)(3) parent groups in Colorado can seek funding to create or enhance in-school theater programs through the American Theatre Wing’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Classroom Resources Grants. Focused on theater education, this U.S.-wide program supports equipment, instruments, licensing fees, and other essential materials, with awards up to US $50,000.

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 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.

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.

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