Best Grants for Performing Arts in Missouri

Mid-America Arts Alliance

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) believes art can be a catalyst for expression, connection, collaboration, and community. This philosophy is reflected in our mission and values.

M-AAA is a nonprofit, regional arts organization representing Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. We focus on strengthening communities and improving lives by supporting artists, elevating arts organizations, and connecting people to extraordinary cultural experiences.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists

Program Objectives

The Artistic Innovations program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography). Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the region.

Individual Artist Grant Considerations

The Artistic Innovations grant program supports direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements to individuals through private funds. These grants are funded through private support and, unlike Artistic Innovations grants to organizations, are not supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Missouri high school seniors in the Park Hill School District pursuing college majors in music, drama, or visual/performing arts can access funding through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation’s Parkville Fine Arts Association Scholarship. Awards of US $1,000 support demonstrated fine arts talent and higher education in these disciplines.

Missouri performing arts organizations and other eligible 501(c)(3), government, or tribal entities can access funding to present touring artists from the Mid-America Arts Alliance region. Organizations may receive up to US $5,000 per project, with matching funds supporting artist fees and public-facing performances plus outreach events, including in rural communities.

The Artistic Innovations Grant Program, supported by the Mid-America Arts Alliance, provides up to $15,000 to artists and arts organizations in the M-AAA six-state region. This initiative fosters creativity by funding the development and premiere of original works, encouraging innovative projects that engage local audiences. Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit organizations, promoting a vibrant arts community through financial support for artistic exploration.

Missouri nonprofit organizations presenting public arts programming can seek up to US $40,000 to support performing arts and related projects across the state. Focused on broadening access to the arts, Missouri Arts Council invites Missouri performing arts groups to fund performances, festivals, exhibitions, education programs, residencies, and associated project costs like artist fees, venue rental, marketing, and accessibility.

Nonprofit organizations in Missouri can receive funding for performing arts, along with education, health, social services, scientific research, museums, scholarly publications, and historic preservation projects. Clifford Willard Gaylord Foundation provides Missouri nonprofits with support for a wide range of cultural and community-focused initiatives, which may benefit performing arts organizations and related programs.

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Full-Time Associates

Regions supports organizations important to our associates through the Regions Matching Gifts Program. This program, which is open for use for all full-time Regions associates, affiliate associates and recent retirees, allows you to make an even greater difference to your favorite charities by doubling your tax-deductible contributions to these organizations. 

Missouri performing arts students may be eligible for the Melvin L. and Frances E. Tolson Scholarship Trust Fund, which supports Carroll County, Ohio residents pursuing aviation, art education, or fine and performing arts studies. Administered by Stark Community Foundation, this renewable scholarship awards more than US $500 for college, university, technical, or vocational programs.

Missouri 501(c)(3) nonprofits presenting free outdoor performing arts or music festivals can access funding via the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation. This national program offers up to US $5,000 to support 2026 outdoor music festivals that activate underused public spaces and expand community access to live arts experiences.

Current or former Oregon Shakespeare Festival employees facing unexpected financial hardship can receive emergency assistance for basic living expenses through this fund, including Missouri-based artists. Focused on crisis relief, Entertainment Community Fund invites eligible performing arts and entertainment professionals to apply for help with housing, utilities, health care, and related urgent costs.

The Jean T. Grant Scholarship, established by The Columbus Foundation, honors the legacy of Jean Terry Grant, a devoted librarian and arts advocate. Providing $1,000, this scholarship supports graduating seniors from Columbus City Schools pursuing studies in music or the arts. Jean's commitment to education and the arts inspires future generations, ensuring that her passion for creativity and philanthropy continues to impact the community positively.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Craig Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established by the family of John E. Craig, Jr. and Larry William Craig. Both John and Larry were extremely gifted musicians. John was a noted musician in the central Ohio community, studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston at the time of his death. A well-known musician and businessman, Larry excelled at playing the piano and worked with his father in Craig & Sons Wrecking Company. This scholarship fund will provide support to students who are pursuing careers in musical arts, theatre or drama.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund

The Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for high school seniors graduating from Allegheny County Schools who wish to major in visual, performance or media art.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

Our mission is to enhance quality of life, today and in the future, by:

• Enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires
• Building a permanent endowment
• Facilitating prudent management and care of funds
• Meeting needs through grants, awards, and scholarships

Richard and Lou Ann Bergen Scholarship in the Creative Arts

Amount

Minimum $1,000

Geographic Limitations

Saline County high school seniors attending either Bethany College, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas State University, Kansas Wesleyan University, University of Kansas or Wichita State University.

Renewals

Scholarship is renewable up to four years.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Fueling Equity & Racial Justice Since 1925

KZCF is dedicated to our mission to create a thriving community where people, resources and expertise are mobilized to advance racial, social and economic justice in Kalamazoo County.

Scholarships & Education Grants

For All Levels of Education After High School

Kalamazoo Community Foundation is dedicated to creating pathways to higher education so students can thrive in their academic pursuits and for a lifetime. We oversee more than 60 scholarships and education grants (many of which are multiyear awards) for college, graduate school, career training and more.

Dominic & Barbara Court Family Arts Scholarship Fund

This fund was established from the estate of Barbara Court to provide scholarships for students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that would lead to a career in the arts.

Multiyear Award; Renews Annually

Charlotte Street

What We Do

• Provide annual cash awards, project based grants, special commissions and specific travel opportunities to visual and generative performing artists
• Provide free studios and performance and exhibition spaces to theater, dance, music, film/video and visual artists for the creation and presentation of new work
• Facilitate venues and opportunities for public exposure to these exhibitions and performances, and facilitate artistic collaboration and exchange
• Plan and collaborate on behalf of Kansas City artists and the arts community with philanthropic, business and civic leaders
• Engage national philanthropic and cultural leaders with Kansas City artists and the arts community

Generative Performing Artist Awards

The Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Awards seek to recognize, encourage, and significantly support Kansas City-based artists creating original, exceptional new work in all genres of performance. Providing artists with financial support, critical recognition, and public exposure, these Awards aim to reward artistic accomplishment to date and to support the continued development of artists' work and careers. Artists must be generative artists—that is, the creators of original new work.

Awarded artists will be those who:

• Create new, contemporary work 
• Produce work that is innovative and/or experimental in terms of form, content, process, and/or presentation 
• Demonstrate sustained commitment to deepening/expanding their work and generative practices

Through recognizing and supporting exceptional artists living and working in Kansas City, Charlotte Street seeks to empower and propel individual artists, enhance the artistic culture of our region, and increase Kansas City’s desirability as a place for artists to live and work.

Two recipients of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Fellow will receive:

• An unrestricted cash grant of $10,000 
• Assistance in the production of a video recording of a performance over the course of the grant cycle 
• Recognition by Charlotte Street at the time of Award announcement and throughout the year, including through announcements to media, online promotion, special events, and more.

Criteria for selection:

• Strength of artistic work to date 
• Promise for future artistic achievement 
• Commitment to & demonstration of innovation/experimentation in terms of form, content, process, and/or presentation 
• Potential impact of Award on continued artistic development

Performing arts students pursuing higher education, including those in Missouri, can apply for the O'Shea Patrick McCarthy Scholarship to support accredited 2- or 4-year college studies. Focused on education and the arts, Legacy Foundation offers a US $1,000 award for full-time undergraduate students, paid directly to the school or for book reimbursement.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in fields like performing arts, fine arts, film, creative writing, and related disciplines can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards $100 to $30,000 per year for study at accredited U.S. institutions, including schools in Missouri.

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students in Missouri pursuing full-time studies in fine or performing arts, music, dance, creative writing, or related fields can apply for the Elizabeth Furber Scholarship, awarding US $100 - US $30,000. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund support need-based academic costs for eligible students with verifiable Tribal affiliation.

Performing arts nonprofits and professional music organizations in Missouri can apply for the Aaron Copland Fund for Music’s project support grants, awarding US $2,000 - US $20,000 for special projects in contemporary American concert music and jazz. Eligible ensembles, presenters, service organizations, and record companies can fund performances, recordings, residencies, and related public engagement activities.

Performing arts organizations with a strong track record in contemporary American concert music or jazz can receive unrestricted general support for programming, recordings, and related activities. Focused on contemporary music, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music invites Missouri ensembles, presenters, service organizations, and eligible record companies to apply for US $2,000 - US $20,000 in operating support.

Graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing visual or performing arts degrees in Missouri may be eligible for the Burrell Family Scholarship. Crown Point Community Foundation administers this non-renewable award as part of its broader scholarship program, using one common application to match students with multiple potential scholarships.

Graduating high school seniors involved in theatre who are pursuing performing arts or related degrees can receive scholarship support for higher education, including trade schools. With a mission to enrich community life, Crown Point Community Foundation uses one application to consider students for over 100 awards, including the Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship.

Missouri students pursuing degrees in performing arts, design, architecture, fine art, or construction management may be eligible for the Walter Blackburn Scholarship to cover higher-education expenses. Focused on academic scholarship support, Central Indiana Community Foundation funds tuition and related costs at accredited colleges, universities, or technical and vocational schools for qualified Marion County residents.

High school seniors and college students pursuing performing arts degrees in southern Beaufort County may be eligible for the Sarah Creech Performing Arts Scholarship, supporting post-secondary education. Community Foundation of the Lowcountry provides this funding opportunity, which may interest Missouri performing arts organizations that support or advise eligible students from that region.

Missouri performing and visual arts students may be eligible if they are graduating seniors from Smith County planning to major in the arts at any U.S. college. Focused on arts education, East Texas Communities Foundation offers the Partners in Arts Scholarship, a one-year US $1,000 award supporting tuition, fees, room and board, or books and supplies.