Arts Leadership Residency Grant

Arts Leadership Residency Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Theatre Bay Area
Amount: US $12,000
Last Updated: March 21, 2026

Summary

The Arts Leadership Residency, offered by Theatre Bay Area, provides a transformative opportunity for aspiring artistic and managing directors to gain hands-on experience in Bay Area theatres. Over a 12-16 week period, residents will work closely with established leaders, engage in significant projects, and enhance their skills in a supportive environment. This initiative emphasizes mentorship, professional growth, and fostering diversity within the arts community, ensuring that underrepresented voices have access to vital resources and opportunities.

Overview

Theatre Bay Area Theatre Bay Area (TBA) is a nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the theatre community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its mission is to unite, promote, and support theatre artists and organizations, grounded in the belief that the performing arts are essential to a healthy and democratic society. TBA envisions a vibrant, inclusive cultural ecosystem where artists have the resources and opportunities to thrive and where communities have broad access to the arts. Its funding priorities focus on supporting individual theatremakers and small theatre companies through grants that enable new work development, performances, career advancement, and organizational capacity building, with a strong emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion and prioritizing artists historically underrepresented in traditional funding systems. Arts Leadership Residency This residency funds aspiring artistic directors and managing directors in residence at Bay Area theatres for a 12-16 week residency during which the residents with be mentored by the artistic and/or managing director and lead a significant project during the season. Applications require both the resident and company to commit to the project, so apply with someone you know or attend our matchmaking session to meet your potential new collaborator!

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. CompaniesMust be current members of Theatre Bay Area as of the application date and maintain TBA membership through December 31, current year of application.Were not awarded the Arts Leadership Residency in the previous cycle.Must confirm that the artist is not currently employed by the company and must agree to hire the artist under current California law.Are committed to providing mentorship to the resident by the artistic director or managing director of the company and introducing the resident to the tasks and concerns that comprise their jobs as arts leaders.Are committed to providing the resident at least one opportunity to direct or produce a significant project between August 31 and December 31.Are committed to attending two cohort meetings (scheduled at participants’ convenience).ResidentsAre 18+ years of age and legally able to work in the United States.Are not enrolled as students in a college, university, or professional training program.Are not currently serving on TBA’s Board or employed as TBA staff.Have not previously been awarded the Arts Leadership Residency.Are available to work the equivalent of 12–16 full-time weeks (480–640 hours) between August 31 and December 31.Are not currently employed by the company, and are committed to working for the company during the residency period in administrative areas such as literary management, fundraising and development, audience development, marketing, hiring, and/or other areas which fit the resident’s skills and experience.Are committed to directing or producing at least one significant creative project during the residency between August 31 and December 31.Are committed to attending two cohort meetings (scheduled at participants’ convenience). You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.