Aurand Harris Grants & Fellowships

The Aurand Harris Grants & Fellowships support children’s theatre by funding projects that foster artistic growth and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Eligible applicants include 501c3 nonprofit theatres and individual artists. The grants cover various expenses, such as fees for artists and equipment costs, while prioritizing projects that align with the values of the Children's Theatre Foundation of America. Notably, funding will not cover general operating support or projects already in progress.

These grants and fellowships are designed to benefit the field of theatre for children & youth, to provide growth opportunities for theater artists developing work for the young, to support the mission and values of CTFA, and honor to the intentions of Aurand Harris.
Mission: The Childrens Theatre Foundation of America challenges and supports theatre artists to achieve excellence in service to young people.
A major priority of CTFA is supporting theater for youth which clearly recognizes diversity, equity, and inclusion that is important to the future of TYA.
2023 Harris Grants Can Fund:

• Theatre or Collaboration
• PEOPLE: Fees for playwrights, directors, designers, education directors, teaching artists, anti-racism consultants and trainers.

EQUIPMENT: Payment for light boards, sound equipment, curtains, lights, media tools, that will be used to allow companies and artists who might not otherwise be able to afford these resources to more effectively reach their audiences and to improve the quality of their work.
TRAVEL: Costs to bring collaborative teams together including, touring, travel to conferences or festivals and anti-racism training opportunities.
Individual Artist
A development plan designed to build personal growth in theatre artistry, expand impact and awareness of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and develop increased career marketability.
Proposals must make a case for all 3 of the fellowship growth criteria listed above. Examples:

• Writing a new play
• New directing opportunities
• New designing opportunities/techniques

Eligibility

Who may apply: 501c3 IRS certified nonprofit theatres in the USA, established for at least 3 year consecutive years, possessing a public record of artistic quality and with an annual operating budget of under a million dollars, and the ability to provide a one-to-one funding match. In-kind salaries and services may be considered for matching funds.Applicant theatres may apply under another organization’s 501c3 IRS certified nonprofit status if that organization is an active partner in the proposed project.This grant can also fund individual artist fellowship awards.

Ineligibility

2023 Harris Grants Will Not Fund:Theatre or Collaborationgeneral operating support such as funding for the regular and ordinary projects/programs that are part of the on-going work or season of the applicant
projects that are already underway
projects that do not include a one-to-one match. In-kind salaries and services may be counted if they are earmarked for the specific project being proposed
activities undertaken for academic credit
projects that do not align with CTFA’s mission, values, and the 2023 anti-racism/equity grant focusIndividual Artistprojects that are already underway
activities undertaken for academic credit
regular productions, teaching, writing or design work that are part of the typical projects, on-going work or season of the applicant artist
projects that do not align with CTFA’s mission, values, and the 2023 anti-racism/equity grant focus