Grants for Performing Arts
Last updated October 24, 2026
Grantable tracks 539 active grants for performing arts in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 12 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 313 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.
- Grants tracked
- 539
- from 347 funders
- Median award
- $10K
- middle half $5,000–$25K
- Total listed funding
- $22.2M
- across 313 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 9
- 24 with a published date
On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Sarah Creech Performing Arts Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of the Lowcountry · Foundation Not published · Varies The Sarah Creech Performing Arts Scholarship, established in 2013 by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, honors the memory of Sarah Creech. | |
| Del Shores Foundation Writers Search Del Shores Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A playwriting competition established by the Del Shores Foundation to discover and support new theatrical voices. | |
| Enhancing Lives through Charitable Giving Grant Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher · Foundation Not published · Varies The Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, established in 1977, is dedicated to enhancing lives through charitable giving. | |
| Casting Society Cares Grant Entertainment Community Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies Casting Society Cares offers Emergency Financial Assistance to performing arts and entertainment professionals facing unexpected critical needs. | |
| IATSE Local 798 Fund Grant Entertainment Community Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies The IATSE Local 798 Fund offers emergency financial assistance to performing arts and entertainment professionals facing unexpected critical needs. | |
| Hunter's Grants Program Hunter Brooks Watson Memorial Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies Hunter's Fund distributes grants to young entrepreneurs and creative individuals pursuing projects in performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship. | |
| East Bay Fund for Artists East Bay Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The East Bay Fund for Artists supports local artists and arts organizations in the East Bay to create new and diverse works of art. | |
| The Ruth Maleczech Award Mabou Mines Development Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Annual award honoring a performer who embodies Ruth Maleczech's daring and raw, naked fearlessness in every performance. | |
| Performance Support TX Commission on the Arts · State Not published · Varies Provides artistic fee subsidies to support performances and presentations across Texas. Helps make live arts performances accessible to communities and students. | |
| Mid-Career Project Grant Forecast Public Art · Foundation Not published · $10K The Mid-Career Project Grant supports Minnesota-based mid-career public artists in creating public artwork, whether temporary or permanent. | |
| Rockland Trust Event Sponsorships Grant Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Rockland Trust Event Sponsorships aim to enhance community engagement by providing funding for specific events organized by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. | |
| Artist Fellowship Grant - Artist Fellowship Grants Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Artist Fellowship Grant offers $3,000 to Connecticut artists across all disciplines to support new work and enhance their careers. | |
| Community Fund Grants: Arts & Culture Akron Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Akron Community Foundation offers Community Fund Grants focused on Arts & Culture, aimed at enriching the community's quality of life. | |
| Bronx Cultural Visions Fund Grant The Bronx Council on the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Bronx Cultural Visions Fund Grant supports the live performing arts in the Bronx by funding new project development for individual artists, collectives, and nonprofit organizations in theater, music, and dance. | |
| Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award Lark Theatre Company Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K The Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award is presented annually by The Lark and producer Daryl Roth to honor theater artists who have extraordinary vision, dedication, energy, and spirit for creating and bringing theater to life. | |
| Japan-United States Arts Program Asian Cultural Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies This program specifically addresses bilateral artistic exchange between Japan and the United States, supporting both individual research and institutional collaboration. | |
| Wade Family Foundation Grant Wade Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Stephen and Marcia have become stalwart supporters of education, military sacrifice, health care initiatives, art programs, combating homelessness, and protecting vulnerable members of our community. | |
| John William Jackson Fund Grant Idaho Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The John William Jackson Fund, established in 2000, supports Idaho youth through academic scholarships, performing arts grants, and outdoor sporting experiences. | |
| Arts & Culture- Production Costs Grants- Performing Arts Organizations City of San Antonio · State Not published · Up to $15K The Production Costs Grants from the City of San Antonio are designed to support performing arts organizations and professional artists by covering essential expenses such as artist fees, labor, marketing, security, and equipment rentals. | |
| Shubert Foundation: Shubert Scholars Grant The Shubert Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Shubert Foundation's Shubert Scholars program offers unrestricted grants to support the training of theatre artists in the United States. | |
| The Morgan Fund: Performing Arts Grants Seattle Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Morgan Fund, a donor-advised fund at Seattle Foundation, is inviting proposals for its 2025-2026 grant cycle focused on performing arts, particularly dance and theatre. | |
| ACC Taiwan Program Asian Cultural Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies This regional program supports projects that showcase Taiwanese artists and facilitate collaboration across East and Southeast Asia. | |
| Individual Artist Fellowship Grants Oregon Arts Commission · Foundation Not published · $5K The Individual Artist Fellowship Grants, offered by the Oregon Arts Commission, support professional artists in advancing their careers. | |
| Sandra E. Hardy Theatre Scholarship Fund University of Maine Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies |
Showing 25–48 of 534
About grants for performing arts
Grants for the performing arts support theater, dance, music, opera, and presenting organizations through production, touring, education, and operating funds. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds the field through its Grants for Arts Projects program, and state arts councils and regional arts organizations distribute additional public dollars. Private foundations like the Mellon and Doris Duke foundations support larger institutions, artists, and field-wide initiatives.
A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for performing arts down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do grants for performing arts award?
Of the 539 grants for performing arts Grantable lists as of October 24, 2026, 313 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $5,000 and $25K. The largest is $6M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.
Which funders offer the most grants for performing arts?
By number of active listings, the leading funders are Entertainment Community Fund (11), Asian Cultural Council Inc (9), Opera America Inc (9), South Arts Inc (8), and The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc (8). In all, 347 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
When are grants for performing arts due?
Of 539 grants listed, 9 accept applications on a rolling basis, 24 have a published upcoming deadline, 120 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 386 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 54% fall in October–December.
What grants are available for the performing arts?
Performing arts organizations can pursue funding for productions, commissions, touring, presenting series, arts education, and operating support across disciplines like theater, dance, music, and opera. The NEA's Grants for Arts Projects is the principal federal source, and state and regional arts agencies offer project and operating grants. Private foundations add support for new work, artist development, and institutional capacity.
Who funds the performing arts?
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the central federal funder, working through state arts councils and regional arts organizations that re-grant public funds locally. Private funders such as the Mellon Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation support performing arts institutions and artists nationally, and community foundations and corporate programs fund local companies and venues.
Can individual performers apply, or only organizations?
Most public performing arts grants go to nonprofit organizations rather than individuals. Individual performers and creators typically access support through fellowships, prizes, and commissions from foundations and service organizations, or by working under a fiscal sponsor or partnering with a nonprofit so they can receive organizational funding.
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