Grants for Performing Arts

Last updated October 24, 2026

Grantable tracks 539 active grants for performing arts in its free grants database, drawn from 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: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts Grant Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts, established in 1996, aims to perpetuate the appreciation of fine arts, particularly classical ballet and opera.	Not published	Varies
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Grant Program Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Grant Program primarily supports education and arts initiatives in Georgia, with occasional grants to Virginia institutions linked to Mrs. Evans.	Not published	Varies
ASTR Collaborative Research Award Grant American Society for Theatre Research · Foundation Not published · $2K The ASTR Collaborative Research Award aims to enhance research collaboration across various academic and community contexts, both domestically and internationally.	Not published	$2K
Arts & Culture - Arts Performance and Exhibition Spaces Grant Fleishhacker Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K – $15K The Arts Performance and Exhibition Spaces (APEX) Grant supports arts and culture nonprofits in the Bay Area, offering flexible funding for operations and artist compensation.	Not published	$10K – $15K
Maxine Sprague Lahti Foundation for the Performing Arts Grant (Michigan) Lahti Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Maxine Sprague Lahti Foundation for the Performing Arts Grant supports organizations and individuals in Monroe County, Michigan, to enhance performing arts.	Not published	Varies
Israeli Artist Network (IAN) America-Israel Cultural Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies AICF's online cultural hub and go-to resource for Israeli artists and art consumers around the world. IAN serves as a platform showcasing artists in Israel and around the world.	Not published	Varies
Houston Arts Alliance: City's Initiative Grant Houston Arts Alliance · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Houston Arts Alliance's City's Initiative Grant Program aims to support accessible arts and cultural programming for the Houston community.	Not published	Up to $10K
CBT: Arts and Culture Program - Touring Grant Columbia Basin Trust · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The CBT: Arts and Culture Program - Touring provides grants to support arts and culture initiatives in the Basin.	Not published	Up to $5K
Thomas Barbour Scholarships Program The Episcopal Actors' Guild · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in 1968 to recognize excellence in performing arts students. Named in honor of EAG member, benefactor and actor Thomas Barbour in 2004.	Not published	Varies
Jerry Juhl Fund for the Arts Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundation of Mendocino County · Foundation Not published · Varies Community Foundation of Mendocino County The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is a county-wide nonprofit organization that administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families…	Not published	Varies
Large Creative & Performing Arts Grants University of Notre Dame du Lac · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Large Creative & Performing Arts Grants, offered by the University of Notre Dame's Franco Family Institute, support innovative arts projects led by faculty in the College of Arts & Letters.	Not published	Up to $25K
Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists Grant Sacramento Region Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists aims to enhance access to performing arts education for underserved youth in the Sacramento area.	Not published	Up to $5K
SLCAC Project Support Grants Salt Lake City Arts Council · Foundation Not published · $2K – $4K The SLCAC Project Support Grants offer financial assistance to arts projects in Salt Lake City. With a focus on community engagement, these grants prioritize initiatives like concerts, workshops, and murals that benefit the public.	Not published	$2K – $4K
A/B Testing Grants: Supporting Experimentation in Audience Building Opera America Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies An opportunity for OPERA America Professional Company Members to test strategies at their companies for engaging new-to-opera audiences.	Not published	Varies
Opportunity Fund Grants Opportunity Foundation · Foundation Not published · $8K – $20K The Opportunity Fund Grants support small to midsize arts organizations and initiatives promoting social and economic justice, primarily benefiting the Greater Pittsburgh community.	Not published	$8K – $20K
The Hansberry-Lilly Fellowship The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A fellowship program supporting theater writers. Details limited in provided materials.	Not published	Varies
Community Partnership Grants: Jazz & Heritage Presenting: Festivals and Concerts in Music and Performing Arts New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K The Community Partnership Grants program by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation supports Louisiana's arts community by providing funding for music and arts education, cultural events, and new artistic works.	Not published	Up to $8K
Paul Collins Scholarship Grant Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Generally the Community Foundation's scholarships are awarded to applicants who have high financial need.	Not published	Varies
Craig Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant Columbus Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K 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.	Not published	$1K
Smith-Hobson Foundation Grant Ventura County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Smith-Hobson Foundation Grant provides vital support for arts and cultural initiatives in western Ventura County. This includes funding for museums, historical societies, fine and performing arts, and arts education.	Not published	Varies
Project Support Grants: OnStage in Utah Utah Division of Art & Museums · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K OnStage in Utah, provided by Utah Arts & Museums, supports presenters in funding public performances and community outreach activities with in-state or out-of-state artists.	Not published	Up to $2K
National Dance Project (NDP) Travel Fund Grant New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The National Dance Project (NDP) Travel Fund offers financial support to U.S.-based presenters, curatorial staff, and residency directors, as well as current NDP artist grantees.	Not published	Up to $500
Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art Grants Franklin Furnace Fund · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Franklin Furnace Fund Grants support early career artists in producing significant performance art works in New York City.	Not published	Up to $10K
Theatre Development Fund Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies

Showing 97–120 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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