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
Hill Country Performing Arts Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K The Hill Country Performing Arts Scholarship, funded by The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, supports graduating students pursuing higher education in performing arts.	Not published	$3K
McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship Grant Pillsbury House + Theatre · Foundation Not published · $25K The McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship, supported by the McKnight Foundation, offers annual unrestricted cash awards to mid-career artists in Minnesota.	Not published	$25K
The Shubert Foundation: Theatre Grants The Shubert Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K – $325K The Shubert Foundation offers grants to not-for-profit professional theatre and dance companies in the U.S., focusing on general operating support rather than project-specific funding.	Not published	$10K – $325K
Rella Lossy Award Grant Theatre Bay Area · Foundation Not published · $1K – $3K The Rella Lossy Award celebrates Rella Lossy’s legacy by recognizing outstanding new full-length plays from emerging playwrights.	Not published	$1K – $3K
Performing Americas Program (PAP) - Creative Exchange Mobility Awards National Performance Network Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Creative Exchange Mobility awards provide support for artists and hosts who wish to meet face-to-face with potential partners in the design of future exchange projects.	Not published	Up to $1K
Pilot Program ODC · Foundation Not published · Varies The Pilot Program was originally created in 1990 to nurture the development of emerging choreographers.	Not published	Varies
Heller Awards for Young Artists (Program Grants) Greater Austin Performing Arts Center Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Emerging Digital Design Showcase Grant United Institute for Theatre Technology Inc. · Foundation Not published · Varies The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) connects performing arts design and technology communities to ensure a vibrant dialog among practitioners, educators, and students.	Not published	Varies
Fine Arts Fund Grant Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Fine Arts Fund Grant, administered by the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, aims to enhance cultural initiatives in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties.	Not published	Up to $3K
Paul Green Foundation Grant The Paul Green Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 – $3K The Paul Green Foundation, established in 1982, continues the legacy of playwright Paul Green by supporting North Carolina 501(c)(3) organizations.	Not published	$500 – $3K
Howard Gilman Foundation Grant - New Funding The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · US $10,000 - US $30,000 The Howard Gilman Foundation Grant aims to support New York City's vibrant performing arts organizations.	Not published	US $10,000 - US $30,000
Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives Grants Mid Atlantic Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · $750 – $5K The Special Presenter Initiatives Grants, offered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with various local arts organizations, aim to support the presentation of professional performing artists at small and mid-size community…	Not published	$750 – $5K
CFQA: Mary Ridder Cherny Fund Grant Community Foundation of the Quincy Area · Foundation Not published · Varies The Mary Ridder Cherny Fund, established in memory of Mary Agnes Ridder Cherny, supports Quincy public and parochial K-12 schools in fostering youth participation in the performing arts.	Not published	Varies
Orchestral Fund Grant Northern New York Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Orchestral Fund aims to enhance the cultural landscape of the Watertown area by providing financial support for live orchestral performances. Eligible nonprofit organizations must consist of at least 20 instrumental performers.	Not published	Up to $25K
AICEF: Cultural Grant American Indonesian Cultural · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The AICEF Cultural Grant aims to enhance cultural ties between the United States and Indonesia by funding projects in the performing, visual, and literary arts.	Not published	$1K – $5K
Fox Theatre Grant Program - Single-Year Grants Fox Theatre Inc F/K/a Atlanta Landmarks Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Fox Theatre Grant Program, through Fox Gives, supports the preservation and revitalization of historic theaters across Georgia, ensuring these cultural landmarks continue to enrich their communities.	Not published	Varies
Bronx Dance Fund The Bronx Council on the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K The Bronx Dance Fund seeks to nurture the development of artists and organizations that comprise the field of dance in the Bronx.	Not published	Up to $8K
Youtheatre College Scholarship Hancock County Performing Arts Center · Foundation Not published · Varies First established by the Board of The Arts Partnership and now perpetuated by Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.	Not published	Varies
RFP for Performing Arts Airport Foundation MSP · Foundation Not published · Varies Arts@MSP seeks performing artists and arts organizations whose work reflects the creative energy and cultural diversity of the Upper Midwest.	Not published	Varies
The Willson Center Public Impact Grant University of Georgia · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K The Willson Center Public Impact Grant, offered by the University of Georgia, supports faculty-led initiatives that organize conferences, exhibitions, and performances showcasing humanities and arts research.	Not published	Up to $8K
MHC Arts & Humanities Touring Grants Michigan Humanities Council · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The application period for Arts and Humanities Touring Grants opens on March 16, 2026 at 9 a.m. for events occurring between April 1–November 15, 2026.	Not published	Up to $3K
ISF Social Justice Short Film Grant Islamic Scholarship Fund · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The ISF Social Justice Short Film Grant supports emerging Muslim filmmakers in creating impactful short narrative or documentary films that address social justice issues.	Not published	Up to $10K
Live Arts Boston (LAB) Grants Boston Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The Live Arts Boston (LAB) Grants, supported by the Boston Foundation, empower performing artists in the Greater Boston area to innovate and create original work.	Not published	Up to $30K
Megan Boone Grants for Performing Arts Marion Cultural Alliance Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K – $7K Actress and Director Megan Boone was raised in The Villages and graduated from Belleview High School in 2001.	Not published	$3K – $7K

Showing 145–168 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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