Grants for Performing Arts

Last updated October 25, 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	Deadline ▲	Amount
The Democracy Cycle Grant World Trade Center Performing Arts Center Inc · Foundation Not published · $60K The Democracy Cycle is a five-year initiative by the Perelman Performing Arts Center and Civis Foundation, aimed at commissioning 25 new works across various performing arts disciplines.	Not published	$60K
Ticket & Participation Subsidy Grant Arts Council of Fairfax County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Grant program providing support for arts organizations to offer complimentary performance tickets and free workshops for economically disadvantaged and underserved community groups.	Not published	Varies
National Queer Arts Festival (NQAF) Support QCC The Center for Lesbian Gay Bisexual · Foundation Not published · Varies The NQAF is QCC's flagship annual festival celebrating LGBTQ arts and culture. While not a traditional grant, QCC provides various support opportunities for artists presenting at or participating in NQAF.	Not published	Varies
New Orleans as Cultural Capital Grant - Level 3 Funding Arts Council of New Orleans · Foundation Not published · $14K The New Orleans as Cultural Capital Grant provides vital funding for nonprofit arts organizations in various disciplines including dance, music, and visual arts.	Not published	$14K
Venturous Capital Grants Venturous Theater Fund · Foundation Not published · $5K – $35K The Venturous Capital Grants aim to empower small and medium-sized not-for-profit theaters to produce bold and experimental new plays. Grants range from $5,000 to $35,000, covering extraordinary costs that enable productions to thrive.	Not published	$5K – $35K
Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation Grant Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation Grant aims to enhance the cultural life of Lenawee County, Michigan by supporting music and performing arts programs.	Not published	Varies
South Arts Presentation Grants South Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: This grant program is currently on pause.	Not published	Varies
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center University of Maryland, College Park · State Not published · Varies The Clarice is a performing arts complex on the campus of the University of Maryland College Park.	Not published	Varies
ComEd Powering the Arts Program Grant League Of Chicago Theatres · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The League of Chicago Theatres was founded in 1979 by a small group of theaters formerly known as the Off Loop Producers Association.	Not published	Up to $20K
DGF National Fellows Program The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A nine-month intensive program designed to augment the training of American writers early in their careers and enhance community among playwrights and musical theater writers.	Not published	Varies
Bohemian Foundation: Music Event Fund Grant Bohemian Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $3K The Bohemian Foundation's Music Event Fund offers grants up to $2,500 to nonprofit organizations hosting live music events in Larimer and Weld counties.	Not published	$500 – $3K
AE Foundation: Theatre Grant Actors' Equity Foundation · Foundation Not published · $250 – $1K The Actors' Equity Foundation, established in 1962, is dedicated to supporting the professional theatre community through grants.	Not published	$250 – $1K
Grants Accelerator Program (GAP) World Arts West · Foundation Not published · $5K – $50K Addresses historical inequities in private philanthropy and government funding sector. Provides tailored grant writing support to cultural dance companies.	Not published	$5K – $50K
City of Berkeley: Community Festivals Grant City of Berkeley · State Not published · Up to $7K The City of Berkeley's Community Festivals Grant supports diverse cultural events that engage the community and enhance Berkeley's reputation as a vibrant destination.	Not published	Up to $7K
Culture Connects Cambridge Cambridge Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Arts and culture grant program supporting cultural partnerships and programming. Announced in October 2025.	Not published	Varies
Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund Grant Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in the greater Kansas City area, aimed at enhancing local music and cultural experiences.	Not published	Up to $5K
Programming Grants for Arts Organizations [formerly Presenter/Production Assistance Grants] Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K The Programming Grants for Arts Organizations, previously known as Presenter/Production Assistance Grants, provide funding to nonprofit organizations and artists in Southeastern Minnesota.	Not published	$5K
Minnesota State Arts Board - Grants for Organizations Arts Board - State · State Not published · Varies The Arts Board offers ongoing grant programs for arts producers, presenters, service organizations, and schools. Humanities, Arts, Culture, Humanities, Visual Arts, Arts Services, Performing Arts, Museums	Not published	Varies
Herb Alpert Foundation Emerging Young Artists Scholarships California State Summer School Arts Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $40K The CSSSA Foundation is the exclusive partner of the Herb Alpert Foundation Scholarships for Emerging Young Artists, a major funding program for college-level artists.	Not published	$3K – $40K
Nesholm Family Foundation Grant - Performing Arts Nesholm Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $300K The Nesholm Family Foundation Grant supports performing arts initiatives in Seattle, emphasizing programs that enhance accessibility, professional standards, and community engagement.	Not published	Up to $300K
Herzfeld Foundation: Arts Awareness Grant Richard and Ethel Herzfeld · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Herzfeld Foundation's Arts Awareness Grant aims to enhance awareness of visual and performing arts in metro Milwaukee. Grants, up to $100,000, support strategies that expand or innovate coverage of the arts through various media.	Not published	Up to $100K
ArtsCONNECT Grants Mid Atlantic Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: The last day to submit to Projects in Development listing is the 'pre proposal' deadline above.	Not published	Varies
Culture Program: The Joyce Awards The Joyce Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: The Joyce Awards will be paused for the 2025 cycle.	Not published	Varies
Arts Fund (AF) The Bronx Council on the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K Arts Fund (AF) develops Bronx artists and small arts organizations through its support of high-quality arts projects that engage Bronx audiences in a diverse array of artistic works in all disciplines, genres, and styles.	Not published	$1K – $5K

Showing 169–192 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 25, 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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