Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships Grant

The Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships program by Arts Midwest offers grants of up to $30,000 to support paid apprenticeships for emerging theater professionals across the U.S. This initiative aims to enhance community-based theater activities, providing essential on-the-job training for early-career administrators and technicians, while fostering engagement with Shakespeare's works. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply, ensuring diverse representation and opportunities in the arts.

NOTE: An intent to apply is an initial step in the application process that confirms your organization’s eligibility for Shakespeare in American Communities. See Letter of Inquiry Deadline above. This step should only take 10-15 minutes. It is required in order to submit a full application.
Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Shakespeare in American Communities provides grants of up to $30,000 that connect young people across the country to Shakespeare’s plays. Grants support performances and workshops in schools and in the justice system, and apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals.
Through grants to non-profit theater organizations, this program supports paid apprenticeships for early administrators and technicians throughout the United States.
The goals of this program are to:
Support theater companies in hiring emerging theater professionals and administrators to gain on-the-job experience in the industry. Support theater companies that are providing cross-sector theater related activities in their communities.
The programming that apprentices support does NOT have to be Shakespeare related.
Grants of $20,000 – $30,000 will be awarded.
Project Requirements
Each Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeship project must meet these requirements:
Support paid apprenticeships for early theater administrators and technicians These individuals must be compensated fairly and should gain valuable experience working with other professionals in the field. Apprentices can be part-time or full time. Roles that are eligible for the apprenticeship include: theater technicians, set designers, assistant directors, operations staff, human resources staff, communications and marketing staff.  The apprentice should be employed by the theater for a minimum of six months during specified time frame.  If an apprentice leaves their role before six months have been completed, the organization should hire a new apprentice to fulfill the role.  These funds may support a new or existing apprenticeship program. The apprentice should have opportunities to support and learn from the company’s work in community-based theater. Participate in virtual and in-person convenings with other grantees Arts Midwest will host several virtual, and one in-person, networking and professional development convenings for Shakespeare in American Communities grantees. Travel, lodging, and limited food costs for one company representative will be covered by Arts Midwest for the in-person convening at the end of the grant cycle.

Eligibility

Arts Midwest welcomes applications from all eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and organizations with small, medium or large operating budgets.Shakespeare in American Communities welcomes applications from 501c3 non-profit theater companies located in the U.S. or the Native Nations that share this geography and: Have a minimum of two years’ experience providing community-based, cross-sector theater related activities. Examples include, but are not limited to, theater programs that work with or perform for people experiencing housing insecurity, people in hospital settings or senior centers, and more. Apprentices would support and learn from these partnershipsDo not have overdue reports or funding moratoria with Arts Midwest. Have an UEI [Unique Entity ID] number from SAM.gov by late April after the deadline in order to receive grant funds.Can comply with Federal eligibility requirements.Match RequirementRequires a cash cost-share from the applicant equal to or greater than the grant request.   Organizations may submit an application for only ONE Shakespeare in American Communities grant opportunity: Schools, Juvenile Justice, or Apprenticeships.Eligible ExpensesExamples include:Artistic fees for actors, directors, designers, choreographers, etc.Production costs of props, costumes, set, etc.Travel costs associated with touring productions or artist travelA prorated portion of staff salariesPrinting and marketing expensesOther direct costs associated with the production and educational programming

Ineligibility

Roles that are ineligible include: actors writersdevelopment staffUnallowable costs include, but are not limited to:Refreshments, concessions, food, and alcoholFellowships or cash prizesPayment for facilities, purchase of capital equipment, or non-project related administrative expenses.Overlapping project costs between federal awards, whether received directly from a federal agency or indirectly, such as through a state agency or other entity.  Entertainment costs, such as opening parties, receptions, or fundraisers designed to raise funds for your own organization and on behalf of another person, organization, or cause.Programs restricted to any organization’s membership; programs must be promoted and available to the general public.