Shakespeare in American Communities Grant

Shakespeare in American Communities Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Arts Midwest
Amount: US $15,000 - US $30,000
Last Updated: December 19, 2025

Summary

The Shakespeare in American Communities Grant, funded by Arts Midwest, supports professional theater companies in the U.S. to produce Shakespeare's works and conduct educational activities. This initiative aims to engage middle and high school students, particularly from underserved communities, through performances and interactive workshops. Eligible applicants must demonstrate experience in theater education and comply with federal regulations. The program emphasizes accessibility, aiming to enrich students' understanding of Shakespeare's relevance in contemporary society.

Overview

Shakespeare in American Communities Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Through grants to theater companies that produce Shakespeare’s works, this program supports high-quality productions and educational activities in middle schools, high schools, and juvenile justice facilities throughout the United States. The program has two opportunities available for eligible applicants. Schools Program: Project Requirements Perform a professional production of a play by Shakespeare; an adaptation of Shakespeare’s text; or a production that incorporates scenes, monologues, and/or sonnets by Shakespeare.All productions should offer students the opportunity to view Shakespeare’s text in performance.The actors in the production must be professionals, paid at no less than the prevailing minimum compensation. (This requirement is in accordance with the regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor in part 505 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.) It is not required that actors be part of an Actors’ Equity contract.Performances may be held in a theater company’s facility, a school, a community venue, or virtually.Conduct related educational activities with students that further explore and address Shakespeare’s work in modern context.Activities must be led by experienced teaching artists, educators, or actors with strong credentials and training.Examples include workshops, pre- or post-performance discussions/talkbacks, curriculum-based residencies, or other activities that offer interaction between students and teaching artists or actors. Study guides do not qualify as an activity.Activities must be related to the production being performed for students.Virtual and/or pre-recorded activities are eligible as long as students have the opportunity to interact live and in real-time with teaching artists in some capacity. Reach five or more middle and/or high schools with a performance and related educational activities.Activities must be facilitated in partnership with middle and high schools, rather than through summer camps, performing arts centers, universities, or other.The majority of schools must educate students from underserved communities. Factors include but are not limited to:Title 1 eligibility National School Lunch Program statistics Geographic location (rural or urban areas) Juvenile Justice Program: Project Requirements Conduct educational theater programming that explores and illuminates Shakespeare’s text, addressing his work in modern context through frequent contact over a significant number of visits.Examples of activities may include workshops, discussions, seminars, and residencies. Activities may be in-person, socially distanced, or virtual.Partner with at least one facility to reach youth in the juvenile justice system.Examples of eligible facilities include detention centers, correctional facilities, court-appointed programs, treatment centers, transition centers, group homes, or educational schools/programs specifically for juvenile offenders or incarcerated youth. Juvenile offenders are defined as youth (age 17 or younger) who have been found guilty of committing a delinquent act.Engage a minimum of two teaching artists, staff, or personnel in theater education programming.Activities must be be led by experienced teaching artists, staff, or personnel with strong credentials and experience working within the justice system. Teaching artists will be required to complete a survey at the conclusion of the programming to evaluate the impact on youth.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must:Be a 501c3 nonprofit, professional theater company located in the U.S. and the Native nations that share this geography. Schools Program:Have a minimum of two years’ experience providing professional performances and related educational activities to middle and/or high schools.Juvenile Justice ProgramHave a minimum of two years’ experience partnering with the justice system to provide theater education programs.Compensate all professional personnel at no less than the prevailing minimum compensation. (This requirement is in accordance with the regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor in part 505 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.)Comply with Federal eligibility requirements.Schools Program:Applicants will be required to demonstrate matching funds on a 1:1 basis for their requested grant amount.A theater company who is eligible for the Schools program may submit an application for the Juvenile Justice program if they meet the requirements. There must be no overlapping programming or costs between the applications and budgets.

Ineligibility

A theater company may not receive a Shakespeare in American Communities grant award and a direct grant from the National Endowment for the Arts or another Federal agency for the same project during the same or an overlapping period of support.Schools Program: Community theaters and University or College Departments of Theater are not considered a professional theater company for the purpose of this program do not meet the requirements to apply.