The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative: Classroom Resources Grants

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative: Classroom Resources Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Theatre Wing Inc
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: April 04, 2026

Summary

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative offers Classroom Resources Grants aimed at enhancing theatre education in under-resourced public schools. Funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the initiative provides essential resources, scholarships, and grants to foster artistic growth. By supporting diverse students and schools, this program opens pathways to careers in theatre, ensuring all young people have access to quality arts education, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of America.

Overview

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative The Andrew Lloyd Webber initiative provides students at all levels with enhanced theatre education to initiate meaningful relationships with theatre in childhood and open doors for pursuing theatre as children become young adults. By fostering lifelong engagement with theatre through educational avenues, we provide diverse young people across the nation newfound access to industry success. The initiative is how we rebuild the established path to working in the theatre industry. We reach students across the nation at an early age to make theatre transcend background, creating access to industry opportunities for all who seek them. The initiative provides classroom grants to create or enhance theatre programs in our nation’s under-resourced schools. Scholarships for afterschool and summer training programs, and tuition support for students pursuing theatre in higher education, provide support on the individual level to students determined to make a career in theatre. The initiative expands The Wing’s legacy commitment to education and diversity. We expose diverse people and places to theatre, using performing arts education to give every student the opportunity to play a role in the American theatre. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation funds the initiative with an influential 1.3 million dollar three-year grant. The project is an extension of the work Webber, a multi-Tony Award winning composer-producer, is doing to promote and fund arts education through the foundation in the UK. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative encompasses three components to bring students everywhere theatre education at every level: Classroom Resources: Providing grant funding directly to under-resourced public schools to provide instruments, dance floors, lighting grids, and other necessary materials to create new, and enhance existing, in-school theatre programs. Training Scholarships: Funding goes towards covering the costs associated with sending select students to afterschool and summer training programs. 4-Year University Scholarships: Financial support is provided to select students pursuing theatre studies at the University level. Classroom Resources Grants With the generous support of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the American Theatre Wing is investing in public schools to help drama teachers get more of the resources they need to provide quality theatre instruction in their schools. Through this grant-giving program, funding will be provided directly to under-resourced public schools for equipment, instruments, and other necessary materials to create new opportunities and enhance existing theatre programs.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Any individual public K-12 school OR a non-profit parent group associated with that public K-12 school.Parent groups (Parent Teacher Associations, etc.) may apply but must have an independent EIN and official 501c(3) status from the IRS. If your group does not have a 501c(3) status, please apply through your school. However, the PTA can still be the point of contact for a proposal.Teachers can apply directly for resources they need to build and enhance their program in order to best nurture young talent in their schools. This can be musical instruments, lighting equipment, sound equipment, or costumes, to name a few examples.Grant funding can be used for: Essential resources and equipment fundamental to arts education, specifically focused on enhancing learning in the area of theatre. This can include: Purchase of production equipment (audio, lights, shop tools, etc.) and professional installation costs. Production supply costs associated with the presentation of plays, musicals, and other theatrical performances including, but not limited to, costumes and material, lighting supplies, and scenery/scenic supplies. Musical Instruments Licensing fees Costs associated with artistic consultants to leverage equipment and/or resources. This could include artistic residencies, mentorship, and technical consultants.

Ineligibility

Private/parochial schools, school districts, home schools, and pre-schools are not eligible.Funding may not be used for:Capital costs of the theatre and/or school (i.e. auditorium renovations, structural building enhancements, etc.) Individuals and families (including scholarships--please see our other program initiatives) Religious denomination-sponsored programs or events (holiday pageants, etc.) Sponsorship of fundraising events (i.e. dinners, walks, golf tournaments, and auctions) Advertising or marketing Sports teams or athletic events (parade floats, etc.) Development or production of books, films, videos or television programs Endowment campaigns or scholarship campaigns Continuing education for teachers and staff Institutional overhead and/or indirect cost (i.e. salaries, benefits, etc.) Memorial campaigns Multi-year requests