Shakespeare in American Communities
Shakespeare in American Communities supports nonprofit theaters with youth Shakespeare programming and paid apprenticeships to connect young people with artists and develop emerging theater professionals.
Funder: Arts Midwest
Due Dates: January 26, 2027, noon CT (Eligibility Review) | February 9, 2027, noon CT (Full Proposal) | January 21, 2027 (Accessibility requests recommended by)
Funding Amounts: $15,000–$50,000 per award for programming between August 1, 2027, and July 31, 2028
Summary: Supports nonprofit professional theaters offering Shakespeare-inspired youth programming or paid apprenticeships for emerging theater administrators and technicians.
Key Information: Organizations may apply to only one track per year and cannot apply through fiscal sponsorship.
Description
Shakespeare in American Communities is a National Endowment for the Arts theater program administered in partnership with Arts Midwest. It offers three grant tracks for nonprofit professional theater organizations across the United States, U.S. Territories, and Native Nations and communities sharing this geography. The Schools and Juvenile Justice tracks support theater education that explores Shakespeare’s work in modern contexts, connecting young people with professional artists through productions, workshops, discussions, and residencies.
The Apprenticeships track supports paid, on-the-job experience for early-career theater administrators and technicians within companies providing community-based, cross-sector theater activities. Programming supported by apprentices does not have to be Shakespeare-related. Across the tracks, grantees participate in virtual learning and an in-person convening to exchange ideas and learn from other theater organizations.
