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Shakespeare in American Communities

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.

 

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Eight people stand in a semicircle at the top of a stage, with their hands in the air and smiles on their faces. Behind them, there's a stage where people are performing with musical instruments and also have their hands in the air. The stage is set up with fake trees, grass, logs, and painted flowers, and there's confetti falling from the sky; all creating a Spring like vision.
Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow

About Shakespeare in American Communities

Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. It offers three grant opportunities for eligible nonprofit theater organizations:

  • Schools Program: Supports Shakespeare-related performances and educational activities for middle and high school students. Matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.
  • Juvenile Justice Program: Brings Shakespeare-related theater experiences to juvenile justice facilities. Non-matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.
  • NEW: Apprenticeship Program: Provides paid apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals in administrative and technical roles. The programming that apprentices support does NOT have to be Shakespeare related. Matching grants range from $20,000-$30,000.

Since its inception, Shakespeare in American Communities has reached thousands of communities in all 50 states. In that time, more than 140 participating theaters have provided 16,000 performances and 60,000 educational activities.

Starting this year, applicants must choose one grant opportunity—Schools, Juvenile Justice, or Apprenticeships. Applicants can explore which grant opportunity might be the best fit for them using our eligibility quiz.

Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle are now open.

Take an Eligibility Quiz

Curious which Shakespeare in American Communities grant is the best fit for your organization? Take a short eligibility quiz to find out!

Learn More

Actors on stage in character
Photo Credit: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Shakespeare in American Communities: Schools

This opportunity is open to 501c3 professional theater companies that have at least two years of experience providing professional theater performances and educational activities to middle and/or high schools.

Matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.

Learn More + Apply

A crowd of students sitting on bleachers in a gymnasium watch a performance happening on the gym floor.
Photo Credit: Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

Shakespeare in American Communities: Juvenile Justice

This opportunity is open to 501c3 theater companies or organizations that have at least two years of experience partnering with the juvenile justice system to provide theater education programs.

Non-matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.

Learn More + Apply

In a classroom setting, a person wearing a protective cloth mask is leaning down and talking to a younger person who is holding sheets of loose leaf paper covered in writing.
Photo Credit: Esme Wu

Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships

This opportunity is open to 501c3 companies or organizations that have at least two years of experience providing community-based, cross-sector theater activities. This programming does NOT have to be Shakespeare related.

Matching grants range from $20,000-$30,000.

Learn More + Apply

Two actors, one in a fox mask, stand on a stage in front of audience members.
Photo Credit: Matthew Dunivan Photography, courtesy of Apocalyptic Artists Ensemble

Resources

 

Accessibility Resources

Crediting and Visibility

Research and Evaluation

#artsmidwestshakespeare: Tag the program in social media posts. 

We will not require that you use the Shakespeare in American Communities logo in your marketing materials. However, if you’d like to use it (in addition to the required NEA / Arts Midwest logo lockup), you can download it here:

Who can apply for a Shakespeare in American Communities grant?
501c3 non-profit professional theater companies located in the U.S. or the Native Nations that share this geography that have a minimum of two years’ experience providing professional performances and related educational activities to middle and/or high schools; two years of experience partnering with the juvenile justice system to provide theater education programs; and/or two years of experience providing community-based, cross-sector theater activities, depending on the program track that you’re applying for. Applicants can explore which grant opportunity might be the best fit for them using our eligibility quiz.

What do organizations receive if they are selected to participate in Shakespeare in American Communities?
Selected organizations receive grants ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 to support their Shakespeare in American Communities programming.

Can we apply for multiple tracks (for instance, Schools and Juvenile Justice)?
No. Starting this year, applicants must choose one grant opportunity—Schools, Juvenile Justice, or Apprenticeships. Applicants can explore which grant opportunity might be the best fit for them using our eligibility quiz.

Is there a matching requirement?
For the Schools and Apprenticeships tracks, applicants will be required to demonstrate matching funds on a 1:1 basis for their requested grant amount. (For example, if an applicant requests a $15,000 Shakespeare grant, the total project budget must be at least $30,000.) Federal funds cannot be used as a match. Juvenile Justice track grantees do not have a match requirement.

Is the Intent to Apply required?
Yes. The Intent to Apply is due January 30, 2025.

Shakespeare in American Communities is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. 

Our Partners

Shakespeare in American Communities Stories + Updates

Have questions about Shakespeare in American Communities?

We’re happy to answer any questions you have about Shakespeare in American Communities. If you’d like to talk to us we’re just an email or a phone call away. 

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