Applications are now open for 2025 National Theatre Company Grants! Please click HERE to start a submission. The deadline to submit is Friday, September 26th at 11:59PM ET.
The requirements for the grant are that it goes to a regional theatre, and that the funds are used towards an American playwright’s work. The eligibility structure is purposefully expansive, to encourage innovation and create space for theatres to tailor the grant to their specific needs. Examples of eligible projects include: co-productions of world premieres, national not-for-profit tours of new work, regional or local debuts of work, fresh approaches to audience development and community outreach around new work, and educational or low-cost ticket initiatives that introduce younger audiences to new work. Through this program, ATW looks to emphasize work which supports living American playwrights, but will also consider the presentation of authors who are no longer living, whose work remains unknown or under-presented in the national theatre canon.
Organizations must demonstrate their capacity to successfully support their project with appropriate staffing and financial resources to further build the program in the future.
GUIDELINES
- Theatre companies of all budget sizes are welcome to apply.
- Primary Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit theatre based outside NYC. However, partnerships with commercial entities, non-theatre organizations, and NY-based theatre organizations are welcome and encouraged.
- Funded projects must take place during the Fall 2026 and/or Spring 2027 season. If the recipient(s) follow a calendar year season, funded projects must take place starting January 2027.
- The theatres must demonstrate how projects will significantly advance program goals:
- To uplift and celebrate the central contributions of playwrights in advancing the art form, and to build new audiences for their work;
- To support regional theatre companies in the successful presentation of new work;
- To support and help drive new and innovative models for marketing, ticketing, and presenting new work as well as building and sustaining new audiences for that work which could serve as models for the whole industry
- To help the work of under-represented and unknown playwrights find an audience.
- The theatres must show evidence of consistent theatrical programming
- The theatres must demonstrate that artists are paid appropriately for their work
- The theatres must legally acquire rights to produce proposed production(s)
- The theatres must submit detailed budget demonstrating what funds will be used for
TIMELINE:
Tuesday, July 15, 2025: Applications are now open! Please click HERE to start a submission.
Friday, September 26th at 11:59PM ET: Applications Due
