The Shakespeare in American Communities: Schools program offers grants ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 to professional 501(c)(3) theater companies for high-quality performances and educational activities aimed at middle and high school students. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and managed by Arts Midwest, these grants require a one-to-one non-federal funding match and support programming between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026.

Eligible applicants are U.S.-based nonprofit professional theater companies with at least two years of experience in performances and educational programming for schools. Applicants must meet federal eligibility requirements, hold a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov by April 2025, and have no overdue reports or funding restrictions with Arts Midwest. Theater companies may only apply to one Shakespeare in American Communities grant category—Schools, Juvenile Justice, or Apprenticeships.

Funded projects must include performances of Shakespeare’s works or adaptations featuring professional actors paid at prevailing rates. Educational components should explore Shakespeare’s work in a modern context and involve activities like workshops, discussions, or residencies, led by qualified teaching artists or educators. Programs must reach at least five underserved school communities and include both performances and interactive educational activities.

Applicants must submit an Intent to Apply by January 30, 2025, and a full application by February 13, 2025, via the SmartSimple online portal. Applications must include a summary of project activities, a detailed project budget, and answers to narrative questions about artistic programming, audience engagement, project planning, and resource management. A preliminary activity listing is required 30 days before project start, and a final report is due 30 days after completion.

Arts Midwest evaluates applications based on artistic excellence, audience engagement, planning, and resource management. Notifications of awards will be sent in May 2025, with a required in-person grantee convening in Minnesota in the summer of 2026. Grantees must maintain accessible programming, adhere to federal civil rights requirements, and submit detailed project documentation.

For assistance, applicants can attend virtual office hours or email Arts Midwest at grants@artsmidwest.org. Additional guidelines, sample applications, and accessibility resources are available to support prospective applicants in preparing their proposals.