CTFA Aurand Harris Theatre Grant 2024

Mission of the Childrens Theatre Foundation of America is to challenge and support theatre artists to achieve excellence in service to young people.

Currently, a major priority of CTFA is supporting theater for youth which clearly recognizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, that is important to the future of TYA.

Funding Information

• Award Amount: $2,000 – $3,000
• Proposed projects should take place between July 1, 2024 and August 15, 2025.

Harris Grants Can Fund

• Theatre or Collaboration
  • People: Fees for playwrights, directors, designers, education directors, teaching artists, anti-racism consultants and trainers.
  • Equipment: Payment for light boards, sound equipment, curtains, lights, media tools, that will be used to allow companies and artists who might not otherwise be able to afford these resources to more effectively reach their audiences and to improve the quality of their work.
  • Travel: Costs to bring collaborative teams together including, touring, travel to conferences or festivals and anti-racism training opportunities.
• Individual Artist
  • A development plan designed to build personal growth in theatre artistry, expand impact and awareness of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and develop increased career marketability.

Harris Grants will not Fund

• Theatre or Collaboration
  • general operating support such as funding for the regular and ordinary projects/programs that are part of the on-going work or season of the applicant
  • free ticket programs or ticket subsidies
  • projects that are already underway
  • projects that do not include a one-to-one match. In-kind salaries and services may be counted if they are earmarked for the specific project being proposed
  • activities undertaken for academic credit
  • projects that do not align with CTFA’s mission, values, and the 2024 anti-racism/equity grant focus
• Individual Artist
  • projects that are already underway
  • activities undertaken for academic credit
  • regular productions, teaching, writing or design work that are part of the typical projects, on-going work or season of the applicant artist
  • projects that do not align with CTFA’s mission, values, and the 2024 anti-racism/equity grant focus

Who may apply?

• 501c3 IRS certified nonprofit theatres in the United States, who have held that status for at least three consecutive years, possessing a public record of artistic work, with an annual operating budget of under a million dollars, and the ability to provide a one-to-one funding match. In-kind salaries and services may be considered for matching funds.
• Applicant theatres without their own non-profit status may apply under another organization’s 501c3 IRS certified nonprofit status if that organization is an active partner in the proposed project. This grant can also fund individual artist fellowship awards.

Selection Criteria

• Grant Evaluation Criteria: Grant applications will be evaluated on an applicant’s
  • anticipated impact within their community,
  • their ability to bring live theatre experiences to children and families, and
  • how their proposed project relates to CTFA’s mission, values, and the 2024 grant focus of addressing anti-racism/equity initiatives that directly move EDI practices forward in their organizational practices or in the creative programming of the applicant.

For more information, visit CTFA.