Open — Phase 1 due January 12, 2027. Official guidance has a conflicting lower award request threshold ($5,000 vs $15,000).
Verified October 29, 2026 — Arts Midwest 2027–2028 program page and complete 11-page application guidelines reviewed; lower-bound award discrepancy identified.
Arts Midwest / National Endowment for the Arts
2027–2028 National Endowment for the Arts Big Read: Arts Midwest administers this national, federally funded financial-assistance competition supporting community-wide literary reading and arts programs. The 2027–2028 theme is Read Like a Champion: Celebrating Great American Sports Stories, with projects built around a selected book from the official list of 18 titles. The program welcomes eligible […]
Required next actionReview 2027–2028 official Big Read guidelines and selected-book list, obtain UEI and nonfederal 1:1 matching commitments, confirm library/community partnerships, register with Arts Midwest SmartSimple, submit eligibility review Jan 12 and full proposal Jan 26, both by noon Central. Request written Arts Midwest clarification if seeking less than $15,000.
Open — Phase 1 due January 26, 2027 at 12:00 noon Central Time; Phase 2 due February 9, 2027 at 12:00 noon Central Time.
Verified October 29, 2026 — Official Arts Midwest 2027–2028 program page, track-specific guidelines PDF, eligibility, awards, dates, project restrictions and application stages reviewed.
Arts Midwest / National Endowment for the Arts
Shakespeare in American Communities: Schools (2027–2028). Arts Midwest administers this National Endowment for the Arts-funded, applicant-facing grant competition supporting professional Shakespeare-related productions and meaningful theater education for middle-school and high-school students, including underserved school audiences. This is charitable financial assistance, not an ordinary government procurement contract. Individual applicant grant: $15,000 to $50,000. Matching: one-to-one nonfederal […]
Required next actionVerify 501(c)(3) theater eligibility and required prior experience; obtain UEI, read SCHOOLS track guideline, prepare financial audit and compliance responses, apply on Arts Midwest SmartSimple by January 26, 2027 at noon Central for Phase 1 and February 9, 2027 at noon Central for Phase 2. Apply for only one Shakespeare track.
Open — Phase 1 due January 26, 2027 at 12:00 noon Central Time; Phase 2 due February 9, 2027 at 12:00 noon Central Time.
Verified October 29, 2026 — Official Arts Midwest 2027–2028 program page, track-specific guidelines PDF, eligibility, awards, dates, project restrictions and application stages reviewed.
Arts Midwest / National Endowment for the Arts
Shakespeare in American Communities: Juvenile Justice (2027–2028). Arts Midwest administers this National Endowment for the Arts-funded, applicant-facing grant competition supporting Shakespeare-related theater education for youth in juvenile justice settings through established theater-company partnerships. This is charitable financial assistance, not an ordinary government procurement contract. Individual applicant grant: $15,000 to $50,000. Matching: NO matching contribution is […]
Required next actionVerify 501(c)(3) theater eligibility and required prior experience; obtain UEI, read JUVENILE-JUSTICE track guideline, prepare financial audit and compliance responses, apply on Arts Midwest SmartSimple by January 26, 2027 at noon Central for Phase 1 and February 9, 2027 at noon Central for Phase 2. Apply for only one Shakespeare track.
Open — Phase 1 due January 26, 2027 at 12:00 noon Central Time; Phase 2 due February 9, 2027 at 12:00 noon Central Time.
Verified October 29, 2026 — Official Arts Midwest 2027–2028 program page, track-specific guidelines PDF, eligibility, awards, dates, project restrictions and application stages reviewed.
Arts Midwest / National Endowment for the Arts
Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships (2027–2028). Arts Midwest administers this National Endowment for the Arts-funded, applicant-facing grant competition supporting paid apprenticeships developing early-career theater administrators and technicians in nonprofit theater companies undertaking community-based cross-sector work. This is charitable financial assistance, not an ordinary government procurement contract. Individual applicant grant: $15,000 to $50,000. Matching: one-to-one nonfederal […]
Required next actionVerify 501(c)(3) theater eligibility and required prior experience; obtain UEI, read APPRENTICESHIPS track guideline, prepare financial audit and compliance responses, apply on Arts Midwest SmartSimple by January 26, 2027 at noon Central for Phase 1 and February 9, 2027 at noon Central for Phase 2. Apply for only one Shakespeare track.
