Thespian Relief Fund

School theatre programs use box office proceeds to fund their next year’s shows. With schools closed and spring shows canceled, many school theatre programs are at risk of failing. Plus, with the massive cuts anticipated in state education budgets, arts and theatre programs will be at even greater risk.

These grants will be awarded to schools in most need, including Title 1 schools with significant student enrollments of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well rural and small schools with few or no support resources.

The ETF Thespian Relief program will offer two types of grants to help school theatre programs:

• $500 grants for schools to start or renew a Thespian Troupe and cover lifetime fees for 10 students. A Thespian troupe is a group of students who have earned induction into the honor society for middle or high school theatre students—the  International Thespian Society,  which was established in 1929 and has 2.4 million members.
• $1,000 grants will assist school theatre programs that, because of COVID-19, have been negatively impacted by cancellation of events or loss of projected revenue. Grant funds may be used for purchase of equipment, costumes, lights, show rights and help with any other issues related to getting a school theatre program up and running again.

Schools may apply for one or both of these grants.