Mississippi Theatre Association is excited to offer a Waymaker Grant!

As part of MTA’s access & opportunities initiative, the Waymaker Grant provides MTA membership, including full MTA Festival passes, for up to twelve (12) theatre-makers with diverse talents and backgrounds who meet qualifying criteria.

Waymakers are creative theatre artists and/or students who are finding new ways to make theatre and those leading in their community’s theatre work or education.

If you are interested in this opportunity, review the Waymaker Grant qualifying criteria below and submit this application starting October 22nd, 2025. Grant recipients will be chosen and notified by November 29, 2025. MTA Festival registration is due by December 18, 2025. 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Executive Director Lindsey Eubanks at execdir@mississippitheatre.org

Thank you,

Lindsey Eubanks

Executive Director

Waymaker Grant Qualifying Criteria

Grant recipients must:

• Be residents of Mississippi
• Have not attended the MTA State Festival within the past five years
• Currently participate in theatrical work: professional, community, and/or educational (6th-12th grade students/programs, college/university students).
• Belong to one or more of the following historically marginalized groups:
  • racial and/or ethnic minority
  • disabled (including programs focused on special education)
  • living at or below the Federal Poverty Level

 *One teacher or chaperone should apply for this grant on behalf of qualifying organizations and their students. (The teacher/chaperone does not have to meet qualifying criteria.)

 

Grant recipients will be asked to:

• Complete a short post-festival survey about their festival experience.
• Provide photos of their festival experience.