Café Royal Performance Grant Summer 26: Up to $10,000 NYC

About the Grant

The Café Royal Performance Grant supports individual artists working in theatre, dance, and performance art in New York City. The Summer 2026 cycle offers funding of up to $10,000.00 for production costs and accepts only 40 applications in the performance category. The grant is designed for artists moving toward a public performance, with funds supporting eligible production expenses such as performers, collaborators, rehearsal space, venue rental, design elements, and technical staff.

What Is Offered

Up to $10,000.00 support for:

• Actors
• Assistant director fees
• Choreographer fees
• Costumes and costume designer fees
• Composer fees
• Creative team expenses
• Dancers and guest performers
• Lighting, sound, scenic, props, and set costs
• Rehearsal space, studio, theatre rental, and venue rental
• Production staff, stage manager, stage hands, and technical staff

Eligibility

This grant is for performer(s) of theatre, dance and performance art. Performer(s) applying must be a current United States Citizen or Resident Alien and a current resident of New York City. Applicants must have lived in New York City for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to remain a resident through the completion of the project. Applicants cannot apply for a group or an organization. The foundation makes grants to individual recipients, and the individual grantee is responsible for payments requested in the budget.

Important Details

• Where: New York City's five boroughs, or a location in close proximity to New York City that has been discussed and approved by Café Royal Cultural Foundation
• Performance Start Date: No sooner than November 01, 2026
• Performance Completion Window: No later than September 22, 2027
• Application Opens: June 2nd, 2026 at 9:00 am EDT
• Deadline: August 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 am ET, or earlier if 40 applications are received

Application Requirements

The application requires clarity around the performance, the people involved, the use of funds, and the timeline. Applicants may submit up to 5 video links of works or performances for review. If work samples for the proposed project are unavailable, applicants should describe the core ideas, narrative concept, design elements, and creative plans in detail. Applicants should prepare video links, a short project description, a short artistic biography, a budget that does not exceed $10,000.00, and a list of costs before the application cap is reached.

Additional Guidelines

• Grants awarded in this category do not fund costs associated with the creating or composition of new work.
• If the proposed performance is a play, it must be a full production. Readings will not qualify.