NEA Report Explores Nonprofit Theaters Struggles and Innovations [Video]

The nonprofit theater sector has long been a cornerstone of arts and culture in the United States, but it faces unprecedented challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting societal trends. A new report from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), titled Defying Gravity: Conversations with Leaders from Nonprofit Theater, offers a detailed look at the obstacles and innovations that define the current state of the field. The report is based on insights gathered from 12 listening sessions with theater professionals, union leaders, arts journalists, and other stakeholders across the country.

Financial struggles emerged as a dominant theme throughout the listening sessions. Participants cited growing labor and material costs, donor fatigue, and the decline of traditional subscription models as key pain points. Many theaters are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain operations, let alone plan for the future. “Without funding, none of the other priorities are viable,” one participant stated. The report notes that while some theaters …