SARTA Awards Four Microgrants to Local and Regional Theatres

SARTA has awarded four community theatres with Microgrants to celebrate Big Day of Giving! To kick-off 2026 Big Day of Giving, SARTA has awarded a total of $1,000 in microgrants to four local theatre groups: Empire Arts Collective Dba Spectrum Stage, Golden State Performing Arts, Placer Theatre Company, and Rise Up Theatre. SARTA created the Microgrant award in 2024, to encourage small local and regional theatres and individuals to produce new works. The microgrant process includes an application form and detailed budget which then goes to a four-person committee for review. The committee recommends the award amounts to the SARTA board for final review and approval.

This spring we received four qualified applications for Microgrant review which was extremely exciting! Empire Arts Collective Dba Spectrum Stage will be producing a staged reading of Artemesia & Hildegard: An Exorcism in One Act. Golden State Performing Arts will be holding a Sing-Dance-Act workshop this summer. Placer Community Theatre just completed a successful run of (title not provided) and Rise Up Theatre Company will be opening the musical (title not provided) in June!

There is a need for financial assistance with community theatre start-ups as well as those that continue to produce shows at a loss. SARTA is hoping to increase the award amounts to a minimum of $500 per awardee and hopes that the upcoming Big Day of Giving, on May 7, will help increase the funds for this important program. A donation of $10 or more can be made at www.sarta.com/bigdayofgiving.org/organization/SARTA