Florida Studio Theatre Receives $10,000 Grant to Support WRITE A PLAY Program
The Manatee Community Foundation gift funds the Sarasota theater's 35-year-old youth arts education initiative
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has received a $10,000 grant from the Manatee Community Foundation to support its 2026-2027 WRITE A PLAY program, a year-round arts education initiative that empowers students to create and share their own original stories.
For more than 35 years, WRITE A PLAY has inspired young people to explore their creativity through theatre. The program reaches more than 30,000 students annually across Florida, as well as nationally and internationally, guiding participants through every step of the playwriting process. From in-school workshops led by professional teaching artists to live performances at FST's Keating Theatre, students gain the tools and confidence to transform their ideas into fully realized scripts.
Since its launch in 1991, WRITE A PLAY has served more than one million students, with a strong focus on Title I and underserved schools. For many participants, the program provides their first experience with live theatre as both audience members and as creators.
Through classroom residencies and interactive performances, FST's Playmakers introduce students to storytelling, character development, and dramatic structure. Each year, thousands of students submit original plays to the Young Playwrights Festival. A select group of winners is chosen for professional production at FST, where their work is brought to life onstage by professional actors for live audiences.
“Every child comes into the world wired for imagination and meaning making. What they often need is not permission, but practice,” explains Caroline Saldivar, FST's Director of Children's Theatre. “Our work is about offering children the tools to move their ideas from their minds to the page, and the courage to believe in their own unique creative selves. We believe firmly that children in our community should have access to high quality arts programs, including FST's WRITE A PLAY program, regardless of their financial circumstances. We are deeply grateful to the Manatee Community Foundation for sharing this belief. Because of their partnership, students across Manatee County Schools are being seen, supported, and invited to step fully into their creative selves.”
The program's impact is felt not only by students, but also by educators who see firsthand how the arts enhance learning.
“We appreciate you all coming out to our schools,” said Tina Peters, a third-grade teacher at McNeal Elementary. “It gets harder and harder to adapt and find fun learning experiences for our students. The fact that we don't have to leave the school makes it so much better!”
With support from the Manatee Community Foundation, FST will continue expanding access to arts education, ensuring more students have the opportunity to develop their voices, share their stories, and experience the transformative power of theatre.
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