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WHO WE ARE
The TYA Tour Development Collective began with nine performing arts venues that said yes to investing in new work for youth and family audiences, and did so to the tune of $74,000 in 2025. The 2026 Collective consists of 21 venues from 16 states across the county that believe in supporting artists and audiences in innovative and tangible ways.
WHAT WE SUPPORT
The Collective funds projects that:
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Have already taken first steps (script readings, workshops, or local productions)
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Have not yet toured nationally, but intend to tour in the 2028-2029 season
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Are created by U.S.-based artists or companies
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Are suitable for both family and school audiences, and adaptable to a range of venue sizes
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Include original works or adaptations (with rights secured), and may have strong educational components
Selected artists receive support to further develop their production in the following season according to their needs—whether that means design work, rehearsal expenses, music recording, set fabrication, creating educational and promotional materials, etc.
Artists/companies may be self-represented or represented by an agent.
For this third funding cycle, the goal is for the venue Collective Members to select 3 to 6 projects to each receive a total of $10,000 - $30,000 of support. However, the number of projects and amount of support will ultimately depend on the Collective Members.
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Artists/companies that previously applied but did not receive commissioning dollars may apply again with the same or different project. Artists that previously received commissioning dollars may apply again with a different project.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
We’re gearing up for our third funding cycle—and we’re looking for new Collective Members and applicants to join us.​
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Key Dates:
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Venues Join By: November 2, 2026
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Artist Applications Open: December 1, 2026
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Deadline to Apply: February 1, 2027
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Late March 2027: Finalists selected by and invited to pitch virtually in April 2027
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Learn more about the TYA Touring Development Collective during one of two Zoom meetings this fall. Venue partners will share their experiences and the steering team will answer questions.
2026 meeting dates to be announced.
For venues: Video of September 30 , 2025 info session
For artists and agents: Video of December 4, 2025 info session
WHY JOIN THE COLLECTIVE?
​​For Presenters:
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Directly support work you want to bring to your stage
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Get booking priority for funded projects
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Be credited as a Development Partner for the life of the project
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Help create meaningful change by investing collaboratively in the future of TYA touring
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For Artists:
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Receive targeted funding to push your project forward
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Gain visibility and build relationships with presenting organizations
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Get valuable feedback throughout the process
LET'S CHANGE THE GAME!
"I truly think the TYA Tour Development Collective is such a bright spot in a dark time for the industry. I was just sharing about the collective at the Bibu Festival in Sweden. The idea of presenting venues getting involved in the front end lift of creating new TYA work was a revelation over there. At a time when the funding for their producing companies may be shrinking (sadly) it struck me that there is a global hunger for new models and pathways.
I hope we can all tell our individual stories but I am realizing the story of a Collective that has more than doubled in size and amount of funding in only one year is also such an important one to tell as well. The investment in the production phases of new projects, where frankly the costs and needs are much greater than in a commissioning/reading phase is to me an important part of that story. These are real dollars invested in real projects at a strategic moment of need, identified by the producing entities. The specificity of the funding makes the program unique, useful and a little radical."
-Eric Johnson
Artistic Director, Honolulu Theatre for Youth