Education Funding Opportunities

Why Fund Theatre Education?

At Park Square Education, theatre isn't just about performing on stage - it's a powerful engine for youth development, community connection, and personal growth.

The Power of Theatre Arts

  • Essential Life Skills: Theatre-making develops critical thinking, public speaking, empathy, and creative problem-solving.

  • Confidence & Expression: Students learn self-advocacy and gain the physical, vocal, and emotional tools to confidently communicate their needs and ideas.

  • Fostering Community: Collaboration teaches generosity, mutual respect, and how to share space and ideas with peers.

"It was kind of like a safe space for me. Especially when things got scary this winter. At Park Square, you can just have fun and not care about it in the moment." - Clara, Student

The Power of Pay-As-You’re-Able (PAYA)

Park Square Theatre has never turned a child away due to a family's inability to pay.

Impact

  • 85% of participating families utilize the Pay-As-You’re-Able program to access our camps, classes, and youth productions.

  • More than 8 out of 10 families rely on PAYA to participate in PST education programs.

What Families Are Saying

  • “The PAYA is an invaluable gift available for families!

    We are super grateful to have utilized the PAYA funds

    available so that our daughter could attend a few

    sessions this summer.”

  • "The ‘Pay As You’re Able’ pricing makes it easy for us to tell our friends about it, knowing that they can afford it."

  • “This program breaks down the financial barriers that can

    prevent children from experiencing the power of the arts

    in their community and in their hearts.”

Funding Levels

Fund a full year of pst education

  • Year-Round Programming & Camps: Funds year-long classes and summer camps serving over 2,500 youth.

  • Youth & Teen Production Intensives: Fully funds high-intensity performance opportunities, including 800 free tickets for audiences.

  • Tuition Assistance: Subsidizes Pay-As-You’re-Able pricing year-round, which allows families in need to enroll their children at an affordable price that works for them. The program is utilized by 85% of our families.

  • Professional Teaching Artists: Supports compensation and professional development for our talented teaching artists year-round.

$225,000

fund an entire summer of pst education

  • Summer Camp Operations: Directly funds summer camp programming for over 575+ students at Concordia University.

  • Professional Teaching Artists: Supports compensation and professional development for our talented summer teaching artists.

  • Tuition Assistance: Subsidizes Pay-As-You're-Able pricing for summer camps, which allows families in need to enroll their children at an affordable price that works for them. The program is utilized by 54.6% of our summer camp families.

$100,000

subsidize paya for all summer camps

  • Completely covers all Pay-As-You're-Able tuition subsidies across the entire Summer Camp season, guaranteeing that no student is turned away all summer long.

$60,000

fund the teen professional initiative

  • Professional-Level Training: Funds rigorous performance and technical theatre training programs through year-round intensives, productions, and special events.

  • Full-Scale Productions: Funds two fully produced theatrical productions with teens at the center.

  • Industry Mentorship: Funds guest artists and connects students directly with professional Twin Cities theatre artists.

  • Tuition Assistance: Subsidizes Pay-As-You're-Able pricing for TPI, which allows families in need to enroll their children at an affordable price that works for them. The program is utilized by 24% of our TPI families.

$30,000

Subsidize paya for a fall or spring class

  •  Fully subsidizes all Pay-As-You're-Able tuition discounts for an entire semester of Spring or Fall classes, ensuring zero financial barriers for every enrolled student.

$20,000