Grant Opportunity
Thespianz Foundation Performing Arts Grant Call
This Grant Cycle is for Karachi Based Theatre Groups
Funding Amount: PKR 100,000
Submission Deadline: June 20, 2025
Performance Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Grant Narrative & Objectives
Thespianz Foundation invites applications from Pakistani performing arts organizations to develop and stage original social theater performances addressing urgent societal themes. This initiative aims to empower theater as a platform for raising awareness, fostering advocacy, and inspiring meaningful dialogue within communities across Pakistan. Selected grantees will receive support to conceptualize, produce, and present original stage plays that highlight social issues through the lens of comedy. The use of social comedy as a genre is essential as it provides an accessible and impactful way to engage audiences with critical yet often overlooked social matters.
As part of the grant requirements, all performances must be presented under the name of Thespianz Foundation ensuring unified branding and purpose-driven visibility for this national effort. Grantees are expected to align their creative output with Thespianz Foundation’s mission of using art for positive social transformation.
Organizations with a strong commitment to community engagement, creative storytelling, and cultural sensitivity are strongly encouraged to apply.
Objectives
1. To use socially-driven theater performances as a powerful tool to raise awareness on critical issues affecting Pakistani society.
2. To financially empower grassroots performing arts groups in creating meaningful, issue- based content for public benefit.
3. To ensure that all funded performances receive notable media coverage and reach a wider audience beyond the stage.
4. To inspire long-term community dialogue and social change through art-based interventions.
Each selected grantee will receive PKR 100,000 in milestone-based payments to stage at least three public performances, the first of which must serve as a press show. Grantees will be expected to secure notable media coverage through news, digital, or broadcast platforms. The first payment (40%) will be made upon selection, the second installment (30%) after a successful press show with media presence, and the final installment (30%) upon completion of all three performances.
To ensure relevance and maximum public impact, applicants must focus their theatrical performances on one or more of the following key social themes:
1. Gender-Based Violence and Women Empowerment
This includes stories of domestic abuse, honor-based crimes, harassment, and women’s legal rights. Plays may highlight survival, resilience, and systems of support for women.
2. Youth, Mental Health, and the Impact of Excessive Mobile Phone Use
With rising rates of depression, anxiety, and isolation among young people, especially post- COVID, this theme focuses on mental health challenges. Additionally, the misuse and overuse of mobile phones and social media—leading to addiction, academic underperformance, and loss of real-life connection—must be addressed as part of the storyline.
3. Religious and Ethnic Tolerance
Given the ongoing societal polarization, plays can explore the value of interfaith harmony, inclusion, and the dangers of extremism or hate speech.
4. Digital Rights, Misinformation, and Social Impact
This theme explores fake news, online harassment, and cyberbullying, while also encouraging the responsible use of digital platforms for activism and social justice.
Grantees are encouraged to design their plays with a strong public engagement component. Community dialogue, post-performance discussions, and invitations to key stakeholders and local organizations can strengthen the outreach and impact. Media attendance is mandatory for the press show, and documentation (photos, video, media articles) must be submitted as part of the grant reporting.
I. Gender-Based Violence and Women Empowerment
Why: Pakistan struggles with domestic violence, workplace harassment, and honor-based crimes. A well-crafted theater play can powerfully depict these realities, spark empathy, and push for societal change.
Suggested Focus for Grantees:
● Real-life inspired stories of women fighting back
● Addressing child marriage and harassment
● Highlighting legal rights and support systems
II. Youth and Mental Health Awareness
Why: Depression, anxiety, and suicide rates are rising among youth, especially in urban and post-COVID contexts. Mental health is still a taboo topic but essential to address.
Suggested Focus for Grantees:
●Pressures of academic success and unemployment
● Social media addiction and isolation
● Importance of counseling and support networks
III. Religious and Ethnic Tolerance
Why: Rising polarization and hate speech in communities have endangered minorities and weakened social fabric.
Suggested Focus for Grantees:
● Interfaith harmony and respect
● Consequences of hate speech and mob behavior
● Stories of real people from diverse backgrounds living in harmony
IV: Digital Rights, Misinformation & Social Impact
Why: With the explosive growth of social media in Pakistan, digital spaces are shaping public opinion, fueling misinformation, and even inciting violence. At the same time, online platforms have become vital tools for activism, education, and community building. This theme brings together tech and society.
Suggested Focus for Grantees:
Misinformation & Hate Speech: How fake news spreads and impacts lives, communities, and even elections.
Cyberbullying & Digital Harassment: Especially affecting youth and women — dramatize true-to-life cases.
Digital Literacy: Highlight the need to think critically online — verify sources, avoid echo chambers, protect privacy.
Positive Use of Digital Media: Showcase youth-led activism, digital education, and marginalized voices finding a platform.