Mental Health for Indie Theater Artists

Independent theater artists are truth-tellers, community builders, and healers. But right now, they are in crisis.

The mental health toll on artists is escalating rapidly, especially for trans, immigrant, disabled, and Global Majority artists navigating increasing societal threats. The cost of care, the weight of fear, and the stress of survival are leaving many artists without support.

Since 2021, we’ve provided more than 1,100 Mental Health Microgrants—$500 grants that cover therapy, medication, meditation, or any mental health care the artist chooses. These small but powerful grants have helped artists access critical support without judgment, red tape, or stigma.

This page is a resource for indie theater artists and an appeal for greater support from the wider New York community.

Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Grant for Indie Theater Artists

The IndieSpace Mental Health grant awards individual artists $500 grants to use toward therapy, medication, meditation classes, and any other mental health-related costs.

It is our hope that by providing this financial resource, we can help remove barriers that prevent artists from seeking and receiving the care, support, and information they need to care for their mental health.

This application is open to any NYC-based Indie theater artist in need of mental health funds, even if you have previously been awarded this grant. Anyone and everyone is welcome to apply, and funds will be prioritized to BIPOC, Trans/Non-Binary, disabled, and immigrant artists.

Mental Health Resource Lists

We know that being a theater artist in New York City means navigating uncertainty, pressure, and a constant push to keep creating – even when your mental health needs attention.

You deserve care. You deserve rest. You deserve healing.

View the guides below for additional resources. Is there a mental health resource that was especially helpful for you?

Let us know! Fill out this form to share the resource.

Mental Health Resources for Black Theater Artists

This guide was created with care for our community: a collection of grants, directories, therapists, healing spaces, and podcasts that center the mental health needs of Black indie theater artists.

Upcoming Resource Guides

  • Mental Health Resources for Disabled Artists (coming on May 5)

  • Mental Health Resources for LGBTQIA+ Artists (coming on May 12)

  • Mental Health Resources for Immigrant Artists (coming on May 19)

Supporting Indie Theater Artists – Help Us Fund Additional Grants

We’re calling on our community to step up. The goal is simple and urgent: $25,000 = 50 Mental Health Microgrants.

Each grant is $500, and the impact is immense. These grants give artists space to breathe, to heal, and to keep making the work that moves us all.

Since January, the number of applications has doubled. Artists are reaching out – and we need more funding to meet their need.

Three Ways to Help

1. Donate

Every dollar helps. Whether you give $5 or $500, your support helps fund the care our artists need now.

2. Create Your Own Fundraising Page

Artists and indie theater friends have set up pages to fundraise for a single grant – $500.

If you’re interested in helping, we can help you set up a simple page to share with your network.

Start your personal fundraising page

Fill out this form and we’ll create one for you!

Need inspiration? We get that. View sample pages from Name, Name, and Name for a sense of what these pages can look like.

3. Share

Sharing is caring. Share this campaign with your friends, family, and community.

Talk about why mental health support for artists is essential.

We’ve created easy-to-use social media assets to help you amplify this message.

View the Mental Health for Indie Theater Artists Toolkit (link)

Why We’re Doing This

Because artists shouldn’t have to choose between care and creativity.

Because indie theater artists are carrying the emotional labor of a fractured society, navigating a complex and demanding arts scene in our city, while trying to build something better.

And because we believe mental health care is a right, not a luxury.

Join us in showing up for the indie theater community. Let’s get every artist the support they deserve.