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National Program

Arts

Creating the conditions for artists to thrive

A vibrant performing arts sector sparks the public imagination and enhances our collective quality of life. In her lifetime, Doris Duke tirelessly supported performing artists, especially those in the worlds of contemporary dance, jazz and theater.

Today, the Doris Duke Foundation continues that legacy by advancing the careers of performing artists and supporting them to pursue new ways of conceiving, producing and sharing their work.

Our Ideas

Stefon Harris playing the vibrophone

Creative labor, creative conditions

What does abundant creativity require?

Explore the idea
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Technologies and the Performing Arts

What creative possibilities will emerging technology unlock?

Explore the idea

What We’ve Supported

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Doris Duke Artist Awards

For over a decade, the Doris Duke Artist Awards have celebrated innovative and risk-taking performing artists. Representing an unrestricted cash prize of $525,000, the awards annually honor up to six outstanding individuals working in the fields of contemporary dance, jazz and theater.

Computer rendering of a theater set with green pathways, created in a 3D modeling program.

Performing Arts Technologies Lab

We're supporting 20 pioneering artists, technologists and arts organizations through a first-of-its-kind accelerator for projects seeking to explore innovative uses of digital technology in the performing arts.

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Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow

The new theater is built to meet the creative demands of performing artists for decades to come.

Open grant competitions

See open competitions and funding opportunities below.

National Program

Arts

Deadline

Oct 21, 2026

Humanity AI, an initiative spearheaded by 10 leading philanthropies, is investing $10 million in innovative U.S.-based work that supports communities’ collective power to shape how AI is built, governed, and used. This call is focused on community-led efforts in three issue areas central to Humanity AI’s work. Issue areas include education, labor and economy, and humanities, arts and culture.

Grant Resources

Learn more about our grantmaking.

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