Educator Resources

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

Setting the stage for arts education success.

As a theatre, we know what community and connections can do to help people and organizations when they need it. Below you can find various resources for local support in arts education, grants for theatre arts education programs, books, anti-racism resources, and more.

We see our position as educator support for classroom teachers. The partnership between our teaching artists and school administration is a balance between what each school needs, and what we are able to provide. If you find that there are further resources you would like to see from us, please reach out to our Director of Education at (513) 421-3555 x3207.

Three women all wearing bright and outlandish clothing look toward the upper right corner in surprise.

Study Guides

Watching a live performance can be a powerful learning tool, and our study guides are intended to make it an enriching experience for both teachers and students.

Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau

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Local Support

Looking for local organizations with which to collaborate in or out of the classroom? Here's a short list to get you started:

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Local organizations

Super Seeds

Breakthrough Cincinnati

Elementz

Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati | Social Programs

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital | Special Needs Resource Directory

Grants & funding

If your school has a lack of arts funding or state/district budget cuts for arts education, here are some funding options that may be able to assist:

A teaching artist showing paint techniques to students

Schools receive funding for arts education programs from school districts, PTA/PTOs, grants, foundations, and/or parent donations. Speak with your principal to identify how your school’s theatre arts program is supported.

Arts and education grants

ArtsWave

Donors Choose

Crayola Grant Program

Ohio Arts Council | Artist Express

Transportation grants

Ohio Arts Council | Big Yellow Schoolbus

Anti-racism resources

If you're seeking anti-racism resources for adults in arts and education or for personal insight and growth, start with some of these:

A young Latinx woman and a young Black man stand embracing one another. They are in school uniforms, looking tender and lovingly. — (left to right) Angelica Santiago as Jasmine, Jay Wade as Omari

Books for kids

Explaining Anti-racism and Protest to Kids

Anti-racist Books for Kids & Teens Recommended by BIPOC Teachers & Librarians

Books to Help Kids Understand Race, Anti-racism, and Protest

Anti-racism in professional development

10 Anti-Racism Professional Development Books for Teachers

9 Anti-Racist Books to Enhance Your Teaching Practice

12 Books for Anti-Racist K-12 Education

Digital resources

Anti-Racism Resources | Good Good Good

Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism

Anti-Racism Project

Anti-Racism Resources for Parents & Kids

Support our local Black community

If you're looking for Black-owned businesses and organizations to support, explore these guides and organizations:

A photo of a cappuccino, a cinnamon roll, and a muffin. Visit BlaCk Coffee Lounge's website.

Cincinnati Black Theatre Artist Collective

Cincinnati Black Theatre Company

Full directory of Cincinnati’s Black-owned businesses

Black-owned Restaurants Spotlight | Cincinnati.com

75+ Black-owned Businesses to support | Cincinnati Magazine

Get to know the many wonderful and talented teaching artists who are leading our education programs and outreach initiatives throughout the region.

Teaching Artists

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Prelude Program

Our flagship arts residency program fulfills Common Core Standards using the dynamic, collaborative, and fun process of theatre.

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Students on a bus smiling at the camera through the window

Student Matinees

Our student matinees provide engaging learning experiences for young audiences, support curricular goals, and spark personal connections.

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A teaching artist kneeling, smiling, and holding their hand out to a student with a development disability

Hunter Heartbeat

Hunter Heartbeat is an in-school workshop series comprised of sensory games developed specifically for youth with Autism.

Learn more

Photo credits | Masthead, Dale Hodges, Graham Rogers, & Esther Cunningham Scherer in Sex and Education (Mikki Schaffner); Setting the stage, cast of Cinderella: After Ever After (Mikki Schaffner); Anti-racism resources, Angelica Santiago & Jay Wade in Pipeline (Ryan Kurtz).