Sponsorhips with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival
Partner with Nashville’s premier pay-what-you-will professional theatre and strengthen the cultural life of our city.
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website visitors
Why Partner with NSF
For over 35 years, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival has created opportunities for our community to gather, learn, and celebrate the arts. From large-scale outdoor productions to intimate readings to school partnerships, NSF is committed to making Shakespeare and live theatre accessible, relevant, and joyful for everyone in Middle Tennessee.
When your business partners with NSF, you join a community dedicated to:
Supporting pay-what-you-will and accessible theatre
Expanding arts access, including free tour performances, field trip matinees, and workshops for Title I schools
Investing in local artists, educators, and technicians
Creating vibrant community spaces where people of all backgrounds connect through live theatre and storytelling
Annual Reach includes:
22k+
social media followers
14k+
email subscribers
15k+
total attendees
Our Sponsorship Opportunities
Each NSF program offers unique formats, audiences, and visibility. Sponsorship benefits vary by program, allowing businesses to choose the opportunity that best aligns with their goals.
Shakespeare in the Park
A beloved summer tradition that welcomes thousands to Centennial Park for free, professional theatre under the stars.
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Now in its 38th season, Shakespeare in the Park is Nashville’s flagship outdoor theatre event and one of the city’s most cherished summer traditions. This pay-what-you-will production features professional artists, pre-show concerts, community programming, and performances that draw large, diverse audiences throughout the season. I
deal for: Businesses seeking wide community reach, strong brand visibility, and alignment with accessible, high-impact arts programming.
Shakespeare Education Experience (SEE Tour)
A touring Shakespeare production that brings performances and workshops into Middle Tennessee schools, with free access for all Title I schools.
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The Shakespeare Education Experience Tour brings a professional abridged Shakespeare production directly into schools, community centers, and venues, alongside optional workshops and talkbacks. The SEE Tour provides meaningful arts engagement for students across the region, with free performances and workshops for all Title I schools.
Ideal for: Companies passionate about educational impact, youth development, and expanding equitable access to the arts.
Midsummer Night
A lively annual fundraising soirée supporting free Shakespeare in the Park through an evening of celebration, performance, and community.
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Midsummer Night is NSF’s signature fundraising soirée - an immersive evening inspired by the upcoming summer production featuring themed cocktails, live performances, a silent auction, and community celebration. Proceeds from the event support the continuation of free Shakespeare in the Park. I
deal for: Businesses looking for high-touch visibility, hospitality opportunities, and meaningful engagement with Nashville’s arts and philanthropic community.
Indoor Productions
Our indoor performance programming, which includes both Independently produced shows by NSF and co-produced theatre with Nashville partners, including universities and other professional theaters.
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NSF’s indoor season features a mix of independently produced shows and co-productions with leading partners such as Nashville Repertory Theatre, Belmont University, and Lipscomb University. These productions highlight exceptional local talent and bring high-quality theatre to stages across the city. When productions are student-appropriate, NSF also offers daytime matinees, with free admission and workshops for Title I schools.
Ideal for: Companies interested in polished, intimate cultural experiences and supporting Nashville’s vibrant professional theatre ecosystem.
Pop-Up Shakespeare
Fast-paced staged readings that bring Shakespeare to coffee shops, breweries, and other relaxed Nashville spaces.
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Pop-Up Shakespeare brings energetic, story-forward staged readings to Nashville’s favorite local spots—coffee shops, breweries, bookstores, and more. Featuring professional actors and top Nashville talent, these relaxed performances offer joyful, accessible introductions to Shakespeare in everyday community spaces.
Ideal for: Businesses seeking approachable, community-focused visibility and connection with arts-curious, engaged local audiences.
Shakespeare Allowed
A monthly community-centered reading series at the Nashville Public Library paired with weekly classes at Room In The Inn’s Hope University program.
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Shakespeare Allowed expands community access to Shakespeare through two connected programs: a monthly public reading series at the Nashville Public Library, and weekly classes at Room In The Inn’s Hope University program led by an NSF teaching artist. These programs foster literacy, confidence, connection, and and a supportive environment for shared exploration of Shakespeare’s texts. Shakespeare Allowed at RITI provides free books and reading glasses to participants.
Ideal for: Businesses committed to literacy, lifelong learning, and community-centered arts engagement, particularly with Nashville unhoused population.
Support Accessible Arts Through Advertising
Shakespeare in the Park brings thousands of people together each summer for a shared, pay-what-you-will theatre experience - and our digital and print advertising opportunities allow local businesses to support that mission while connecting with a highly engaged audience.
Each night of the run, our 2’x6’ digital banner is prominently displayed in Centennial Park, giving your message a bright, eye-catching presence before the show and throughout the evening. Advertisers can also reach audiences through our digital playbill, which is available to all via QR code and includes clickable links. Our souvenir printed program is available for purchase at the merchandise shop.
By advertising with NSF, your business directly supports the continuation of accessible, community-centered theatre and helps keep Shakespeare in the Park open to everyone who wishes to attend.
In-Kind Partnerships
NSF also welcomes in-kind contributions such as printing, professional services, technical equipment, hospitality, catering, and more. In-kind partners receive marketing recognition aligned with the value and impact of their support.
Our Community of Partners
Connect with Us
We’d love to help you find a partnership that aligns with your business goals and community values. Your sponsorship supports accessible theatre, strengthens community connections, and helps ensure that live performance thrives in Nashville for years to come. Let’s make something meaningful together.
CONTACT:
Isabel Tipton-Krispin, Executive Director
isabel@nashvilleshakes.org