RedLine is a proud partner and administrator of the Arts in Society grant. Funded through a cohort of Colorado foundations and government agencies, this collaborative program provides grants to both individuals and organizations that use art as a vehicle to promote social justice and community welfare.
We love highlighting our Arts in Society (AiS) grant recipients and all the unique and impactful projects made possible by their grant.
We’re excited continue this series by highlighting 2025 Arts in Society project: TRANSformative Stories by Motus Theater!
Tell us about your organization
The mission of Motus Theater is to create original theater to facilitate dialogue on critical issues of our time. We aim to use the power of art to build alliances across diverse segments of our community and country.
A core focus of Motus Theater’s work is developing artfully crafted autobiographical monologue projects with leaders on the frontlines of violence and oppression in the U.S., putting them center stage as the protagonists in the American drama.
Through 12–24 week workshops led by our Founder and Artistic Executive Director, Kirsten Wilson, participants shape personal narratives into artful monologues that disrupt dehumanizing stereotypes, uplift their humanity, and illuminate the root causes of injustice.
Motus is currently touring three projects. In TRANSformative Stories, transgender and nonbinary leaders share powerful personal narratives about identity, resilience, and liberation.
A companion project, What Love Requires, features parents of transgender and nonbinary adults reflecting on how they have supported their children not just to survive, but to thrive.
The JustUs project brings forward the voices of formerly incarcerated people, including those who experienced incarceration as youth, to spark community conversations about criminal legal and juvenile justice reform.
Meanwhile, ImmigrantAmerica uses live performance, visual art, and podcasts to interrupt harmful narratives about immigrants and highlight both the challenges undocumented communities face and the strengths they bring to our country.
Motus Theater TRANSformative Stories monologist Jahmil Roberts performs his monologue as part of the tour of Lake & Eagle Counties in collaboration with Mountain Pride. Courtesy of Motus Theater.
Motus Theater’s 2025 Arts in Society grant supports the Colorado tour of TRANSformative Stories. Motus has been a proud Arts in Society grantee since 2019, and we’re deeply grateful for the continued support of this funding cohort across our projects.
Tell us about your first project that will utilize your Arts in Society Colorado Arts Grant
Motus Theater’s 2025 Arts in Society grant supported our Colorado Impact Tour of TRANSformative Stories, created in response to the escalating threats of anti-transgender rhetoric and legislation facing transgender Coloradans.
Fewer than one-third of U.S. voters personally know a transgender or nonbinary person—yet those who do are nearly twice as likely to express support.
By bringing these autobiographical monologues to conservative-leaning and politically polarized communities, as well as to legislators, the tour invited audiences to engage more deeply with the lived experiences of their transgender neighbors and consider what it means to protect their safety and rights.
The tour reached a range of communities across Colorado. At a time when college campuses are increasingly polarized, we presented performances at the CU Denver and the CU Colorado Springs.
In Erie (a community spanning both rural, conservative Weld County and more progressive Boulder County), Motus partnered with Erie Pride to host a performance attended by allied community members, transgender youth, and their families, many of whom spoke to the importance of seeing their stories reflected on stage.
During Transgender Awareness Week, we also collaborated with Mountain Pride to present performances in Eagle and Lake Counties, fostering dialogue around trans visibility, safety, and rights.
The Impact Tour culminated in a performance at the Colorado Capitol Complex in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility. Hosted by Brianna Titone (the first openly transgender woman elected to office in Colorado) and co-hosted by 35 legislators, the event was presented in partnership with One Colorado.
Motus Theater “What Love Requires” monologists Leah Rodriguez and Cindy Frances, Colorado State Representative Brianna Titone, Motus Theater TRANSformative Stories monologist Rev. Nicole Garcia, legislators, advocates, and the Motus Theater board, staff, and advisors pose for a photo at the Colorado Capitol West Foyer Steps.
The picture was taken following Motus Theater’s TRANSformative Stories performance for legislators, aides, advocates, and community members in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility 2026 at the Colorado Capitol Complex.
Courtesy of Motus Theater. © Lan Vo Photography.
This final performance celebrated the leadership of transgender Coloradans while engaging policymakers and community members in conversations about critical issues, including access to gender-affirming care and participation in school sports for transgender youth.
What's next in the pipeline for your organization? What other projects are you dreaming up for next year, and how will your AiS grant help to support these efforts?
The Arts in Society grant has helped Motus deepen relationships with advocacy organizations that can carry this work even further. We’re excited to expand our collaboration with One Colorado and partners like Rocky Mountain Equality to broaden the reach of our monologues beyond live performance.
By sharing this work through YouTube and social media, we aim to engage wider audiences and continue shifting narratives around transgender and nonbinary communities.
Looking ahead, Motus will continue presenting What Love Requires, the companion project to TRANSformative Stories. Our next performance will take place this fall in Lafayette in collaboration with Parent Engagement Network, bringing together parents and educators to reflect on how best to support transgender and nonbinary youth.
With the foundation built through Arts in Society, we’re excited to keep growing this work, deepening partnerships, expanding audiences, and creating spaces for meaningful dialogue.
Motus Theater TRANSformative Stories monologist Rev. Nicole Garcia performs her monologue at TRANSformative Stories performance for legislators, aides, advocates, and community members in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility 2026 at the Colorado Capitol Complex. Courtesy of Motus Theater. © Lan Vo Photography.
What was your experience like when applying for an Arts in Society grant? What tips would you share with artists looking to apply?
Motus has been applying for the Arts in Society grant since 2017. We approach the grant as an opportunity to highlight the work we do at the intersection of original theater, social justice, and public policy in collaboration with leaders and community members impacted by draconian immigration policies, incarceration, and anti-transgender rhetoric and policies.
We’re deeply grateful for RedLine’s leadership and staff, as well as the broader funding cohort, whose commitment makes this grant truly unique, supporting both artists and organizations across Colorado working at the intersection of arts and other sectors.
One key piece of advice for applicants is to clearly articulate both the arts and non-arts components of your project. Be explicit about what each piece looks like and how they intersect. This clarity is essential for panelists reviewing your proposal. The strength of an Arts in Society Colorado art grant application often lies in how well it demonstrates that intersection.
Finally, treat your budget as an extension of your narrative. Use the notes section strategically to further explain your project, reinforce your goals, and provide context for how funds will be used. A clear, thoughtful budget can help bring your proposal to life just as much as the written narrative.
Arts in Society Grantee Project Highlight: Coalition for Creative Practice in Colorado Prisons (Pt. 2)
Learn how Unbound Authors works inside and alongside the state’s correctional facilities to build communication skills, confidence, and connection through writing.
Administered by RedLine and funded through a cohort of Colorado foundations and government agencies, Arts in Society is a grant program supporting cross-sector work through the arts across Colorado.
