Sangeet Natak Akademi supports job creation in the culture and creative sector through three programmes:
1. Training Programmes and Workshops - The main objective behind these training programmes is to develop the skills of young artists and provide employment opportunity to senior artists. Moreover, by conducting these training programmes, Akademi tries to preserve the old traditions for future generations. Presently, the ongoing training programmes are being conducted under music, folk and tribal art forms, Chhau dance and mask making, Kutiyattam theatre, Khol Vadan, Vyas Ojapali, Bargeet and Kali Vadan. Training programs are being conducted in instrument making of Tabla, Rabab and Sarod and three other training programmes at the interpretation centres of Varanasi.
2. Festivals - Sangeet Natak Akademi hosts and sponsors a number of music, dance, drama, folk and tribal, puppetry festivals all over India, to promote, propagate and safeguard the rich traditions of India in performing arts. These festivals create opportunities for young artists and also support artists financially.
3. Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and Fellowships - The Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practising artists. The Akademi also confers Fellowships on eminent artists and scholars of music, dance and drama. The Akademi's Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) carries an award of Rs 3,00,000 and the Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) carries an award of Rs 1,00,000. In 2006, the Akademi also instituted awards to young artists in the name of Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. The Yuva Puraskar is for Rs 25,000.