THEATER — MARCH 2026

March 1, 2026

CHERRY LANE PLAYWRIGHTS COLLECTIVE

Cherry Lane Theatre (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET

INFO: The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective is a nine-month developmental program under the direction of playwright Annie Baker, designed to support rising playwrights through community and a rigorous structure without the barriers of formal graduate programs. A cohort of six selected playwrights will meet over ten Sunday evenings, every three weeks, at Cherry Lane Theatre from September 2026 through June 2027 to share work, read pages aloud, and develop brand-new plays over the course of the year.

The program culminates in a public reading series presented over six Monday nights in late May - June 2027, featuring professional actors and directors for text-focused presentations, each with one day of rehearsal. While the reading series provides a platform to hear the work with an audience, the primary mission is to create new work, and only playwrights who have shown up for the Sunday meetings will have public readings. The program will embrace Cherry Lane’s downtown history of incubating bold new writing, offering playwrights a supportive, artist-first community.

The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective will operate under Cherry Lane Development Group, a new non-profit with a mission “to foster bold, innovative voices in the theatrical arts by cultivating a dynamic space where artists can take risks, deepen their craft, and shape new worlds for the stage."

A24 will not own any work created through this program. Writers retain full ownership of their material.

The ideal applicants are emerging playwrights who crave rigorous feedback, consistency, accountability, and a collaborative environment. The program is built for writers who might have day jobs, who need structure, and who would benefit from a sustained, intimate cohort committed to taking risks and developing new full-length plays over nine months.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applications are free, open to the public. Applicants will submit a full length play and brief materials (see below).

Writers must be able to attend all Collective meetings in person. (Please note, no travel stipends or living stipends will be provided).
Writers who have not had a Broadway or Off-Broadway production in NYC and who will not be in an undergraduate, graduate, or conservatory program in the 26/27 academic year are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to writers who are not in other incubator programs that meet weekly/monthly.
Submissions portal will open February 2, 2026 at 10am ET and close March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET. Late applications will not be accepted.

What To Submit

One Full Length Play - Minimum 45 pages, maximum 150 pages, as a single PDF file (please do not submit Final Draft files or links to other platforms). A play written only by you. Please note once chosen, you will work on a new play in this collective, not the one you submitted.
A Brief Statement - Describing why you would like to be part of this program, max one single-spaced page. You don't have to tell us why you're a great writer or what your writing is about or your personal history, unless that interests you. Just tell us some of the things you're thinking about and/or reading and/or writing and/or seeing these days and why you'd like to be part of this.
Resume - Professional and/or artistic.
References - Phone numbers and emails of two professional references.
Eligibility Confirmations - No full- time students; no qualifying professional NYC productions; in-person availability on Sunday evenings Sept - June.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE ACCEPTED:

Accepted playwrights join a small cohort of six writers who meet for ten Sundays over nine months (exact dates to be confirmed) at Cherry Lane to read new pages aloud and workshop their developing plays. Over the year, they receive structured support, accountability, and a creative home.

At the end of the cycle, each writer receives a reading on one of six consecutive Monday nights, with professional actors and directors and a single day-of rehearsal. The readings are seated, on-book presentations designed to give the public the opportunity to hear the new work.

TIMELINE:

June 1, 2026 - Finalists Notified
July 1, 2026 - Final Decisions
September 13, 2026 - Program Begins

TERMS + CONDITIONS:

Submission and Selection Process

Submissions are only accepted through electronic submission via the Program website.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays in English, solely authored by you.

The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective reserves the sole and absolute discretion to select program participants, as well as the right to disqualify any applicant or submission that does not comply with submission guidelines.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP: Applicants will retain all rights, title, and interest in their submitted plays and any new works developed during the program

QUESTIONS: Should you have any questions, please email questions@cherrylanetheatre.org and we will respond in a timely manner.

playwrights.cherrylanetheatre.org

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Princess Grace Fellowship

New Dramatists (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm ET (or until they receive 350 complete submissions)

INFO: Through the New Dramatists Fellowship, a playwright at the onset of their career can benefit from being part of a unique, diverse, dynamic community of professional playwrights and have access to resources to explore artistic work on their own creative terms.

This opportunity is intended for playwrights who are at the early stage of their artistic practice, not artists who have a depth of experience in their field. Through their play submission, the applicant should demonstrate extraordinary promise, while remaining in the early phase of their career. An applicant’s status as an early-career playwright is evaluated during the adjudication process.

This opportunity is right for you if you would benefit from time to develop your work with collaborators at New Dramatists’ workspaces in Manhattan, mentorship from professional playwrights, and access to a community of theater practitioners.

One playwright will be selected to receive:

A grant in the amount of $15,000
A one-season (September – June) artistic residency at New Dramatists
Inclusion of the winning script in New Dramatists’ library
Advocacy for the recipient and their script for the duration of the fellowship, and opportunities to gather with the Princess Grace community, New Dramatists writers, and other theatre professionals
Opportunity for winning play to be licensed and published by Concord Theatricals.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

The Princess Grace Award in Playwriting is open to all U.S. based artists currently living and working in the United States. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must have work authorization from USCIS. The Princess Grace Award in Playwriting is an unrestricted cash grant paid directly to the artist. Recipients are required to fill out a 1099 and for more guidance should consult a tax advisor. Non U.S. citizens or permanent residents may be required to file a non-residential return and should consult a tax advisor.
Eligible playwrights must not have had more than ONE of their full-length plays receive a full professional production. We define a full professional production as a run of 3 weeks (or over 16 performances) with paid collaborators mounted by a producing theater. Developmental readings and workshops, university productions, church or other community group productions, festival performances with limited runs, showcases, and self-productions are not considered professional productions for the purpose of determining eligibility. Multiple productions of the same play are permitted.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

You must submit one unpublished, original full-length play (A full-length play is a single play that constitutes a full evening of theater. For example, a 90-minute intermissionless play is a full-length play.)

There is no restriction on subject matter
The play submission must be by a single author (co-written or devised work are ineligible)
No adaptations of previously published material

The Foundation is looking to identify and support original, authentic, unheard voices in the theater. The panel will consider the submitted play in terms of the originality of the storytelling, quality, and offering of new perspectives.

APPLICATION STEPB-BY-STEP:

It is in your best interest to prepare your materials (script document, resume document) for upload in advance, and to complete the application in one session. Your progress will be saved automatically if you continue in the same browser, but there is not an option to save.

After you click the "begin application" button at the bottom of this page, you will then follow these prompts:

Certify your eligibility as an early-career playwright.
Fill in your full name, address, and phone number.
Upload your playwriting resume, including short, one-act and full-length plays written, and production history with performance venues and dates.
Upload one unpublished full-length play. (The following files may be used: txt, pdf, doc, docx, rtf).
Enter the name and email of a reference, preferably from a theater professional, who can speak to your promise as an early-career playwright. If you are selected to advance to the final round, we will email your reference directly with a few simple questions.
Click “Submit Your Application” to complete the process. You will receive an email confirming your application has been received.

Once the cutoff of 350 applications is reached, the application window will close, and you may not alter your application in any way.

newdramatists.org/princess-grace-awards-playwriting-fellowship

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Translation Lab 2026 Open Call

Art Omi: Writers

DEADLINE: March 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST

INFO: Art Omi: Writers is now seeking proposals for Translation Lab 2026, a 12-day special, intensive residency for five collaborating writer-translator teams in the fall of 2026.

Art Omi will host five translators of any language INTO English, along with the writers whose work is being translated, in New York's Hudson Valley for 12 days. All text-based projects—fiction, creative nonfiction, theater, film, poetry, etc.—are eligible.

This focused residency will provide an integral stage of refinement, allowing translators to dialogue with the writers about text-specific questions. It will also serve as an essential community-builder for English-language translators who are working to increase the amount of international literature available to English-language readers.

The dates for Translation Lab 2026 are September 9-21, 2026. Art Omi provides airfare, local car transportation, and a small honorarium. Residents accepted into Translation Lab are responsible for their own train transportation from New York City to the Art Omi campus. Please note: accepted applicants must be available for the duration of the Translation Lab. Late arrivals and early departures are NOT possible. Please do not submit a proposal unless both parties involved (translator and writer) are available for all dates. Please also ensure both parties are eligible to travel to the United States at the time of the application.

Translators, writers, editors, and agents can submit an application.

Each application must include a Project Proposal and a Work Sample.

The Project Proposal should be no more than three pages and provide the following information:

Names of the translator and writer applying, as well as contact information (physical address, email, and phone number) and the original language of the text. These details should be provided at the very top of the proposal.
Brief biographical sketches for the translator and writer.
A description of the proposed project, including details about how you envision structuring your working time together.
Publishing status of the proposed project. (Projects that do not yet have a publisher are eligible.)

2. The Work Sample must be 10-15 pages (12 pt font, double-spaced) of an English translation by the translator applying. It is preferred that the sample be from the proposed project; however, if this is not possible, please provide another translation work sample.

Candidates will be notified in May 2026.

artomi.org/residencies/writers/

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BIPOC ARTIST RESIDENCY (Fall 2026-Spring 2027)

Portland in Color / Sitka Center for Art + Ecology

DEADLINE: March 25, 2026

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Sitka is now accepting applications for residents for our Fall 2026 (October-December) and Spring 2026 (January-May) seasons. This residency is designed to offer BIPOC artists in Oregon a supportive space to rest, dream, and create—without the pressure of production. Two artists will be selected for this partnership.⁣⁣

The Sitka Center welcomes art and ecology informed applications from a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices. Residencies at Sitka are a gift of time and space. There is no obligation to create work or participate in any programs while here, though Sitka offers optional opportunities such as artist talks, citizen science projects with Coast Watch and connection with our local native arts community through our partnership with the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center.

We offer residencies ranging in duration from two weeks to three months. Please indicate on your application your preferred length of stay and housing or studio needs. If you are applying as a collaborative duo or band, please submit one application together and note if you will need separate sleeping spaces. The Sitka Center is rural and within the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area, a protected biosphere with no public transportation and limited access to ride shares. While we often accommodate residents without vehicles, please take this limitation of movement seriously into consideration if applying to attend without a personal vehicle for a long length of time. You will need to transfer between two buses to reach the Oregon Coast from the Portland International Airport and follow procedures for weekly grocery orders.

Consider also that you will be in the headlands of the rugged Oregon coast - expect there will be wet, blustery days and occasional inclement weather events such as atmospheric rivers or high winds off the ocean that could lead to power outages.

Sitka is committed to equity and welcomes people from diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences, and acknowledges that stepping away from day to day life to spend extended time in nature may be a more complex undertaking for some. From climate change and environmental justice to systemic racism and economic constraints, diverse perspectives help spark new ideas and collaborative approaches to address today's challenges in creative ways. Bringing together people from different backgrounds and fields of expertise is core to Sitka's art and ecology mission, and we strive to overcome barriers to create a safe and secure setting for our practitioners to experience our unique ecosystem and setting.

FEE WAIVERS: Fee waivers are available upon request, no proof of need is required. Please complete your application and once you are ready to submit, contact info@sitkacenter.org for the fee to be waived.

RESIDENCY DATES:

Fall/ Winter/ Spring Residencies: Dates between October – April
2 week to 3 month durations based on applicant’s preferences

RESIDENCY ACCEPTANCE:

Residency applicants will be notified by May 5, 2025.
Finalists will participate in interviews in early May with final notifications in early June.

In addition to the primary residency program, the Sitka Center offers specialized residencies with stipends:

Jordan Schnitzer Printmaking Residency — $500 per week stipend, plus up to $500 for travel expenses
Blue Sky Residency (for photographers represented by Blue Sky Gallery) — $250 stipend
Ford Family Foundation Golden Spot Residency (for Oregon-based visual artists) — $500 per week stipend
Recorder Residency (for recorder musicians, composers and educators) — $500 per week stipend

MATERIALS NEEDED TO APPLY:

References – Name and contact information (your references will be sent a form to complete).
Application – Complete responses to all application questions.
Resume – Submit as a .doc, .docx or .pdf file.
Work Samples – Provide examples of your current work in formats that best showcase your practice.
- Visual artists, designers and architects: 8-10 high quality images of your most current work.
- Creative writers, journalists, playwrights and poets: 2 writing samples of up to 10 pages. For shorter works (poetry, short prose, etc.), submit 4 samples of up to 5 pages each. Excerpts are accepted for all writing forms. (.doc, .docx or .pdf)
- Scientists: Any combination of images, files and text that reflects your most current work, up to 6 images or files (if applicable) and up to 2 writing samples (up to 10 pages each) (.doc, .docx or .pdf).
- Musicians, composers, performers and Film Makers: 2-4 audio or video files (mp3, video files or links) of your most recent work. Excerpts are encouraged for longer works.
- ‍Curators, educators and social practice artists: Any combination of images, files and text that reflects your most current work, up to 6 images or files and up to 2 writing samples of a maximum of 10 pages each.
- ‍Interdisciplinary practitioners: Any combination of images, files and text that reflects your most current work, up to 6 images or files and up to 2 writing samples of a maximum of 10 pages each.

sitkacenter.org/apply/

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Research and Production Program

Wave Farm

DEADLINE: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST

INFO: From April–December 2026, Wave Farm's Research and Production Program features public presentations by visiting artists, activation of our new spatial sound studio, residencies in transmission arts and spatial sound, new radio art commissions, and a broadcast radio art research fellowship. In April, Daniel Neumann inaugurates our spatial sound studio with an onsite public program. Camille Wong and Jenni(f)fer Tamayo are in residence in June and July, respectively, each working towards a new work to be broadcast on WGXC 90.7-FM.

Wave Farm welcomes proposals from artists, researchers, and tinkerers for three open call research and production opportunities. The transmission art residency and fellowship opportunities support projects that specifically engage the field of transmission art. The spatial sound residency opportunity supports the development of an audio work for a spatial sound environment. Residents and fellows will have the opportunity to engage with Wave Farm’s FM station WGXC.

Review this page for program specifics, eligibility guidelines, information about the review process, and the application form. This page additionally contains a video tour of our Study Center workspace and accommodations for visiting artists and researchers. Questions? Email info@wavefarm.org.

Residency: Transmission Art - During a 10-day residency at Wave Farm, the artist-in-residence will develop a new transmission artwork, informed by access to a research library, equipment, unique workspace resources, and on-site staff support. Projects at any stage are eligible. A stipend of $1,000 will be provided to the artist.

What is transmission art? Transmission art encompasses works in which the act of transmitting or receiving is not only significant, but the fulcrum for the artist’s intention. The genre involves a multiplicity of practices that often engage aural and visual broadcast media. In some instances, works for traditional broadcast are created, and at other times artists harness preexisting broadcast signals as source material manipulated in live performance, installation, and public interactive networks and tools.

Residency: Spatial Sound - During a 10-day residency at Wave Farm, the artist-in-residence will develop a new spatial sound project. The resident will have access to a dedicated 8-channel spatial sound studio, as well as a research library, equipment, unique workspace resources, on-site staff support, and engineering support. For full technical specifications on the studio, click here. While projects at any stage are eligible, this opportunity is best suited for artists who have prior technical experience with creating work for a spatial sound environment. A stipend of $1,000 will be provided to the artist.
Fellowship: Radio Art Research - During a 2-month engagement, the fellow will research and select radio artworks by historical and contemporary artists to add to Wave Farm’s Broadcast Radio Art Archive. The Archive is a research tool that comprises historical and contemporary international radio artworks created specifically for terrestrial AM/FM/Shortwave broadcast, whether it be via commercial, public, community, or pirate transmission. The Fellow will additionally produce a 2- or 3-episode special series featuring these archival selections to be broadcast on Wave Farm’s WGXC 90.7-FM.

The fellowship will commence with a 10-day visit to Wave Farm, where the Fellow will have full access to Wave Farm’s research libraries and resources. The rest of the fellowship will take place remotely. Fellowship Mentors will be available for consultation, leads, and feedback. A stipend of $2,000 will be provided to the fellow.

What is radio art? Radio artists explore broadcast radio space through a richly polyphonous mix of practices, including poetic resuscitations of conventional radio drama, documentary, interview and news formats; found and field sound compositions reframed by broadcast; performative inhabitations/embodiments of radio’s inherent qualities; and much, much more. Wave Farm continues to expand its working definition of radio art through the Wave Farm Radio Art Fellowship program.

ELIGIBILITY: Wave Farm's Research and Production Program application is an international open call. Applicants should make a compelling argument in support of their proposed project, and either possess a significant body of past transmission-related work or demonstrate the aptitude and capacity to complete the proposed project. Full-time students are ineligible; however, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for career artists and writers who may have returned to school for post-graduate work. DJ sets are not eligible projects. Past Wave Farm residents and fellows are eligible to apply.

REVIEW + NOTOFICATION PROCESS: Applications will be evaluated in a peer review panel composed of transmission artists, engineers, past residents and fellows, program mentors, and Wave Farm staff. For the residency and fellowship opportunities, the panel will prioritize proposals that deeply consider the medium of radio, including the act of transmission and reception, and proposals that are both conceptually and technically feasible. Applications are due by March 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Finalists will be contacted for Zoom interviews and final notifications will be made in late May.

APPLICATION: A single application is used for all of the 2026 Research and Production opportunities. Applicants may submit to as many of the opportunities in the application as desired. Successful applicants will receive an offer for a single opportunity. Women, gender non-conforming people, and people of color are encouraged to apply.

WAVE FARM ENVIRONMENT:

Grounds: The Wave Farm Study Center is situated on 2 acres in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountain Park. The property features meadows and two small ponds with large walking paths.
Accommodations: Residents and Fellows are housed in the Wave Farm Study Center, which hosts one artist-in-residence or fellow at a time, or on occasion, more than one individual working as a collaborative duo or collective. Accommodations in the Study Center include two bedrooms (one full-sized bed each), studio workspace, kitchenette, lavatories up and downstairs, a shower, as well as the Study Center research library, WGXC 90.7-FM Acra broadcast studio, and Wave Farm offices. Please note: day visitors are welcome. Overnight guests (including family members) and pets are not permitted.
Transportation + Meals: Residents and Fellows must pay for their own travel expenses, as well as expenses related to meals during their stay. Transportation is available from the Hudson Amtrak station, the Kingston bus station, or the Albany airport, as well as local transport for groceries and supplies. On a case-by-case basis, an advance portion of the artist fee or fellowship stipend will be made available to help offset travel expenses.
Social Atmosphere: Residents and Fellows should expect plenty of focused work time. Staff is available for questions during business hours, but often working remotely. Residents and Fellows should anticipate a rural setting in upstate New York, which is home to a growing number of artists and other creative economy workers. Note: While visitors to the area might see signs and symbols of pride and inclusivity, be aware that contrasting imagery supporting Trump, Blue Lives Matter, and the Confederacy are present in the local area.

RETURNING RESIDENTS INVITATION: Once an artist participates in the Wave Farm Residency or Fellowship Program, schedules permitting, they are invited to return to Wave Farm for short-term overnight visits that include a broadcast on Standing Wave Radio and Wave Farm’s WGXC 90.7-FM. There is no cash artist fee available for these visits; however, overnight accommodation in the Study Center is provided. With advance permission, artists are welcome to bring a guest with them. This opportunity is available on a case-by-case basis, and artists are encouraged to make a request as far in advance as possible. To request a visit please email info@wavefarm.org.

wavefarm.org/ta/residency-program/info-apply

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VSC Residency (JANUARY TO JUNE 2027)

Vermont Studio Center (VSC)

DEADLINE: March 31, 2026

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: VSC’s residency program welcomes artists and writers working across all mediums and genres for two, three, and four week sessions.

Residents enjoy well-lit, private studios within a short walk to residency housing, dining hall, and local amenities. Studio spaces range from 170 - 300 square feet. Accommodations include a private room and shared common areas. The campus features include a print shop, digital lab, and metal, wood, ceramic facility. Studios are open 24 hours a day.

A VSC residency provides artists and writers the time and space to focus on their creative practice in an inclusive, international community within a small Vermont village. Residents can explore swimming holes, hiking and biking trails, as well as the rural charm of neighboring towns, while expanding their creative potential and building a solid network of friends and mentors.

PROGRAMMING: During each session, Visiting Artists and Visiting Writers are invited to join us for presentations, craft talks, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and individual studio visits. Residents can also enjoy open studio nights, resident presentations, and exhibition openings. All scheduled activities are optional. Residents are encouraged to unplug, completely immerse themselves in their work, and work at their own pace.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION: VSC is committed to creating a strong sense of community both locally and on campus. Once on campus, residents have the opportunity to participate in our Community Contribution Program by assisting in one of these areas: Kitchen, Campus Projects or Skill Sharing. No prior experience is necessary.

vermontstudiocenter.org/residency-program

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - BOND OF A NATION: EKPHRASIS & THE PROMISE OF AMERICA

Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora

DEADLINE: AprIl 1, 2026 by 11:59pm CT

INFO: Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora is calling for submissions for themed issue 52.2 “Bond of a Nation: Ekphrasis & the Promise of America.” This project highlights collective participation in the making of contemporary America through the creative, accessible, long-valued, and multidisciplinary arts practice that is ekphrasis. To highlight the ideals, values, and promise of American democracy, Obsidian will foreground this popular form of expression, involving making new art through reflection on/engagement with existing art.

We seek meditations on works of public art, employing a broadened interpretation, including mural, sculpture, installation, etc., as well as national monuments, national parks, historic landmarks, and other sculpted spaces. We welcome poetry, fiction, nonfiction, criticism, drama, visual art, and audio/visual media in conversation with public art throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, and inhabited territories such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. We’re interested in a wide range of creative works—traditional, speculative, hybrid, multidisciplinary, and experimental artmaking.

We encourage makers to reflect upon the fundamental and oft-cited “unalienable rights” among the concepts buttressing the premises of the American Declaration of Independence—“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” We encourage an exploration of four key aspects of the “Bond of a Nation” symbolized by the American flag: Valor; Innocence and Integrity; Perseverance and Justice; and Collective Flourishing.

Published in Fall 2026/Winter 2027, this special issue will feature an intergenerational variety of emerging and established artists and writers, alongside featured contributors, as we witness and respond to America’s rich 250-year legacy. At this pivotal anniversary, through ekphrasis centered on public art, we aim to honor the past making of America, shape the bounty of its present, and harness the evolving potential of its future.

For more on public art and the national park system, visit these comprehensive, searchable databases:

Public Art Archive at https://www.publicartarchive.org
National Park System at https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm
National Monuments at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/monuments/visit.htm

Editors for the Bond of a Nation: Ekphrasis & the Promise of America themed issue: Duriel E. Harris & Guest Editor D. Lenaé Littlefield

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Simultaneous submissions to other journals are welcome as long as they are identified as such and we are notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.

MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES:

Include a short cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted as well as any association or past correspondence with a guest or staff editor.
Upload your text submission as a Word (DOCX), portable document format/PDF (PDF) or rich-text format (RTF) file. No Pages, TXT, or Open Office Documents.
- Typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced) pages.
- Numbered pages.
- Submissions should follow the Chicago Manual of Style for grammar and MLA format for citations and works cited, when applicable.
- Margins should be set at no less than 1” and no greater than 1.5”.
Poetry: submit up to five (5) poems totaling no more than eight (8) pages.
Fiction, Hybrid genre, and critical essay: 12-point font. No more than twenty (20) pages or 5000 words (whichever is achieved first). Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.
Drama/Performance: submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than twenty (20) pages following Samuel French or the Dramatists Guild suggested formatting. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.

IMAGE SUBMISSION GUIDELINESmage Submission Guidelines

Include a short cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted as well as any association or past correspondence with a guest or staff editor.
Submit up to five (5) images totaling no more than 15 MB.
Upload your submission(s) as JPG, GIF, PNG, or TIF file(s) (TIF preferred) in 300 ppi at the size(s) intended to be used (Obsidian journal is 6" x 9").
Specify the orientation of the image(s) as portrait or landscape.

AUDIO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES udio Submission Guidelines

Include a short cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted as well as any association or past correspondence with a guest or staff editor.
Submit up to five (5) sound files totaling no more than 30 MB.
Upload your submission(s) as MP3 or WAV file(s).

Video & Media Arts Submission Guidelines

Include a short cover letter noting the title(s) of the work(s) submitted as well as any association or past correspondence with a guest or staff editor.
Submit up to five (5) video and/or gaming files totaling no more than 800 MB.
Upload your submission(s) as M4V, MP4, MPG, MP3 or MOV files.

RESTRICTIONS: We do not reprint previously published work.

Please note you can submit a total of seven (7) files but please follow the guidelines for the max requirements for each genre. This allows you to submit in more than one genre. Also, the total duration of audio and/or video files submitted is ten (10) minutes max for all files combined.

Direct inquiries to bond@obsidianlit.org

obsidian.submittable.com/submit/348652/bond-of-a-nation-ekphrasis-the-promise-of-america

THEATER — FEBRUARY 2026

February 1, 2026

2027/2028 RESIDENCY PROGRAM

the cell theatre (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: February 2, 2026 at 11:59PM ET

INFO: the cell’s artist-in-residency is a selective program that develops new works by artists from across all disciplines throughout an annual cycle. Chosen applicants receive space, funding, guidance, and other developmental resources. Depending on the project, artists will have access to production staff and technical support. For publicly ticketed presentations, marketing and box office services will be provided. Projects can range in scope from readings to developmental workshops to productions.

The length of the residency may be anywhere from 1-5 weeks and the residency stipend ranges from $1000 - $5000 depending on project requirements.

Located at 338 West 23rd Street in the heart of Chelsea, the cell is a 501 (c) not-for-profit that occupies a four-story townhouse with intimate workshop spaces, an elegant full-length gallery floor, and a dynamic performance space. Our theatre is flexible, has full audio/visual capabilities, and includes access to a backyard reception area as well as a green room for performers.

To get a better idea of the range of performance spaces at the cell, click www.thecelltheatre.org/the-space

the cell exclusively develops new work and will only consider projects that have not been professionally produced and have supporting submission materials (e.g. a finished draft of a script, footage, designs, budget, collaborators, and/or a creative portfolio.)

thecelltheatre.org/residencyapplication

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: CSP Artist Collective

Conchshell Productions

DEADLINE: February 3, 2026

INFO: Conchshell Productions is currently accepting submissions from playwrights and screenwriters of Caribbean heritage interested in joining the CSP Artist Collective—a free, supportive space for writers at all stages.

This is a free, monthly affinity space where writers:

Share pages from works in progress
Receive constructive feedback
Build community with writers across the U.S. and beyond
Develop new plays and screenplays in a safe, affirming space

MEETING SCHEDULE:

The collective meets on the first Sunday of every month, 4:30–7:30 PM (ET).
Our co-resident dramaturgs provide written feedback on pages presented during each session.
Membership is free.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7wfKmkLFz55OzC66wFTcPZe8WyGBZDy4tF6D2O_dsaX7xrw/viewform

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Call for short plays

Murmuration Theatre Company (Brooklyn, NY)

DEADLINE: February 8, 2026 at 11:59pm

INFO: Murmuration Theatre Company is seeking plays for our 2026 First Flight Showcase centered around toxic wellness culture, healthcare disparity, body image, and other health, wellness, or beauty issues. Murmuration is particularly interested in exploring how individuals with diverse perspectives navigate a wide array of health and wellness issues, including capitalism's push to make wellness product-centered, rhetoric tying health to morality, inequality in the healthcare system, and the role extreme opinions in media have in shaping these narratives & our internal monologues.

Shows must...

have had no prior full stagings in New York State

have a page count between 2-40
have a cast size between 2-10

The shows selected will be cast, staged, and directed by Murmuration's creative team. Simultaneous submissions are accepted; a new form completion is required for each piece. Playwrights selected for our upcoming production will be paid a small fee per public performance of their work.

Please submit PDF copies of scripts via the google form below, and feel free to reach out to murmurationtheatreco@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. We will not consider (and will flag writers who submit) pieces that are sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise bigoted.

*Solo Shows, Theatre for Young Audiences, and Musicals will not be considered.

*New writers as well as writers with voices that have historically been underrepresented in the theater industry (gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, ability status, etc.) are encouraged to apply.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvVDukZkxn5uDyuMCQDaDbbOjBiz43a2bojQZX2xB2qGAoXQ/viewform

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call for applications: Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 residencies

MacDowell

DEADLINE: February 10, 2026

INFO: MacDowell offers residencies at no cost to artists and provides need-based stipends to help cover expenses incurred during the residency, including rent, utilities, childcare, and lost income. Travel reimbursements are also available.

We welcome applications from artists of all backgrounds and nationalities in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts.

macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

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season 8: rooftop reading series

Breaking & Entering Theatre Collective

DEADLINE: February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm ET

INFO: Rooftop Readings are a developmental space where new drafts of theatrical scripts meet live audiences in beautiful settings.

We are able to accept up to 175 script submissions - if we reach this cap we will no longer accept Playwright Submissions

GUIDELINES:

In an attempt to give each writer an equitable opportunity, we will only accept one script submission per playwright.

SEEKING:

Scripts that have NOT been produced before by early career playwrights.
Directors who are up for a fun, 1 day, whirlwind challenge of a process
Actors who are interested in working with playwrights
Volunteers - whether you have one afternoon or the whole summer to devote to this project we'd love some extra hands and an opportunity to teach you about creative, site-specific producing

bethtrco.org/rooftop-readings

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CLBS Indigenous Writer in Residence program

Cranberry Lake Biological Station

DEADLINE: February 15, 2026

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The CLBS Indigenous Writer in Residence program began in 2022. Its creation was spurred by the work of Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer who has and continues to draw inspiration from and write at Cranberry Lake Biological Station. The residency seeks to provide Indigenous writers with the space, time, and place to explore their creative endeavors.

THE RESIDENCY:

Cranberry Lake Biological Station is located in the heart of the Adirondack Park, on the ancestral lands of the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and has been in use as a living classroom for 105 years. CLBS provides seclusion for research, teaching, contemplation, and creative endeavors.

The residency consists of three, three-week residency slots are: May 24– June 12, June 14 – July 3, July 19- August 7. Housing, a private room with shared living space, three meals a day are provided at the station dining hall, and a workspace will be provided. The resident will also have access to all facilities including canoes, classroom spaces, microscopes, and the ability to join classes if desired. Additional needs and requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

ELIGIBILITY: The residency is open to Indigenous writers over 21 years of age who write poetry, plays/screenplays, fiction/short stories, and/or nonfiction.

FUNDING: The residency is fully subsidized and provides housing, food, and workspace space at no cost. In addition, the selected artist will receive a stipend/travel allowance of $1,000.

EXPECTATIONS: It is expected that each resident will offer two evening readings/discussion during the residency, one for students at the station and one for local residents, these programs will be planned in conjunction with CLBS staff. In the fall writers are asked to participate either virtually or in person in an event on the SUNY ESF main campus in Syracuse, NY alongside the other residents. Past residents are also asked to serve on the selection committee for the next year.

SUPPORT: The residency is funded jointly by the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment and Cranberry Lake Biological Station

esf.edu/clbs/iwr.php

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Heidi Thomas Initiative WP Theater Lab

WP Theater

DEADLINE: February 20, 2026 at 11:59pm ET

INFO: WP Theater is looking for early to mid-career playwrights, directors, and producers, who crave an artistic home, a cohort of collaborators, professional support, and the resources to launch them into the next phase of their careers to be a part of the Heidi Thomas Initiative WP Theater Lab.

The Lab provides up to fifteen artists with community, a vital professional network, entrepreneurial and leadership skills, free rehearsal space, and, most significantly, tangible opportunities for the development of bold new work for the stage.

IS THE LAB THE RIGHT FOR FOR YOU?

The Lab is for early to mid career theater professionals, who are eager to deepen their understanding of how to develop new work, using collaboration skills while also learning how to best leverage given resources.

As a director, this program is for you if you have an appetite for play, a commitment to dramaturgy in the early stages of a work’s development, and you look forward to crafting stories with a new team of artists. This program is for you, if you are looking to join a community of directors at a similar stage of their career and excited for seasoned mentors to share industry knowledge, resources, and skills.

As a producer, this program is for you if you enjoy working in teams, imagining new systems of storytelling, and are eager to build those systems with others. This program is for you if you have an appetite for creating balance between the resources a story needs in order to be told and the tangible/ financial resources of the production.
As a writer, this program is for you if you crave dramaturgical input and creative collaboration both from a director and producer, and if you’re ready to collaborate with storytellers in other mediums to deepen your work. This program is for you, if you’re looking for practical skills in how to strategically and holistically develop your work.

LAB STRUCTURE:

Meetings:

The lab consists of two monthly meetings–one full Lab meeting for all three cohorts on the first Monday evening of the month, and a separate, discipline-specific meeting, usually on the second Monday of the month. These meetings are mandatory, and attendance at all meetings is the optimum means to get the most out of your Lab experience.

You will be given the full Lab meeting and Pipeline Festival schedule at the time of your interview, if you advance to the finalist round..

Year One:

Participants will spend the first six months of the lab engaging in cohort- building activities to allow the artists to get to know one another as individuals and artistic practitioners, including collaboration work, skills-building, and career strategy sessions. It is imperative that participants prioritize attendance in these monthly lab meetings, as multiple absences will result in participants missing key building components that would prevent them from gaining the most from the lab experience.

In the second half of the first year, we will sort the Lab into writer/director/producer pods, and devote significant time to building the bonds and collaborative skills within each pod.

Year Two/Pipeline Festival:

Each pod will spend the remainder of the lab developing a new work together that will culminate in a showing in the Pipeline Festival reading series. The goal of the festival is to give producers, directors, and playwrights the collaborative tools to successfully develop new work in the theater industry. The resulting Pipeline Festival reading series will present this new work to New York audiences and industry professionals. The producers, in partnership with directors and writers, will shape the festival based on the artistic development needs of each project, with budgetary and in-house physical resources from WP, under the AEA 29 Hour Reading Guidelines.

If you have specific questions, please email wplab[at]wptheater.org after reading the Frequently Asked Questions section below. No phone calls, or emailed applications please.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY:

Must be an artist living within 90 minutes of WP Theater via car or rail.
Must be able to attend evening meetings at WP Theater twice a month from October 2026 to May 2028, as well as other events throughout the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 seasons, such as previews, performances, retreats, and other special events at WP.
Must be available for the 2026 Pipeline Festival (March – May, 2028).
Regular attendance is mandatory and therefore applicants should view the program as a two-year-long commitment. Lab meetings will be in person.
Must not currently be in an undergraduate program.
Must be aged 21 or over.
Must be available for either an in person or virtual interview.

THE PARTICIPATING ARTISTS WILL:

Receive a stipend of $4,000 on salary, for each year of Lab participation ($8,000 total).
Participate in a monthly full lab meeting led by WP Artistic Staff and Lab Liaisons.
Participate in a monthly discipline-specific meeting led by a mentor in their field.
Participate in events and conversations led by established artists and leaders in the field.
Receive complimentary tickets to WP shows, invited dress rehearsals and other special events.
Receive artistic support and professional development guidance from the artistic staff.
Participate in The Pipeline Festival, a reading series of five new plays, written, directed and produced by the WP Lab, to be presented in the spring of the second year of the residency.
Receive access to WP’s rehearsal space at no cost, when space is not in use

For further clarification of Requirements for Eligibility, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants must submit the following:
- Current resume or CV
- One page statement or video (5 minutes or less) that describes your artistic vision. Video (max 5 minutes) of you speaking, telling us who you are as an artist, your artistic vision, and the specific processes behind it. Help us understand who you are as a theatermaker!
- One short essay answer detailing why being a part of the Lab is useful to you at this moment in your career.
- One short essay answer describing how you approach new collaborations and what meaningful artistic collaboration means to you.
- A list of 3 professional references, including title/affiliation, phone and email.
Playwrights:
- In a separate PDF, the full length script most representative of your work.
- The play must be at least 60 pages long, and must be a completed draft, though it need not be a final draft.
- You may also include a link to your website, or other online resources.
Directors:
- Share an image or video sample of your work that represents a moment you are proud of. Please share a description of why this moment is meaningful to you.
- A list of upcoming productions, workshops, readings and other projects with dates, venues, and your role.
- You may also include a link to your website, or other online resources.
Producers:
- A list of upcoming productions, workshops, readings and other projects with dates, venues, and your role.
- You may also include a link to your website, or other online resources.
Production Videos/Photos – You may provide up to 3 short videos or photos of recent work. Additional materials should not exceed 3 pages and may include reviews (no excerpts) and photos with descriptions.
Hard copy applications will not be accepted.
Emailed applications will not be accepted.

All materials will be reviewed by a panel of theater professionals.

For further clarification of materials required for application, please see the Frequently Asked Questions Section below.

TO APPLY:

PLEASE VISIT OUR SUBMITTABLE SITE TO APPLY.

YOU MAY ONLY APPLY TO ONE DISCIPLINE PER LAB CYCLE.
Hard copy applications will not be accepted
Emailed applications will not be accepted.
If you have specific questions, please email wplab[at]wptheater.org after reading the Frequently Asked Questions section below. No phone calls, or emailed applications please.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What kind of conflicts would make me ineligible?

We accept that every artist will miss one or two meetings, but if you know now that you will be missing more than two meetings during the lab dates, you should not apply. Applicants should view the program as a two-year-long commitment. We will only accept applicants who can take full advantage of the program.

I’m not available for an in-person interview—may I still apply?

We will be conducting in person interviews, but may be able to interview applicants virtually if needed. If you have a limited conflict in regards to attending twice monthly meetings, please make note of such conflicts in your application. We will try to accommodate such situations on a case-by-case basis.

When will the monthly meetings be held?

We will provide a schedule of meetings for finalists at the interview, so you need not worry about this question at the application stage.

If I am selected for the group and then my eligibility status changes, would I be automatically suspended from the program?

No, we will handle this situation on a case-by-case basis. Please do not let such a concern keep you from applying.

What kind of resume should I submit?

Your resume should list all readings, workshops or productions. Your resume should also include any other relevant theater experience.

If I can’t decide between two plays or have an additional writing sample that I am very proud of, may I include more than one play with my application?

No, we only read one play per applicant, so please only submit one writing sample. Submit the sample that you are the most excited to share with our readers.

May I send in music along with the book of my musical?

Please do, and give credit to the composer and lyricist.

Is there an age limit? Are you looking for young writers?

We ask that applicants be 21 and older, but beyond that, there is no age limit. We would be glad to admit a talented artist of any age into the program. The program is meant to support early and mid-career artists, but artists may begin their careers at any age.

Will you let me know that you received my application?

Yes, we will email you once we have processed your application.

May I follow-up with you about my application status?

Yes, please email wplab[at]wptheater.org.

If I have had some contact with a WP staff member, would it be better to contact them directly with my question rather than write to wplab[at]wptheater.org?

No, please write to wplab[at]wptheater.org, but feel free to mention any contact with a WP staff member in your email.

wptheater.org/lab/call-for-applications/

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Open Call for eearly career artists

The Shed (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: February 24, 2026 at 11:59pm EST

INFO: Born out of The Shed’s commitment to act as a platform for NYC-based, early-career artists working in a range of artistic disciplines, Open Call selects, fosters, and presents new work. The program showcases a wide, multiborough range of voices, lived experiences, and perspectives, demonstrating the multitude of ways in which artists are working today.

It embraces proposals for new works in disciplines including the visual arts, theater, dance, music, performance, spoken word, literary arts, film, fashion, art and technology, new media, social practice, and public art and architecture, as well as across multiple and new disciplines. As with all Shed civic programs, we center Black, POC, people with disabilities, and other communities that have been historically excluded and most impacted by structural racism and other forms of oppression.

Participants for Open Call's fifth edition will be selected in fall 2026. Projects will be reviewed in spring/summer 2026 by more than 60 independent leaders across artistic fields, including artists, cultural programmers, curators, producers, academics, and members of The Shed’s program team. The Shed will support selected projects with a commissioning fee of up to $15,000 of producing stewardship per artist or collective as well as in-kind financial, artistic, and production support managed by The Shed.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open Call accepts applications from artists who are:

Early-career artists and art collectives
18+ years old
Currently living or working in New York City
Able to provide a W9 for payment
With or without a traditional arts degree and/or training
Working in a range of artistic disciplines, including the visual arts, theater, dance, music, performance, spoken word, literary arts, film, fashion, art and technology, new media, social practice, and public art and architecture, as well as across multiple and new disciplines

FAQs

Who is considered an “early-career” artist?

For The Shed, an early-career artist is one who has not yet received major support to create new work. We define major support as a range of opportunities, from the receipt of substantial institutional funding to presenting and/or producing opportunities at large-scale cultural organizations. There is no age limitation.

Do I have to live in New York City to apply? What if I work in New York City but live somewhere else?

If you do not live in one of the five boroughs of New York City, but you work predominantly in New York City, your application will be considered. You will be asked to provide a New York City working address in your application.

If work has been shown elsewhere, can it be considered a new commission?

Some projects may have been shown in the past, for example in school, a work-in-progress showing, or included in a public program like a reading or workshop. In the Submittable application, you will be prompted to explain how your project would transform in The Shed’s presentation and how your proposed work or any its components have been shared in the past in any form.

We are looking for new work but understand that each artist has different development processes, with moments of public showing and feedback as part of them.

theshed.org/program/485-open-call-applications

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Call FOR EARLY-CAREER PLAYWRIGHTS: YOUNGBLOOD

Ensemble Studio Theatre (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: February 27, 2026 at 11;59pm EST

INFO: Youngblood is Ensemble Studio Theatre’s OBIE-winning collective of emerging early-career playwrights. Founded in 1993, Youngblood serves as a creative home for the next generation of theater artists. Youngblood provides artistic guidance, peer support, regular feedback and a fertile production environment which allows our member playwrights to hone their skills and explore their craft. We also provide exposure to the public and the press, professional outreach to the industry, and opportunities for production and publication.

Applications are open to anyone who self-defines as an early-career playwright and is a New York City metro area resident. There are many possible definitions of "early-career" (new to the field, recently graduated from grad school, recently shifted artistic priorities, etc.). Please let us know why you consider yourself an early-career playwright in your letter. Accepted applicants are eligible for Youngblood membership for a minimum of three years.

Membership includes attendance at all weekly meetings, monthly (or more frequent) performances, readings, and retreats. If you have any questions, please contact youngblood@estnyc.org.

GUIDELINES: Combine the below items, in this order (sample, letter, resume, full-length), into a single PDF file.

The file name should be your last name and first initial - i.e., TOLAN_R.pdf.
Upload the PDF file using the Upload link below.

Please complete the form below and include the following materials:

WRITING SAMPLE - up to 25 pages. This can be part of a longer piece or a one-act. Send whatever you think best represents where you are as a playwright right now.
LETTER - The "why Youngblood" letter. Tell us about yourself and why you are interested in membership in the group, and include a statement of why you define yourself as an early-career writer.
RESUME - Your current playwriting resume.
FULL-LENGTH PLAY - A completed full-length play in its entirety. Note: this can be the full play from which the initial 25 pages was excerpted, or an entirely different piece. In most cases, this additional material will only be read if you are selected as a finalist.

ensemblestudiotheatre.org/youngblood

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The de Groot Visiting Fellowship

American Library in Paris

DEADLINE: March 1, 2026

APPLICATION FEE: €30 (approx USD$35)

INFO: The de Groot Visiting Fellowship Program at the American Library in Paris supports writers, thinkers, and scholars across disciplines who advance dialogue, creativity, and cross-cultural understanding.

Established in 2013, the Fellowship extends the Library’s long tradition of fostering transatlantic exchange and creative expression. Each year, two Visiting Fellows and three Scholars of Note pursue their projects in Paris while contributing to the Library’s cultural life through public talks and workshops. Over the past decade, Fellows have enriched the Library’s century-old legacy and, in turn, joined the generations of writers who have found a home in Paris.

In addition to working on their own project, Fellows present a public program during their residency that engages our audience and members around the central theme of Letters Home.

For more than a decade, the de Groot family and the American Library in Paris have supported forty-four writers through a residency in the heart of literary Paris. Fellows include journalists, novelists, poets, and librarians whose work and influence have only grown since their time with us. Many describe their residency as a turning point in their creative lives and careers.

THEME: The theme for 2026-2027 is Letters Home. This theme explores the love language of letters and the many voices who write about home from far away, whether home is a place, a person, or a time. Letters Home encourages Fellows to explore different perspectives—nostalgic, questioning, tender, critical—in the return through ink and imagination to places left behind. Programs could be around topics such as the changing meaning of “home,” literary letters and the creative force of nostalgia, exile and the epistolary voice, or the politics of correspondence.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS:

Residency Period: One month, between September and June. Fellowships are not available in July or August due to the Library’s programming hiatus.
Stipend: $5,000 USD paid prior to the Fellowship period to cover travel and expenses in Paris.
Accommodation: Whenever possible, the fellowship provides accommodation for the duration of the Fellowship in a one-bedroom apartment located a 10-minute walk from the Library. Otherwise, Fellows may use their stipend to cover alternative accommodation.
Eligibility: Open to writers, researchers, journalists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights, directors, and documentary filmmakers. International applicants are welcome.

Please note, applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (including doctoral candidates) during the residency season for which they are applying.

THE FELLOWSHIP INCLUDES:

An orientation day that includes meeting Library staff, a guided tour of the collections and archives, and lunch.
A Library membership with full access to the Library’s collections, archives, and e-resources.
A commitment to spend at least three half-days per week in the Library during the residency working on your personal creative project.
Dedicated time and space to work independently on a self-guided creative project.
The opportunity to develop and deliver a one-hour public program tied to the Library’s programming theme. This program could be a talk, workshop, panel, performance, or other creative format.
Opportunities to attend fundraising dinners, cocktail gatherings, or exclusive events as a representative of the Fellowship.
Participation in filming promotional material for the Library and your Fellowship experience.
A final exit interview to share feedback and insights about the Fellowship experience.
An expectation to acknowledge the Library and Fellowshipin any publications or media resulting from the project.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications for The de Groot Visiting Fellowship require:

A single PDF file (maximum 5 pages) containing:
- A one-page cover letter addressing your work, your reasons for applying to the de Groot Visiting Fellowship at the American Library in Paris specifically, and why this moment in your career is the right one.
- A one-page narrative description of your personal creative project, including its timeline, current stage, what you hope to achieve, and how the Fellowship at the Library will contribute to its success.
- A CV of no more than two pages.
- Three brief proposals (maximum 50 words each) for a public program tied to Letters Home.
Two professional references (names and contact information).
A €30 non-refundable application fee.

degrootfoundation.org/de-groot-visiting-fellowship-american-library-in-paris/

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Sewanee Writers’ Conference

Sewanee Writers’ Conference (Sewanee, TN)

DEADLINE: March 1, 2026

INFO: For twelve summer days, writers gather on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country for readings and workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and playwriting. Not to mention all of the morning hikes, lake swims, receptions, readings, and late night festivities.

WHILE HERE, YOU'LL FIND:

A talented community of writers where the friendships and connections we make last much longer than the twelve days we are together
Feedback from a highly competitive, warm, and inclusive workshop led by two renowned faculty members
The opportunity to help other promising writers
An hour-long individual conference with a faculty member
Two visitor meetings with editors, publishers, or theatre professionals
Two special topics courses
Three meals a day and a furnished, individual dorm room
All the readings, hikes, ghost walks, karaoke, receptions, and dancing you can handle — at your own pace, of course!

2026 CONFERENCE: JULY 14-26

COST: Tuition, room, and board will now be $3,000 for all participants, who will have the same reading time, status, and opportunities. $3,000 is 40% of the actual cost to attend, so every writer will receive 60% support to participate.

2026 FACULTY:

FICTION - Chris Bachelder • Sarah Shun-lien Bynum • Lydi Conklin • Amitava Kumar • Margot Livesey • Jill McCorkle • Claire Messud • Chinelo Okparanta • Maurice Carlos Ruffin • Stephanie Powell Watts
POETRY - Marianne Chan • Eduardo C. Corral • Danielle Cadena Deulen • Ananda Lima • Carl Phillips • Caki Wilkinson
NONFICTION - Jaquira Díaz • Amy Leach • Alex Marzano-Lesnevich • Elena Passarello
PLAYWRITING - David Adjmi • Nathan Alan Davis • Dan O'Brien • Lauren Yee

All participants are expected to attend the Conference for its entire 12-day duration.

Applicants must be 21 years of age by the time of the Conference. Past that criteria, age is not a factor in admissions. We welcome a wide range of ages to the Conference.

Applicants accepted to the Conference will have the opportunity to submit a separate manuscript for workshop as well as their top choices for a faculty reader.

All applicants will be notified of decisions via email April 15.

sewaneewriters.org/apply/

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Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective

Cherry Lane Theatre (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET

A24 will not own any work created through this program. Writers retain full ownership of their material.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applications are free, open to the public. Applicants will submit a full length play and brief materials (see below).

Writers must be able to attend all Collective meetings in person. (Please note, no travel stipends or living stipends will be provided).
Writers who have not had a Broadway or Off-Broadway production in NYC and who will not be in an undergraduate, graduate, or conservatory program in the 26/27 academic year are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to writers who are not in other incubator programs that meet weekly/monthly.
Submissions portal will open February 2, 2026 at 10am ET and close March 2, 2026 at 5pm ET. Late applications will not be accepted.

What To Submit

One Full Length Play - Minimum 45 pages, maximum 150 pages, as a single PDF file (please do not submit Final Draft files or links to other platforms). A play written only by you. Please note once chosen, you will work on a new play in this collective, not the one you submitted.
A Brief Statement - Describing why you would like to be part of this program, max one single-spaced page. You don't have to tell us why you're a great writer or what your writing is about or your personal history, unless that interests you. Just tell us some of the things you're thinking about and/or reading and/or writing and/or seeing these days and why you'd like to be part of this.
Resume - Professional and/or artistic.
References - Phone numbers and emails of two professional references.
Eligibility Confirmations - No full- time students; no qualifying professional NYC productions; in-person availability on Sunday evenings Sept - June.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE ACCEPTED:

TIMELINE:

June 1, 2026 - Finalists Notified
July 1, 2026 - Final Decisions
September 13, 2026 - Program Begins

TERMS + CONDITIONS:

Submission and Selection Process

Submissions are only accepted through electronic submission via the Program website.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays in English, solely authored by you.

The Cherry Lane Playwrights Collective reserves the sole and absolute discretion to select program participants, as well as the right to disqualify any applicant or submission that does not comply with submission guidelines.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP: Applicants will retain all rights, title, and interest in their submitted plays and any new works developed during the program

QUESTIONS: Should you have any questions, please email questions@cherrylanetheatre.org and we will respond in a timely manner.

playwrights.cherrylanetheatre.org

THEATER — JANUARY 2026

December 31, 2025

Spring 2026 Workshop Writers Intensive

The Workshop Theater

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: January 5, 2026 at 11:59pm. EST (or until 120 scripts are submitted)

INFO: The Workshop Intensive is a weekly, virtual writer’s group that runs for 10 weeks, with four writers, and two facilitators/dramaturges. Writers submit an unproduced play, along with a statement of rewrite goals, and are then selected by the artistic staff. The script can be a first draft, only partially finished, or something that has been worked on many times. We are agnostic as to form and content. Writers may only submit one (1) play per application cycle.

WHEN IS IT?

7:00PM-9:00PM EST via Zoom
Tuesdays - March 3 - May 12 (with April 7th off)
Wednesdays - March 4 - May 13 (with April 8th off)
Thursdays - March 5 - May 14 (with April 9th off)

HOW DOES THE INTENSIVE WORK?

It is a weekly, virtual writer’s group that runs for 10 weeks, with no more than 4 writers. Each weekly session will last two hours, with a pair of writers presenting for one hour (including discussion). Writers will alternate so that each writer presents every other week, for a total of four times. There will be two moderators/facilitators/dramaturgs to run the intensive.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Writers must submit a pdf draft of a full-length script (or as much of one as the writer has), a statement of their rewriting goals, and their day of the week availability.

Please be sure to login to a Google account to upload submission materials.

WHAT’S EXPECTED OF ME?

Be present at all 10 sessions.
Set aside time to address rewrite ideas between sessions.
Read the other three scripts before the intensive starts.
Be willing to read (act) each other’s work, as needed.
Provide a digital headshot and a brief bio (200 words or less) for The Workshop website
Read and sign our Code of Conduct

WHAT’S THE CATCH?

No catch. The Workshop Intensive is free to any playwrights with a script they want to work on. Special Consideration will be given to BIPOC Playwrights.

NOTE: Previous Intensive participants must wait one (1) cycle until they apply again (ie: Fall 2025 participants cannot apply for Spring 2026, but can apply for Fall 2026)

Please contact info@workshoptheater.org with questions.

workshoptheater.org/intensives/apply

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**2026 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ* Voices**

Lambda Literary

DEADLINE: $30

APPLICATION FEE: January 8, 2026 at 11:59pm ET

INFO: The Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices is the nation’s premier LGBTQ writing residency. It is the only multi-genre writing residency devoted exclusively to emerging LGBTQ+ writers. The Retreat is an unparalleled opportunity to develop one’s craft and find community.

The 2026 Writers Retreat will take place from August 1-8, 2026. As we did in 2025, we are holding our Writers Retreat online. This format allows for us to continue building our organizational resources while offering the same high-quality programming that remains accessible to folks who may not otherwise be able to attend in-person programs. Not only that, but the Virtual Retreat was a hit in 2025! Fellows and Faculty reported the Lambda Literary Virtual Retreat model was “one of the more accessible and inclusive retreats of its kind available to writers, and is driven forward by leadership who are dedicated to supporting queer artists and their development” (Sam Heyman, 2022/2025 Fellow).

TUITION, SCHOLARSHIPS, + FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

Tuition for the 2026 Virtual Retreat is set at $1,100.
Accepted fellows will no longer have to fundraise for their own tuition–Lambda Literary will provide financial support to those who need it. We are working hard to make our spaces as accessible as possible, and those who cannot pay their own way should not have to expend more time and energy just to attend. With this new plan, Lambda Literary will be offering financial support to make sure every accepted writer can attend, regardless of financial status.
Find all available scholarships, financial support information, and other opportunities in the application form.

RETREAT DATES + LOCATION

The 2026 Writers Retreat will be held virtually from August 1-August 8, 2026.

APPLICATION DETAILS:

You may apply to more than one workshop, however, each application must be submitted separately and requires an additional fee. The fee for each application is $30.00 and is processed through Submittable's online portal. If you wish to pay by cash or check please contact retreat@lambdaliterary.org.

A limited number of application fee waivers are available for QTBIPOC** members of our community who have never attended the Writers Retreat before.

To inquire about a fee waiver, email retreat@lambdaliterary.org confirming your eligibility as:

A member of the QTBIPOC community
Someone who has never attended the Retreat before.

You do not need to provide any other identifying information. Waivers are given out on a first-come-first serve basis. Secure yours sooner rather than later!

To Apply, Please Prepare

1. An artistic/biographical statement (max 500 words).

2. a writing sample matching the genre of the workshop you’re applying for:

A writing sample in .DOC, .DOCX, or .PDF format.
For prose please double space and use a 12 point font.
For Screenwriting please use standardized scriptwriting format.
The sample you apply with does not have to be the same sample you plan to workshop at the Retreat.
Page limits per workshop:
- For Fiction, Nonfiction, Romantic Fiction, Speculative Fiction, and Young Adult Fiction: 15 pages maximum. This maximum applies to cross-genre samples as well as samples in verse.
- For Playwriting and Screenwriting: 15 pages maximum from a full-length work, short play/script, or piece of theatre/film. This page limit includes dramatis personae/cast list/setting/description.
- For Poetry: 8 pages maximum

3. Optional, not required for acceptance:

Any publications of your work during the past two years, including anthologies, literary journals, magazines, websites, and books.
Any other writing conferences, retreats, and workshops have you attended.
Some scholarships, financial support, and additional opportunities require a scholarship statement (max 500 words).

APPLICATION REVIEW + STATUS NOTIFICATION:

Applications are reviewed in three stages by a panel of retreat alumni and Lambda staff. Reviewers are given comprehensive guidelines and a rubric to evaluate each application for craft, inventiveness, voice, and form. Within that, we strive to serve a variety of writers with varying backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, genders, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and localities.

In the first round of review, the top 50 fellowship candidates in each genre are identified. In the second round, the top 30 fellowship candidates in each genre are identified. In the third round of review, the genre-specific faculty member makes final decisions and chooses 12 fellows and 5 waitlist applicants out of the top 30 pool. Writers Retreat faculty make the final determinations regarding accepted and waitlisted applicants. All applicants will be notified of their application status in April 2026.

lambdaliterary.org/emerging-writers-retreat/

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Latine Playwright Fellowship

Chicago Latino Theater Alliance

DEADLINE: January 9, 2025

INFO: CLATA is proud to launch our first-ever Emerging Latine Playwright Fellowship, a brand new six-month program created to support early career Latine/a/o playwrights living and working in the greater Chicagoland area.

Three fellows will be selected, each receiving a $3,000 stipend to support the completion of a new play.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

Playwrights must identify as Latino/a/e/x.
Playwrights must have resided in the greater Chicagoland area for more than 18 months.
Playwrights must not have had more than one of their plays professionally produced or published in the past.
Applicants must not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the fellowship period.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
Playwrights are expected to participate in all of the workshops, events, and production process included in the fellowship. (Between January and end of May).
Language of submission: New projects may be written in English or Spanish, or be bilingual.
Length and format requirements: Plays must be limited or adapted to a total of five (5) readers, with a length of fifty (50) to seventy-five (75) pages and a running time between 60 and 90 minutes maximum.
Submissions are limited to one project per playwright.

APPLICATION PROCESS & MATERIALS:

Resume
Artist Statement (750 words)
- What kind of work are you interested in making at this moment in your career, and why does it feel urgent to you now?
- What questions, ideas, or concerns do you consistently explore in your writing?
- How does this fellowship specifically support your artistic goals at this moment, including the community-building aspect of the program?
Work samples: A full-length play or an excerpt from a work in progress (minimum 25 pages and maximum 75 pages for full length plays).

clata.org/en/programs/Fellowship-Program

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Sunlit Residency: Summer '26

Sunlit Residency (Ithaca, NY)

DEADLINE: January 10, 2026

PROCESSING FEE: $25

INFO: A residency for social justice, human rights and the arts in Ithaca, NY.

This residency honors the legacy of anthropologist Dr. Sue-Je Lee Gage, pioneering scholar of Amerasians in South Korea, change maker, beloved teacher and mentor whose talents and interests spanned the fine arts, the humanities, and the social sciences. Scholars, artists, writers, and activists are invited to apply for short-term residencies in her former home in Ithaca, New York, to pursue projects related to the passions and interests that motivated Dr. Gage's work for social justice, human rights and the arts on a broad scale.

Residents are responsible for their own transportation to and from Ithaca, New York.

All household amenities, including wi-fi, will be provided.

All questions and queries regarding the residency may be addressed to Sunlitresidency@gmail.com.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Please complete the Application Form. Also email the following as Microsoft Word or pdf attachments to Sunlitresidency@gmail.com:

Project Description: Submit a statement (max. 1500 words) describing your proposed work, how it aligns with the goals of the Sunlit Residency, current stage of the project, goals for completion while at the Residency, and a schedule for how you plan to utilize your time while at the Residency.
Work Samples: Scholars and creative writers are requested to submit two samples of written work. Artists are asked to submit two fine art samples, or representations thereof. Activists are requested to submit a brief (about 250-300 word) description of past activities relevant to the proposed project, or other evidence of such activities.
Updated Curriculum Vitae
A Confidential Letter of Reference: The letter should be emailed directly to Sunlitresidency@gmail.com by a professional colleague and/or supervisor who is familiar with your project and your goals.
Processing fee of $25: Payment should be made via our donation page on the website.

forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage

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call for New Plays 2026

Carnegie Mellon University Press

DEADLINE: January 12, 2026

ENTRY FEE: $25

INFO: Carnegie Mellon University Literary Press is accepting submissions of finished full-length plays (60-120 min. running time) to be published in our drama series.

Carnegie Mellon University Press celebrates innovative storytelling in dramatic writing. We particularly welcome submissions from emerging playwrights.

Please note: Musicals and musical librettos will not be considered and should not be submitted.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Playwrights will need to upload the following to our online submission platform and pay the $25 entry fee.

Complete script of a full-length play (60-120 min. running time)—please remove your name and other identifying information from this manuscript
Short description (150 word max) of the submitted play—please remove your name and other identifying information from this document
Brief (300 word max) playwright bio that includes your name and the title of the play submitted
Link to your playwright website, if available

FAQ:

Who can enter? There are no limitations on entrants with respect to age, nationality, place of residence, professional status, or affiliation with Carnegie Mellon University. No organizer, judge, reader, or their relatives may submit.
What can they submit? Entries must be previously unpublished, full length (60-120 min. running time) plays in English; only one entry per playwright.
Is there an entry fee? Yes. A $25 fee helps us cover the costs of production and publication of the selected works.
How do I enter? Entries are only accepted via our online submissions platform.
When is the submissions period? The window for submissions will open on December 1, 2025 and close January 12, 2026.
Who will judge the entries? The editorial board of Carnegie Mellon University Press.
Can my play have been already produced? Yes, we will consider both produced and unproduced plays.
Will any submissions be published? A maximum of three plays will be published by Carnegie Mellon University Press in 2027.
When will Carnegie Mellon University Press announce their selection? June 2026.

cmupress.submittable.com/submit

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June Bingham New Playwright Commission

Live & In Color

DEADLINE: January 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST

INFO: This commission opportunity provides resources and support toward the creation and development of a new play by early-career women/femme and/or non-binary storytellers.

We define “early-career” as artists who have written pieces previously, or have engaged in writing via books, film, TV, etc. but have not had theatrical work that has been extensively professionally produced by commercial or non-profit organizations and have less than two full-length pieces that have been published in print. If you have questions about your eligibility or any portion of the application, please email Junebinghamcommission@liveandincolor.org.

The opportunity will culminate in a 60- 90 minute 2-person play that will be workshopped and presented as a reading for an audience at L&IC’s Fall Retreat in Salem, CT, in September of 2025.

The total fee for this Commission will be $3,000; housing, meals, and travel for the retreat are also provided. Schedule and deadlines will be at the discretion of the commission recipient and the program director.

This application is designed as the first of a three-round selection process that will be conducted virtually. Please fill out the form below to the best of your ability. Please note that this opportunity is open to all early-career writers who identify as cis-femme, trans-femme, and/or non-binary.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

The Play must be able to be performed with 2 actors.

All submissions should include:

Short (5-page max) writing sample/excerpt in PDF format
1 page artistic statement in PDF format describing your influences, perspective and style, and addressing how this piece you hope to create fits- or doesn't fit- within your body of work and what impact you hope this piece might have on communities or audiences.
Resume/CV in PDF format

liveandincolor.org/june-bingham-new-playwright-commission

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UCROSS FELLOWSHIP FOR NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS

UCROSS Foundation

DEADLINE: January 15, 2026

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Our dedicated fellowship supports the work of contemporary Native American visual artists, writers, and performers. Selected fellows are offered a four-week residency, which includes uninterrupted time, private studio space living accommodations, meals prepared by our professional chef, a stipend, and the experience of the majestic High Plains. The Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists also includes an award of $2,000 and the opportunity to present work publicly, such as a featured exhibition in the Ucross Art Gallery, a reading, or a performance.

The fellowship began in 2018 by supporting Native American visual artists, thanks in large part to a grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Following the success of the first two years, in 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) granted Ucross funds to continue the program for visual artists and expand its reach to include Native American writers. In 2024, the NEA granted Ucross additional funds to include Native American performers.

ELIGIBILITY: Residencies are open to Native American writers who meet the criteria below. They must:

Be a practicing contemporary writer who is currently producing works in one or more of the following genres, including but not limited to FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY, DRAMA, SCREENWRITING, PLAYWRITING, and HYBRID FORMS;
Be an enrolled member of a state-recognized or federally-recognized Tribe, Pueblo, Nation, Native Community, Political Entity, or Alaskan Native Village.

FICTION WORK SAMPLE: Your writing sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate sample: 20 pages of fiction, which could be a novel excerpt, a story, several stories, or a combination.

NONFICTION WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate sample: 20 pages of nonfiction.

POETRY WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Poetry submissions may be single-spaced and should include your full name. * Appropriate samples: 10 pages of poetry.

PLAYWRITING WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate samples: One complete play (documentation of production may be included, if relevant), noting the 20 pages that you would like the reviewers to read.

SCREENWRITING WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate samples: One complete screenplay (documentation of production may be included, if relevant), noting the 20 pages that you would like the reviewers to read

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Ucross Foundation acknowledges with respect that it is situated on the aboriginal land of several Indigenous communities, including the Cheyenne, Crow, and Lakota nations. Indigenous people continue to live in this area and practice their teachings and lifeways. Today, this region remains an important place for many Indigenous peoples. As a Wyoming institution, we recognize and respect this historical context and are working to build reciprocal relationships with the Native nations on whose lands we are situated. In partial fulfillment of that commitment, Ucross established Fellowships for Native American Visual Artists in 2017, Writers in 2020, and Performers in 2024.

https://ucrossfoundation.submittable.com/submit

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE REBEL’S ZEITGEIST

Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice

Deadline: January 15, 2026

INFO: Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice is excited to announce a call for submissions for our quarterly digital publication, The Rebel’s Zeitgeist.

We invite Black writers from around the world to submit their original poetry, short fiction, essays, book reviews, short plays, and music reviews for consideration for our Spring 2026 issue. Our journal is dedicated to amplifying voices that explore themes of social justice, radical resistance, and the revolutionary liminal spaces that shape identity.The Rebel’s Zeitgeist seeks to publish work that challenges the status quo, offers new perspectives on systemic injustices, and celebrates the rich diversity of the Black experience. The Spring 2026 issue's theme is, "Beyond the Bearing of Witness." Contributors will be those who have work that speaks to the nature of resistance and the fight for liberation. We will be accepting poems, essays, and short stories.

We welcome writers Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton and Khari Dawson as guest editors of this issue. Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton is an award-winning poet, educator, and publisher. Lofton is the author of more than 35 collections of poetry and more than 177 spoken word albums. His poems have appeared in Clock House Journal, Revenge, UpStreet, Experience Reality Magazine, Quay, Dissident Voice, The Skinny Poetry Journal, Mid-Atlantic Review, and Blue-Collar Review. In 2024, his poem “To Honor Her Bold Walk” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Khari Dawson is a multi-genre writer and musician based in Maryland. Published in multiple publications, including the 2025 Jan/Feb issue of POETRY magazine, she has enjoyed support for her work through grants and fellowship opportunities with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Art Under a Minute program, the Martha’s Vineyard Creative Writing Institute, and the Smithsonian exhibit project, “Gen Z Speaks: A Right to the City.” She is a 2024 Watering Hole Poetry fellow.

We are particularly interested in pieces that:

Poetry: Captures the essence of resistance and resilience through evocative and powerful verse.
Short Fiction: Tells compelling stories that highlight struggles and triumphs in the fight for justice and equality.
Essays: Provides insightful analysis and commentary on contemporary social issues and historical events impacting Black communities.
Book Reviews: Critically examines works by Black authors, focusing on themes of social justice and transformative change.
Short Plays: Presents dramatic works that engage with revolutionary ideas and the complexities of identity.
Music Reviews: Analyzes and discusses music and artists that push through conventions with sonic innovation and creativity.

We welcome submissions from both emerging and established writers who are passionate about using their craft to promote peace and social justice. Each piece should reflect a commitment to these ideals and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around equity and liberation.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Format: Submissions must be in digital format (Word or PDF).

Length:

Poetry: Up to 3 poems, not exceeding 100 lines in total.
Short Fiction: Up to 5,000 words.
Essays: Up to 3,000 words.
Book Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.
Short Plays: Up to 20 pages.
Music Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Send your submission to submissions [at] blackwritersforpeace.org with the subject line “Submission: [Category] – [Your Name]”.

Guest editors will be announced in 2026.

blackwritersforpeace.org/literary-journal

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Monson Arts RESIDENCY

Monson Arts

DEADLINE: January 15, 2026

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Monson Arts’ residency program supports emerging and established artists and writers by providing them time and space to devote to their creative practices. During each of our 2-week and 4-week programs throughout the year, a cohort of 5 artists and 5 writers are invited to immerse themselves in small town life at the edge of Maine’s North Woods and focus intensely on their work within a creative and inspiring environment. They receive a private studio, private bedroom in shared housing, all meals, and $500 stipend ($250 for 2-week programs). The Abbott Watts Residency for Photography offers access to the photography studio and darkroom of Todd Watts in nearby Blanchard, adjacent to the former home of Berenice Abbott. Click here to read more about this unique opportunity specifically for photographers.

Applications for a residency at Monson Arts are open to anyone at any stage of their career, working in visual arts, writing, and related fields (i.e. audio, video, photography, woodworking, movement, screen and playwrights). Open calls for residency applications currently take place 3 times throughout the year with deadlines on January 15, May 15, and September 15. Each application period corresponds to specific residency offerings 3-6 months out.

Residents’ studios are located in newly renovated Main Street buildings that have been designed specifically for visual artists and writers. All of our studio spaces are outfitted to be as flexible as possible so that we can accommodate a variety of creative practices. Our visual arts studios are spacious and light-filled with large work tables and sinks. Shelving and portable storage carts are available as needed. Access is available to woodshop and metal shop facilities in nearby buildings for any fabrication needs. Our writing studios are comfortably furnished with work tables, office chairs, bookshelves, and reading chairs. For those working in time and sound based media: apply to the Writing category if quiet contemplation would be best for your project or the Visual Arts category if you need room and the opportunity to make and play sounds out loud.

Residents live in newly renovated historic homes throughout town, within walking distance to studios and everything that downtown Monson has to offer. These are mostly 3 bedroom structures that are fully furnished and comfortable all four seasons of the year. Houses all have shared kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas with laundry machines, telephone, and other amenities as well. Wifi is available in all of our buildings through high speed fiberoptic service.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

Up to 5 images / 5 minutes of media OR 5 pages of writing examples
A letter of intent for your time at the residency
C.V. or Resume (limited to 6000 characters)
Two reference names

2026 SPRING RESIDENCY SCHEDULE:

3/30 – 4/23 – Residency – (With Abbott Watts Resident)
4/27 – 5/21 – Residency
*5/26 – 6/5 – Residency – (With Abbott Watts Resident) 2 week residency (Tuesday start for memorial day)

monsonarts.slideroom.com/#/login/program/87435

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Creative Opportunity Fund

A.R.T. / New York

DEADLINE: January 20, 2026 at 5:00pm ET

INFO: The Creative Opportunity Fund provides general operating support grants of $2,000-$5,000 to small professional theatres with budgets under $500,000 working throughout New York State.

Applicants to the Creative Opportunity Fund are NOT required to be members of A.R.T./New York. The Creative Opportunity Fund is a regrant of a New York State Council on the Arts program. A.R.T./New York regrants NYSCA funds, and all applicants and grantees will interact with A.R.T./New York as their grantmaker.

The grant aims to distribute flexible funding to support theatres throughout the state with capacity building and stabilization and to increase funding opportunities for theatres that have been left out of mainstream funding opportunities because of barriers associated with racial, economic, disability, and sexual identity and/or geographic location. Payments are made via electronic or paper check, depending on the grantee’s preference.

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible for the Creative Opportunity Fund, applicants must:

Be a theatre company based in New York State with a New York State address that has presented or produced public programming for at least two years

Applicants should be theatre companies and/or collectives, though they can have a wide range of organizational structures including - but not limited to - 501(c)3, fiscally sponsored, or unincorporated artist collectives.
NYSCA has informed us that any application submitted on behalf of a for-profit Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Domestic Business Corporation, regardless of whether or not they are fiscally sponsored by a registered 501c3 nonprofit, will not be eligible to be considered for funding.

Have live or virtual performances open to the general public (free or ticketed) in New York State in 2026
Have annual expenses totaling $500,000 or less for its most recently completed fiscal year
Not have applied directly to NYSCA’s theatre programming for 2026 funding, regardless of whether or not the application was funded
Currently and previously pay artists, or commit to allocating at least 50% of any funding awarded through the Creative Opportunity Fund to providing compensation to artists.

INFO SESSIONS: A.R.T./New York will provide a pre-recorded info session and one virtual info session for the NYSCA - A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund. The info sessions are led by A.R.T./New York staff and will review the grant, eligibility criteria, and application process. Attendees are encouraged to review the grant website and application prior to attending the info session.

Click HERE to watch our pre-recorded info session.

Click HERE to sign up for our virtual info session on Thursday January 8, 2026, 4:30PM - 6:00PM

We highly recommend new applicants attend an info session before submitting their application. However, it is not required to attend one before you can apply.

Automatic captioning is available on all virtual info sessions. ASL interpretation, live captioning, and other accessibility services are available upon request for all info sessions. Please contact our grants team at grants@art-newyork.org at least 5 business days in advance.

OFFICE HOURS: A.R.T./New York staff will be offering technical assistance in the form of virtual "office hours.” All applicants will be able to schedule a 25 minute session, during which A.R.T./New York staff will be happy to discuss your responses to the questions in the grant application, look over potential work samples you're considering, talk through questions on your budget and/or budget notes, and answer any other questions regarding the grant and your application you might have.

art-newyork.org/creative-opportunity-fund

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Core Writer Program

Playwrights’ Center

DEADLINE: January 22, 2026 at 11:59pm CT

INFO: The Core Writer program is a three-year appointment designed to support a diverse group of playwrights who demonstrate a sustained body of work, commitment to their craft, and distinct artistic vision. The program is available to committed professional playwrights nationally and offers significant resources intended to further a playwright’s career.

The Core Writer program annually gives 25-30 of the most exciting playwrights from across the country the time and tools to develop new work for the stage. Each year, Playwrights’ Center selects four to seven new writers to join this group, as four to seven other writers wrap up their three-year term. All Core Writers receive play development workshops with the Center, in collaboration with prominent directors, actors, dramaturgs, and designers. All writers are paid for their workshop time, and Core Writers who are not local are provided travel to and housing in the Twin Cities for their workshops.

Core Writers are eligible to be included in our formal season of public readings: the PlayLabs Festival, the Ruth Easton New Play Series, the In the Lab Series, and the Fridays@4 Series. Core Writers are also promoted by the Center and provided opportunities through an extensive network of colleges and universities, cultural institutions, and producing theaters.

Each term is three years; Core Writers may reapply for additional terms. At the end of the term, all Core Writers will become Affiliated Writers of Playwrights’ Center.

Playwrights’ Center IS currently accepting applications for the Core Writer program.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must be over the age of 18 and must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. This program is highly competitive and is designed for committed professional playwrights who are pursuing playwriting as their primary career.

Students enrolled in a full-time educational program are not eligible. Playwrights’ Center Staff who are directly involved in administering fellowship programs are not eligible. The Core Writer term will be July 1, 2026-June 30, 2029. At least one slot each year is reserved for a Minnesota writer.

Playwrights who have benefited from the Core Writer program include: Christina Anderson, Trista Baldwin, Benjamin Benne, Lee Blessing, George Brant, Sharon Bridgforth, Erin Courtney, Lisa D’Amour, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Larissa FastHorse, Emily Feldman, Barbara Field, Marcus Gardley, Franky D. Gonzalez, Sarah Gubbins, Dipika Guha, Karen Hartman, Jeffrey Hatcher, Samuel D. Hunter, C.A. Johnson, Daniel Alexander Jones, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Martyna Majok, Mona Mansour, Melanie Marnich, Maron McClinton, Winter Miller, Daaimah Mubashshir, Qui Nguyen, AriDy Nox, Dan O’Brien, Kira Obolensky, Stacey Rose, Andrew Rosendorf, Jen Silverman, Mat Smart, Susan Soon He Stanton, Victoria Stewart, Alice Tuan, Joe Waechter, Ray Yamanouchi, Rhiana Yazzie, Lauren Yee, and Karen Zacarías.

pwcenter.org/programs/core-writer-program/

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2027/2028 residency program

the cell theatre (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: February 2, 2026 at 11:59PM ET

The length of the residency may be anywhere from 1-5 weeks and the residency stipend ranges from $1000 - $5000 depending on project requirements.

To get a better idea of the range of performance spaces at the cell, click on the link below:
www.thecelltheatre.org/the-space

thecelltheatre.org/residencyapplication

THEATER — DECEMBER 2025

November 29, 2025

BCA PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCY

Boston Center for the Arts

DEADLINE: December 8, 2025

INFO: Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is accepting applications for our Playwright Residency. The BCA Playwright Residency supports rising playwrights by providing space to rehearse, perform and write a new work. Support is tailored to the selected artist, and includes mentorship, and professional development to create, produce and reach expanded audiences. This program aims to provide a container for playwrights who are invested in developing experimental work that sheds light on underrepresented stories and narratives.

We will be accepting two playwrights this year. The residency is a year-long process that will begin January 2025 and end January 2026. As part of the program, the awarded playwrights will offer a mid-year workshop, as well as a final staged reading. The playwrights will have access to a studio space located in BCA’s Artist Studios Building, located at 551 Tremont St. The studio space will be shared between both playwrights, and it is already equipped with desks, chairs and power. To learn more about the program, please visit BCA Playwright Residency page.

ELIGIBILITY:

Committed to incubating a new work
Have written a complete work (short or full length play)
Playwrights who are interested in the access to free studio and workshop space
Interested in presenting their work at a final staged reading at the end of the residency
Playwrights local to Boston and surrounding areas

CRITERIA:

Applications will be evaluated based on the artist’s demonstration of BCA’s current artistic ethos:

Experimentation: we support artistic work that displays innovation and openness to new ideas, perspectives and techniques.
Responsiveness: in the process of supporting new and innovative work, we value ideas that are relevant to contemporary interests and conversations.
Community engagement: we encourage an artistic practice that engages meaningfully with the ecosystem where it exists through collaboration and exchange among artists and audiences.
Potential impact: we seek to support artists for whom our involvement has the potential to propel their practice creating a path for growth artistically and professionally.

These criteria will be applied by an external jury whose composition includes mainly theatre professionals in the Boston area, as well as diverse individuals with a broad range of lived experience and experience in the arts field.

To learn more about the program, please visit BCA Playwright Residency or reach out to Michaila Cowie, Director of Theatre Arts, at Michaila@bostonarts.org.

USEFUL DATES:

Application Closes: Monday December 8, 2025
Notification On or Around: Monday Janurary 12, 2025
Residency Start Date: Monday February 2, 2025

bostonarts.org/event/bca-playwright-residency-open-call/

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the ground floor SUMMER RESIDENCY LAB

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

DEADLINE: December 12, 2025 by 5:00pm PT

INFO: The Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab invites artists to apply with projects meant for the stage that would benefit from a residency at Berkeley Repertory Theatre for one to two weeks.

We accept applications from artists at any stage of their artistic journey. We do accept applications from international artists. Previous applicants may reapply. We will provide transportation and housing for out-of-town residents, rehearsal space, basic technical support, and an honorarium.

Projects may be anywhere along their development path: from an idea (without anything on paper yet) to a complete draft of a text that has had previous workshopping elsewhere. Whether you are a writer simply needing a room in which to write or an ensemble wanting intensive rehearsal time, we encourage you to apply. Artists from other disciplines interested in creating theatre pieces are also welcomed to apply. If your project is ready for a small audience, we are happy to provide that, but there is no requirement for any kind of culminating sharing event. Past participants have held events open to the public, internal readings, no final sharing at all, and everything in between.

This is a developmental residency. Within the Summer Residency Lab, there is no capacity to provide a workshop or full production. If you are applying for an adaptation, please have the underlying rights already secured. Projects with a current draft of a script are invited to include a short sample of your work (please limit to 10 pages maximum) with the initial application. A work sample is not required if not applicable to where you are in your process.

The Ground Floor's 2026 Summer Residency Lab, which will take place June 15th - July 12th.

berkeleyrep.org/how-to-apply-69nb

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Van Lier New Voices Fellowship

Rattlestick Theater

DEADLINE: December 18, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

INFO: This program provides substantial support to two playwrights of color under 30 annually.

Each year, two Van Lier Fellows are selected for the Fellowship from a panel of former Van Lier alumni and industry professionals. Each receives a $35,000 living stipend, a $5,000 artistic fund to support career development, mentorship with a veteran playwright, workshops and sharings of their work, and participation in Rattlestick’s artistic communities and programming. The Van Lier Fellowship is flexible, artist-led, and responsive to the unique demands of the project at hand.

WHO IS IT FOR:

The Van Lier New Voices Fellowship is open to playwrights who:

Reside in, or within 30 mile radius of, New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island), or Minneapolis, MN. Or, plans to relocate to NYC or Minneapolis area permanently by May 2026.
Is between the ages of 18 - 30 in May 2026
- Why? The New York Community Trust, which carries out Edward and Sally Van Lier’s legacy of arts appreciation, specifically benefits arts groups and training programs to provide education, training, or other support to young artists under 30. The Van Lier New Voices Playwriting Fellowship falls under the umbrella of these predetermined age parameters and is legally obligated to fulfill this goal.
Identify as a BIPOC individual
Is not enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in any degree-granting program from May 2026 to May 2027.
Demonstrates exceptional talent in playwriting and theater-making, with a deep appreciation for the collaborative nature of the creative process..
Expresses why this is a particularly timely opportunity for their participation in the Van Lier New Voices Fellowship.

Note: Current Rattlestick Staff, board members, and review panelists are not eligible to apply.

Questions? Email vanlier@rattlestick.org! No phone calls please.

HOW IT WORKS:

Stipend and Artistic Fund
- Each Van Lier Fellow will receive a $35,000 stipend. Additionally, each Van Lier Fellow will receive a $5,000 Artistic fund to support their artistic practice, supplement dramaturgical research, and/or expand the resources available to activate their play drafts during the Van Lier Fellowship year. Past uses of this fund have included research trips, language lessons, visual arts lessons, recording equipment, and retreats. Each recipient will collaborate with the Rattlestick Theater team to determine how best to use the fund to meet their individual needs.

Mentorship
- In consultation with Rattlestick Theater, each Van Lier Fellow will be paired with a veteran playwright mentor who will read drafts, offer one-on-one feedback, provide professional development, and attend a workshop rehearsal and/or final presentation, subject to their availability. Rattlestick staff, in consultation with the fellow, will select a mentor aligned with their interests and preferences.

Sharings and Workshops
- Each Van Lier Fellow will be provided with multiple opportunities throughout the year to share their work in progress with the Rattlestick Artists-in-residence cohort, which includes the Terrence McNally Fellows, Directing Fellow, and Director-in-Residence.. The form of these sharings is shaped by the playwright’s needs and can take a variety of forms..Additionally, each Van Lier Fellow is provided a week-long workshop and an invited presentation at the culmination of their fellowship.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applicants may only apply once per application year.
There are two rounds of review. Each application is thoughtfully reviewed by a broad reader pool of industry professionals, Van Lier Fellowship alumni, and Rattlestick staff. Each application is reviewed in the first round by at least 2 different readers. A semi-finalist pool will be identified and moved on to the second round. These applications will be reviewed by at least 2 different readers, as well. Applicants advancing to the finalist round will be notified in February/March 2026.
Finalists are selected through two rounds of consideration and are required to reconfirm their eligibility. 6 finalists are granted an interview with a selection panel, including representatives from Rattlestick Theater.
2 playwrights will be awarded the Fellowship in May 2026.

rattlestick.org/van-lier-new-voices-fellowship

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INCUBATE NYC

Egg & Spoon Theatre Collective

DEADLINE: December 20, 2025

INFO: Launched in 2021, INCUBATE NYC is Egg & Spoon’s borough-based new works initiative supporting playwrights of color in the early stages of developing bold, playful, and community-rooted new plays. The program brings stories to life across New York City’s outer boroughs, creating a bridge between artists and local audiences. This program is generously supported by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Submissions to INCUBATE NYC 2026, are now open to playwrights based in or from QUEENS and THE BRONX.

Each selected playwright receives a $500 artist stipend, a weeklong developmental workshop with collaborators (director, dramaturg, actors) and rehearsal space, administrative support, and a public reading to share their work with audiences.

WHO CAN APPLY?

This submission process is open to all Black writers, Indigenous writers, and writers of color, based in or from Queens or The Bronx. These writers can be at any stage in their careers.

The INCUBATE NYC workshops are intended for full-length plays that have not had a fully-realized production. Workshop resources include actors, a director, a stage manager, and sound design.

DATES: Workshops are targeted around March and May, and culminating before June 30, 2026

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Currently accepting full-length plays
Playwrights should identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
Playwright must be based in or originally from the Bronx or Queens.
Strong consideration will be given to plays that can be developed using 6 or fewer actors.

Have questions? Email us: incubation@eggandspoontheatre.org

eggandspoontheatre.org/incubate-nyc

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DRAMA CLUB CAMP 2026

Drama Club (Mount Vernon, Maine)

DEADLINE: December 31, 2025

INFO: Drama Club Camp is a creative oasis for progressive and transgressive theater makers alike. In pursuit of our mission, we have created a modern musical theater-maker’s heaven situated just four hours from New York City. Nestled on 65 acres of lakefront beauty, Drama Club Camp is an amazing, tranquil, charming environment along the shore of Torsey Lake in rural Mount Vernon, Maine. Across multiple buildings, each space is designed to support the creation of collaborative musical work and is equipped with the tools that empower teams to create at the highest level.

Artists reside in our century-old lodge, Drama Clubhouse, which has 14 bedrooms, a communal dining room, camper and commerical kitchens, a great room with a Steinway baby grand, three fireplaces, and numerous gathering areas.

Bedrooms are single or double-occupancy with queen beds and desks or electric pianos (weighted, midi-ready). Inexplicably, most bedrooms have sinks. The Clubhouse has four bathrooms shared by all guests.

The Campus also has a rehearsal space (the Rec Hall), a recording studio, a writing cabin (the Woodshed), wicked-fast Wi-Fi, printers, instruments, music stands, and more. Tour the campus by clicking through the gallery below.

For inspiration, look no further than our miles of hiking trails, hidden glens, Frog and Toad Pond, the firepit, Woodshed, or relax on our pristine lakefront as you listen to the loons inspire your next rhyme.

Will you wander and discover a secret art installation? A private collaboration station? A relaxing oasis? All of Camp is designed to bring out your creative genius.

REQUIREMENTS TO ATTEND CAMP:

You must be working on a specific musical, which can be at any stage of development
The entire writing team must come to Camp
Only one person per musical should apply

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

The name of your musical
Your name & contact info
Your collaborator’s names, emails, and roles on your musical
A 25-500-word description of your musical
A brief statement of why your musical is important
A brief statement of what you want to accomplish at Camp
A PDF of a scene with a song in it*
MP3s of two song demos (these do not need to be ‘produced’ - we just want to get a sense of your writing ability)*
Dates your team can not come to Camp

* If the musical you want to work on at Camp does not yet have a scene or song demos, just provide a scene and demos from other work of the writers.

WRITER RESIDENCY WEEKS 2026:

June 7 - 14
June 21 - 27
July 12 - 18
July 26 - August 1
August 16 - 22

drama.club/camp

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Call for Submissions: The Rebel’s Zeitgeist

Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice

Deadline: January 15, 2026

INFO: Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice is excited to announce a call for submissions for our quarterly digital publication, The Rebel’s Zeitgeist.

Poetry: Captures the essence of resistance and resilience through evocative and powerful verse.
Short Fiction: Tells compelling stories that highlight struggles and triumphs in the fight for justice and equality.
Essays: Provides insightful analysis and commentary on contemporary social issues and historical events impacting Black communities.
Book Reviews: Critically examines works by Black authors, focusing on themes of social justice and transformative change.
Short Plays: Presents dramatic works that engage with revolutionary ideas and the complexities of identity.
Music Reviews: Analyzes and discusses music and artists that push through conventions with sonic innovation and creativity.

Poetry: Up to 3 poems, not exceeding 100 lines in total.
Short Fiction: Up to 5,000 words.
Essays: Up to 3,000 words.
Book Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.
Short Plays: Up to 20 pages.
Music Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Send your submission to submissions [at] blackwritersforpeace.org with the subject line “Submission: [Category] – [Your Name]”.

Guest editors will be announced in 2026.

blackwritersforpeace.org/literary-journal

THEATER — NOVEMBER 2025

November 1, 2025

Terrence McNally New Works Incubator

Rattlestick Theater

DEADLINE: November 21, 2025 at 11:59pm ET (or when 500 applications have been received)

INFO: Applications are now open for the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator Cycle 4!

As a continuation of Terrence McNally’s singular legacy of mentorship, and his commitment to fostering bold new voices in the American theater, the initiative is designed to support ambitious early-career playwrights by giving them time and space to develop their work, professional mentorship with veteran playwrights, and access to the community of artists and work being developed at Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions.

As part of our growing commitment to connect our fellows with world-class artistic collaborators, each McNally Fellow will also receive a developmental workshop that culminates in a public reading featuring industry-leading professionals.

Each application is thoughtfully reviewed by a broad reader pool of industry professionals. Semi-finalists and finalists are selected through two rounds of consideration. Finalists are granted an interview with a selection panel, including representatives from Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions. In consultation with the Playwrights Advisory Council, three playwrights will be awarded the Fellowship in April of 2026.

ELIGIBILITY: The Incubator is designed for early-career playwrights, which is a term that can apply to a person of any age and with any background, lived experience, or professional history; there is no one path to becoming a playwright. The following eligibility criteria are based on the organizations’ desire to provide the fullest, deepest new play development process and professional opportunity as possible. If your application does not meet these criteria, you will be automatically disqualified. If you have any questions about if you meet these requirements, please contact tmincubator@rattlestick.org.

An eligible Terrence McNally Incubator Fellow:

Is the sole author of their submitted play. Co-created and co-authored material is not accepted, and will be disqualified.
Will not be a full time student or enrolled in a degree granting program as of May/June 2026.
Must be committed to actively participating in the New York City playwriting and theater ecosystem. This is a competitive opportunity that is designed to further playwrights’ networks specifically in the New York City theater industry. Why? The Terrence McNally New Works Incubator Fellowship is funded by the Terrence McNally Foundation, with the explicit goal of supporting emerging writers working in the New York City theater ecosystem, as Terrence was himself.
To that end, all Terrence McNally Incubator Fellows must live in New York City for the full duration of the fellowship (August 2026 - September 2026), and during the full scope of the 2026 - 2027 Rattlestick Theater season for events and fellowship gatherings. If you are currently located outside of the New York City area, you must be prepared to be a New York City local for the full duration of the fellowship year, and, ideally, strive to put down roots as a New York-based artist after the fellowship has concluded. Housing and transportation are not provided.
Must be available to commit to significant, full time development of your play for a 4-week period sometime during August/September of 2026 in NYC. Specific dates will be determined in consultation with selected fellows. All 29-hour workshop rehearsals and presentations will take place during regular weekday daytime hours and some weekend daytime hours.
Must be actively pursuing a career in theater in NYC, as evidenced by past productions at regional theaters, past productions off-off-Broadway, a history of self-producing, and/or graduate studies.
Must not have had more than one significant Broadway or off-Broadway premiere as a playwright, book writer, or author of a piece of theater.

What defines Broadway?
Broadway theater consists of the theatrical performances presented in 41 professional theaters, each with 500 or more seats, in the Theater District and Lincoln Center along Broadway, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

What defines off-Broadway?
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. Here is a list that includes, but is not limited to, off-Broadway venues in New York City.

What defines a significant premiere?
A premiere is the debut (first public presentation) of a fully produced work. Readings and workshops do not qualify as premieres.

An eligible Terrence McNally Incubator play:

Is complete.
We are looking for plays that are complete and would benefit from a development process involving professional-level actors and a director. The play does not need to be production-ready, but must be in a further stage than a first draft.
Is a full-length play.
A full-length play generally runs at least 45 minutes.
Is not a musical, opera, or play with more than 40% original musical composition.
Why? Terrence McNally was a lover of music and music played a large role in his work, however, this specific opportunity is about playwriting. While music is one form of theatrical language that you may wish to use, we look forward to hearing the music of your dialogue. If you are planning to apply with a play that includes some music, please be aware that only text submissions are allowed. We do not accept or consider any audio files, videos, or links to external websites. Currently the Incubator workshops do not have the resources to support musicians, music directors, or any music development.
Has not been previously produced for an audience and/or is not optioned to be fully produced by any other theater, university, or commercial entity. Workshops and readings do not qualify.

rattlestick.org/terrence-mcnally-new-works-incubator

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Theater of Change

Broadway Advocacy Coalition / Columbia Law School

DEADLINE TO APPLY: November 30, 2025 by 11:59pm ET

INFO: Theater of Change is a 5 day workshop co-taught by Broadway Advocacy Coalition and Columbia Law School. The workshop empowers artists to blend art, law, and community engagement for social change.

Artist participants collaborate with law students and community advocates to create performances aimed at sustainable impact. The workshop prioritizes leadership from those directly impacted by incarceration in policy-making. Its goals extend beyond idea exchange, aiming to build enduring partnerships for transformative work.

This year’s workshop will include partnerships with the HALT Solitary Campaign to address the harmful impacts of solitary confinement and explore alternative solutions, as well as with the Inheritance Theater Project to examine ongoing gentrification and displacement in Hoboken and their effects on affordable housing.

Participants will be compensated $700 for their participation in the workshop. In accordance with Columbia Law School policy, all participants must be fully vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 in order to attend in person.

ELIGIBILITY: Applications for The Theater of Change are open to New York-based directors, performers, playwrights, dramaturgs, and composers who are interested in using their artistry for social change.

Questions may be directed to info@theaterofchange.org.

theaterofchange.org/application/

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Call for 2026 Submissions:

International Black Theatre Festival

DEADLINE: November 30, 2025

INFO: The International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF) celebrates the power, diversity, and brilliance of Black theatre from around the world. IBTF invites theatre companies, independent artists, and cultural organizations to submit their work for consideration for the 2026 festival, July 27 to August 1, in Winston-Salem, NC.

The festival showcases a range of performances, including plays, musicals, spoken word, and experimental theatre that center Black stories and voices.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Who Can Submit: Professional and emerging theatre companies, independent artists, and cultural organizations from around the world.
What to Submit: Full productions, staged readings, workshops, and other theatrical performances.
How to Submit: Complete the submission of your choice linked below.

All submissions will be reviewed by the IBTF programming committee. For full details on fees, deadlines, and notification of selection, please refer to the submission forms below.

For questions, please contact submissions@ncblackrep.org.

ncblackrep.org/submissions/

THEATER — OCTOBER 2025

September 30, 2025

call for submissions: 2025 CSP New Works Fest

Conch Shell Productions

DEADLINE: October 3, 2025

SUBMISSION FEE: $0

INFO: At Conch Shell Productions our mission is to infuse new Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean voices into American theatre and film. We create transformative spaces for authentic storytelling and cultural exchange, where Caribbean heritage artists can own their narratives and audiences can connect deeply with their work.

We are accepting submissions of one act plays written by Caribbean heritage writers - Minimum length: 10 minutes. Max length 30 minutes.

CSP New Works Fest theme for this year - Unbound Voices

Venue: HB Studio Playwrights Theatre 122 Bank Street, New York, New York

(This event is hosted in partnership with HB Studio)

Fest Dates:

Tech - Dec 1-2, 2025
Performance - Dec 4, 5 & 6, 2025

Selected plays will be presented as part of a program of one acts present on Dec 4, 5, &/or 6.

Up to two performances per production (depending on play length).

👉 Note: CSP New Works Fest is a presenting platform. Selected productions must be fully produced and financed by the creative team (producer, playwright, collaborators, etc.).

All accepted productions will receive:

PR and marketing support
30-minute tech rehearsal, one dress rehearsal (same day)
Festival SM
Free photographic documentation of the performance

Please note:

Plays should BE WRITTEN BY CARIBBEAN HERITAGE WRITER (to align with your mission).
Scripts must be original, and unpublished.
Cast size should be manageable for a festival setting (e.g., small-to-medium cast)
Technical needs Plays will be presented in curated programs (3–4 works per program). Please note that transitions between pieces will be brief, so productions should be designed for quick and efficient changeovers.

We accept one proposal from each playwright.

ONCE WE RECEIVE 50 SUBMISSIONS, THE SUBMISSION PORTAL WILL CLOSE.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: OCT 20, 2025

conchshellproductions.com

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2025 JOHN LEWIS WRITING GRANTS

Georgia Writers Association

DEADLINE: October 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET

SUBMISSION FEE: $0

INFO: The Georgia Writers Association's John Lewis Writing Grants are inspired by the late civil rights icon and his more than three decades of service as Georgia’s 5th District representative. The John Lewis Writing Grants will be awarded annually in the categories of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screen/playwriting.

The purpose of the John Lewis Writing Grants is to elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of promising Black writers in Georgia. Applicants must be emerging writers who are Black or African-American residents of Georgia for at least one year, or full-time students at a Georgia college or university at the time of application and on the date of the award. Writers who are eligible may apply annually but may only win the John Lewis Grant one time.

GRANT: The winning recipients will receive $500, and an invitation to read from their work at the next Red Clay Writers Conference.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and emerging writers who are Black or African-American residents of Georgia for at least one year, or full-time students at a Georgia college or university at the time of application and on the date of the award. Applicants are ineligible if they have published more than one traditionally published book. Promising writers without publication will be considered. Writers who are eligible may apply annually but may only win a grant once. There is no submission fee to enter. Applicants are ineligible if they are of relations to any of the Georgia Writers staff or board of directors.

GUIDELINES:

Writers may apply in only one genre and must submit the following:

A completed grant application
An artist statement of 500 words (max.) as a concise description of your work and goals as a writer. Tell us what inspires your writing career, and how your work engages (directly or indirectly) with the legacy of John Lewis.
A writing sample of 10 pages (max.) of a published or unpublished piece in the genre in which you are applying: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or screen/playwriting. If submitting poetry, one poem per page please.

*Do not include your name or any identifying information in the writing sample.

georgiawritersassociation.submittable.com/submit/333082/2025-john-lewis-writing-grants

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call for submissions: 1.1 Foglifter Online Exclusive: Body Politics

Foglifter

DEADLINE: October 15, 2026

INFO: As Foglifter revitalizes our website and digital production, we are interested in creating and holding space for works that may not fit within the constraints of our print edition. We are now accepting submissions for our new Online Exclusive Issue dedicated to showcasing queer voices across a wide spectrum of creative forms.

As always, we are seeking art that aligns with our mission of promoting queer, transgressive, and original work. The themes will change from issue to issue. For 1.1, our theme is Body Politics. Bodies are sites of power, protest, pleasure, oppression, transformation, and resistance. They are legislated, labeled, liberated, and loved. In a world where bodies are constantly scrutinized, marginalized, and controlled—especially queer, trans, fat, disabled, racialized, and reproductive bodies—we want to create a space for work that responds, reclaims, and reimagines.

Please submit work that engages with themes that may include gender expression and transition, reproductive justice, disability and chronic illness, surveillance and censorship, body modification culture, fat liberation and anti-ableism, queer desire and sexuality, the racialized body, and performance and protest. We invite works that grapple with the political, personal, and cultural dimensions of the queer body.

Pieces must be original, unpublished work in genres including, but not limited to: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, comics, visual art, scripts, and multimedia (video, audio, music, interactive pieces, experimental work, etc.) that align with the current issue’s theme.

This online exclusive issue will be published as a winter issue on our website. We’re especially interested in pieces that experiment with form, push boundaries, and reflect the complexity, joy, rage, beauty, and multiplicity of the queer experience.

WHY ONLINE EXCLUSIVE?

Our print publication has limits—page counts, dimensions, ink. This digital issue is a space without borders. We want to uplift work that can’t—or won’t—fit in print: multimedia projects, audio pieces, visual art, and performance pieces that demand to be seen and heard in digital space.

GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

We accept only first rights to publication.
We do accept simultaneous submissions, however please withdraw pieces that have been accepted elsewhere.
Please include a short bio, description of your work, any past publications, and applicable trigger warnings in your cover letter.
Visual and [multi]media work must be web-viewable—please include links or uploads through Submittable and include content warnings if applicable

GENRE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES:

Please submit up to 5 pieces
For video and audio submissions, please limit to 5 minutes
We accept art created via all mediums (except AI -- no AI art submissions). This includes, but is not limited to, photography, painting, digital, ink, pencil, collage, etc.
Acceptable file types: .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .tif, .tiff, .png, .svg, .pdf, .doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .odt, .mp3, .m4a, .wav, .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mpg, .3gp, .wmv
All applicable artworks submitted will be considered for cover art for the online exclusive issue
We love experimental work, feel free to submit hybrid forms that blend genres
For grant purposes, we cannot consider submissions that do not include a completed demographic survey with their submission

Foglifter aims to reflect the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQ+ literary community in our award-winning journal. Fill out our anonymized Demographics Survey to be considered for publication—then take a screenshot of the thank-you screen at the end and attach it along with your submission.

foglifter.submittable.com/submit

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Art Omi: Writers Residency

Art Omi

DEADLINE: October 15, 2025

INFO: Art Omi: Writers hosts authors and translators from around the world for residencies throughout the spring and fall. The program’s strong international emphasis provides exposure for global literary voices and reflects the spirit of cultural exchange that is essential to Art Omi’s mission.

Guests select a residency of approximately one month in either the spring or autumn, with ten writers at a time gathering to live and work in a rural setting overlooking the Catskill Mountains. Daytime is reserved for writing and quiet activities, while evenings are more communal. A program of weekly visits brings guests from the New York publishing community. Noted editors, agents, and book scouts are invited to share dinner and conversation on both creative and practical subjects, offering insight into the workings of the publishing industry, and introductions to some of its key professionals. Readings throughout the year invite the public to experience finished and in-process work by writers and translators in residence.

Art Omi: Writers welcomes published writers and translators of every type of literature. All text-based projects—fiction, nonfiction, theater, film, poetry, etc.—are eligible. International, cultural, and creative exchange is a foundation of our mission, and a wide distribution of national background is an important part of our selection process.

All residencies are fully funded with accommodations, food, local transport, and public programming provided. However, please note that Art Omi: Writers does not provide travel funds. We have some limited travel funds available for those who find it a barrier to participating in the program, reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Emma Ramadan, Art Omi: Writers Residency Program Director, at eramadan@artomi.org for more details.

Notable alumni include:

Joseph O'Neill author of Netherland, which won the Pen/Faulkner Award
Aleksander Hemon, author of The Question of Bruno, recipient of a "genius grant" from the MacArthur Foundation
Gary Shteyngart, bestselling author of The Russian Debutante's Handbook, Absurdistan, and Super Sad True Love Story
Susan Choi, bestselling author of American Woman and inaugural recipient of the PEN/W.G. Sebald Award.
Goce Smilevski, author of Freud's Sister, which won the European Union Prize for Literature
Jan Brandt, bestselling author of Gegen Die Welt (Against the World)
Buket Uzuner, international bestselling author of Istanbulians
James Hannaham, author of Delicious Foods, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Hurston-Wright Award.
Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World Spin which won the National Book Award
Kiran Desai, bestselling author of Inheritance of Loss, which won the Man Booker Prize
Shehan Karunatilaka, author of Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Matthew, which won the Commonwealth Prize
Mikhail Shishkin, bestselling author of The Taking of Izmail, which won the Russian Booker Prize

TRANSLATION LAB:

In September Art Omi: Writers hosts an annual Translation Lab, in which English language translators are invited to work alongside the writers whose work they translate. The focused residency provides an integral stage of refinement, allowing translators to dialogue with the writers about text-specific questions.

Following in the tradition of the Art Omi: Writers residency as started by Heinrich Maria Ledig-Rowohlt, the Translation Lab emphasizes translation as a means towards cultural exchange. It serves as an essential community builder for English language translators who are working to increase the amount of international literature available to American readers, as it is currently estimated that less than three percent of all books published in the United States are translated works.

The residency is a rare and unique opportunity for writers and their translators to work together, considering that most writers never meet their translators in person. All text-based projects—fiction, nonfiction, theater, film, poetry, etc.—are eligible.

ACCOMODATIONS + FACILITIES:

Art Omi is located two and a half hours north of New York City in the historic Hudson River Valley. Named for the hamlet of Omi, which is within the town of Ghent, New York, Art Omi is also near to Albany and Hudson, which offer train connections thirty or fifteen minutes' drive from campus, respectively.

The facilities, situated on three hundred acres of open land, include a large two-story barn with indoor studios; contemporary residence buildings designed with a vernacular reference to local barns, surrounded by abundant perennial beds, expansive lawns dotted with fruit trees, adjacent to The Sculpture and Architecture Park. Residents receive private bedroom accommodations with shared bathrooms and common areas.

A Federal Period farm house serves as a gathering center, providing a full kitchen and library; while the front porch overlooks rolling hills and the majestic outline of the Catskill Range. A swimming pool, bicycles, WiFi access and a computer with printing capability is available on the premises.

Columbia County, and the nearby Berkshire Mountains, are popular destinations because of their historical, natural and cultural riches. From bird sanctuaries to modern dance, presidential mansions to farmer’s markets, the environs offer a singular blend of rural quiet and cultural stimulation. Staff and friends in the neighborhood are often available for excursions of interest to residents. The local library has a modest collection, but is a member of the Mid-Hudson group, calling on the resources of libraries within much of eastern New York.

TIMELINE:

Decision Notification: January 2026

RESIDENCY DATES:

Art Omi: Writers 2026 takes place over four sessions, two in the Spring and two in the Autumn.

SPRING 2026

Spring Session One: Wednesday, April 1–Monday, April 27
Spring Session Two: Thursday, April 30–Tuesday, May 26

AUTUMN 2026

Session One: Thursday, September 24–Thursday, October 15
Session Two: Wednesday, October 21–Wednesday, November 18

Art Omi: Translation Lab 2026 takes place from Wednesday, September 9–Monday, September 21. Please note, a separate open call only for Translation Lab will run in early 2026.

artomi.org/residencies/writers/

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CALL FOR DRAMA/PERFORMANCE SCRIPT

Obsidian

DEADLINE: October 16, 2025

INFO: Submit one act or a collection of short scenes no longer than twenty (20) pages in the Samuel French format. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained.

obsidian.submittable.com

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Call for Submissions: Media Luna One Act Reading Series

Latinx Playwrights Circle / Teatro Círculo

DEADLINE: October 28, 2025

INFO: Latinx Playwrights Circle and Teatro Círculo’s are joining forces once again for the Media Luna x First Call Festival: a celebration of community, storytelling, and new Latinx voices.

This January, we’ll present two evenings of staged readings featuring brand-new one-act plays. Each night of theater will be followed by a lively mixer with drinks and small bites, offering artists and audiences a chance to connect.

We’re looking for fresh, bold one-act plays that showcase the breadth and brilliance of our community.

GUIDELINES:

Length: 15-50 pages Max
Cast: 6 actors Max
Synopsis
Resume
Full Script
Must be able to attend in person (Late January)

*Limited to the first 100 Submissions. Any questions: literary@latinxplaywright.com

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejrWfNYizF3pbgc4u17EdBV4kTfqyguqdYK5Gm6KnGIe83FA/viewform?pli=1

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call for submissions: Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays

Abingdon Theatre Company (NYC)

DEADLINE: October 31, 2025 at 11:59pm

INFO: Abingdon Theatre Company is seeking playwrights, directors, and actors for its sixth annual Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays in collaboration with AMT Theater. Abingdon Theatre Company continues to be committed to creating opportunities for all voices to be heard. With this in mind, ATC is thrilled to open submissions for our sixth annual festival of short plays; a festival shedding light on stories by people of color.

The festival will take place March 9-10, 2026 at AMT Theater (345 West 45th Street).

SUBMISSIONS:

Please read the following in full before submitting:

Playwrights: Short play submissions should be unpublished and no longer than 40 pages, written by BIPOC individuals. Plays should not have been previously presented to New York audiences. We are accepting applications from artists from all experience levels, locations, and ages. Please limit your submission to one play per playwright.
Directors: Seeking BIPOC directors for our festival of short plays. Please ensure you are available for the in-person festival in New York City from March 9-10, 2026.
Actors: Seeking actors of all ethnicities for our festival of short plays. Please ensure you are available for the in-person festival in New York City from March 9-10, 2026.

Should you have any questions, please email kbell@abingdontheatre.org.

abingdontheatre.org/fsp-2026

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2026 Intensive Mentorship

Latinx Playwrights Circle

DEADLINE: November 3, 2026

INFO: 2026 Intensive Mentorship is here!  Right at the tail end of our last years program, Latinx Playwrights Circle is offering two NYC-based playwrights the rare opportunity to develop a full-length play with the dedicated support of a professional mentor over several months with the 2026 Intensive Mentorship Program.

This is your chance to go deep with your writing — with the time, space, and guidance to take your script to the next level.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

1:1 mentorship from an experienced theatre artist
Professional development support
Workshops + readings
A tight-knit community of fellow Latinx creatives

ELIGIBILITY:

Must be of Latino/a/x/e descent.
Must be NYC (or tri-state) based.
Must be your Work
Must not have used AI to create the work (uploaded parts of script or whole play to AI Clients)
Must not be enrolled in Higher Education/ Another Residency
Must have attended at least two NYC Latinx Playwrights Circle Sunday Service (virtually or in person).
Must be prepared to be challenged in addressing play structure and character arcs.
Must attach goals for the submitted full length play. When submitting goals, please be clear and specific.
Must submit a full length play. The play submitted is the play that will be developed throughout this process. Please note that we do not accept one act or short plays. While we'd love to support musicals, at this time we are unable to offer the support musicals need for development.
Must be the sole author of the work (no co-writers or partners please)
This is a blind submission, please make sure any identifying information is removed from the submitted play.
Play should require no more than 6 performers (including Stage Directions, double casting is fine).
Please include a title page and character breakdown.

The biggest aspects of this program are both entering a mentor/mentee association and development of new work. If at this time you don’t feel these are things you need or could benefit from, this program may not be a right fit. We are happy to provide you continued support through our other programs.

INSTRUCTION FOR SUBMISSION:

In submission form, fill out Name, Bio, snail mail address, and email below.
Blind script of the play you’d like to work on during the Intensive.
Blind ten page excerpt we will use in tandem with Artistic Statement for the submission process
Submit a blind Artist Statement page that includes the following:

Synopsis and possible themes you are exploring in the play
Previous development the play has received, (if any)
What kind of feedback is most conducive for your writing process (Liz Lerman Critical Response, prescriptive, etc...)
What are you hoping to gain from your connection with one of our mentors?
Make sure to put the title of your play at the top of the statement page.
Specific and clear goals to be addressed during the program.
Your thoughts on the structure of your play/excerpt

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScC5P0isZ8aHbrnGZGDJPSdFczOUqA8vbhKEFTRykflG9zVOA/viewform

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WINTER RESIDENCY 2026

Velvetpark Media (Brooklyn, NY)

DEADLINE: November 9, 2025 by 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Velvetpark Residency is a project based live-work studio, awarded through a selection process by open application. It is open to LGBTQ+ writers and visual artists to complete a proposed project. Applicants from across the United States are welcome to apply, however, must have a primary residence.

The studio will be awarded bi-yearly, and will alternate between writers Winter/Spring, and visual artists Summer/Fall respectively. This schedule will continue to alternate into the ensuing years.

Velvetpark‘s Residency award is open for for an artists, writers, creators age eighteen and above, who are not enrolled in an academic program. The residency is for a 6 month term, as indicated in application form.

The VP Residency is housed within Crown Studios, an artist building on a floor of eleven working arts professionals in the Crown and Prospect Heights neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York.

For almost two decades Velvetpark has recognized queer people in the arts, academia and activism, by featuring stories on, by, or about these individuals in the pages of the print magazine and online. It is in the same spirit that our residency program has been launched and expanded to include imaginative and enterprising LGBT+ creators, who need space to support and cultivate their work.

RESIDENCY DATES:

Please note that we will be awarding TWO 3 month terms for our writer residency this year!

Term 1: January 5th – March 30th 2026*
Term 2: April 3rd – June 28th 2026*
*Dates are subject to change.

CHECKLIST:

100 – 250 word, project proposal
– additional .pdf, docx, .doc, .jpg files and supporting materials accepted (limited to 10 mb in size)

Project Outline:

– Provide a detailed outline of what you expect to complete within your 3 month term.

Writers — Work Samples
– Poets, submit up to 15 – 20 pages of poetry
– Prose, 25 – 30 pages of prose
– screenplay/play script, provide 1 – 2 completed works
– additional works accepted via url, to online portfolio or published works

CV/Resume
– should reflect your artistic/creative accomplishments

2 references
– 1 professional reference, who can speak about your work and
– 1 personal reference, who can speak about you personally, your work ethic, values, and any other pertinent information about you.
– provide names and contact; phone/email of these individuals (letters not required).
– finalists’ references will be contacted by selection committee to speak about you.

velvetparkmedia.com/residency/

THEATER — SEPTEMBER 2025

August 31, 2025

2025-26 new play development programs

Dramatic Question Theatre

DEADLINE: September 2, 2025

INFO: DQT is open for submissions for our 2025-26 new play development programs. Their mission is to develop and present work by BIPoC and Female-identifying writers; concurrently, cultivate and maintain a diverse audience who is in routine discourse with them.

DQT envisions an American theatre wherein the population of professionally produced playwrights is as diverse as America.

PROGRAMS:

I - DQT American Woman:

American Woman (AW) is a solo show development and public engagement program for Female-identifying writers living in the United States. AW is conducted online and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format to advance each matriculant’s vision of their solo show. Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the AW experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in AW are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for AW, you must be Female-identifying, have an early draft of a solo piece, and submit the required materials by the deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their solo pieces, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statements, resumes, etc.). American Woman will be conducted via Zoom for 8-consecutive weeks 12:00-2:30pm EST, Sundays, October 12 - November 30. DQT is proud to announce this season's PT instructor will once again be Raquel Almazan.

II - DQT Classics in Color:

Classics in Color (CiC) is a new play development and public engagement program for BIPoC writers developing plays that blend the BIPoC lived-experience with global classics. CiC is conducted via Zoom and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format with the goal of working constructively toward advancing each matriculant’s vision for their play. Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the CiC experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in CiC are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for CiC, you must identify as BIPoC, have an early draft of a play that fits the description above, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety.

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their plays, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statement, resumes, etc.) Classics in Color will be conducted via Zoom Wednesday November 5th, then Mondays November 10th-December 22nd 6:30-9:30pm EST. DQT is proud to announce this season's CiC instructor will once again be OBIE Award winner and recent Guggenheim Fellow recipient Caridad Svich.

III - DQT PlayTime:

PlayTime (PT) is a new play development program, for plays-in-progress, written by BIPoC or Female-identifying writers. PT is conducted online and uses an instructor-led curated classroom format with the goal of working constructively toward advancing each matriculant’s vision for their play. Since public engagement is an equally important component of both the PT experience and the DQT mission, up to three excerpts of pieces developed in PT are chosen by the artistic and executive directors for presentation in an online showcase.

To be eligible for PT, you must be BIPoC or Female-identifying, have an early draft of a play, and submit the required materials by deadline. Additionally, participants must be able to attend all 8 sessions in their entirety

Up to 12 matriculants will be selected based on early drafts of their plays, interviews, and other submission materials (i.e., artistic statements, resumes, etc.) PlayTime will be conducted via Zoom from 6-9:00pm (EST) on 8-consecutive Tuesdays between October 21 – December 9. DQT is proud to announce this season's PT instructor will once again be OBIE Award winner Carmen Rivera Tirado.

thedqt.org

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Fall '25 GUEST RESIDENCY

Woodward Residency

DEADLINE: September 8, 2025

INFO: Applications are now open for our Winter/Spring '25 Guest Residency in Ridgewood, Queens, NY.

ELIGIBILITY: Established/emerging artists and creative professionals in the fields of literary arts, design, music, and multi-disciplinary arts are encouraged to apply.

Please note that art forms that generate fumes (such as oil painting) cannot be accommodated. Also, with the exception of our piano residents who can use headphones, our space is best suited to less cacophonous artistic pursuits.

AWARD BENEFITS:

Access to the building from 9AM-5 PM, Monday through Friday for the duration of your Guest Residency.
Guest Residents will work in the communal Great Room, with library etiquette.
Open invite to weekly tea and cake gatherings, and occasional work shares and evening parties.
A supportive and engaged community of working creatives.

WORK SAMPLES + PERSONAL STATEMENT: Recent work samples and your personal statement should reflect your commitment to your work and clarify how the residency would benefit your work at this time. Please see our application for specific guidelines.

REFERENCES: Please provide the contact info of at least one professional and one personal reference (excluding family members or significant others).

If you are new to your field of interest and don’t have a professional reference to speak to your current creative pursuits, you are welcome to provide a reference from someone in another field who has worked directly with you.

RESIDENCY SESSION: September 30, 2025 — Jan 30, 2026

EVALUATION PROCESS: A rotating panel of arts professionals will review all applications with the intent of supporting both established and emerging artists. Panelists include novelists, filmmakers, performance artists, literary agents, film/theater producers.

Selection criteria includes originality, commitment to your proposed field of work, interest in community, and demonstrated need for a work space.

We have limited space for Guest Residents and encourage all applicants to reapply if they don’t get a spot in the upcoming session.

NOTIFICATION: All applicants will be notified at least two weeks in advance of the start of their requested residency session.

woodwardresidency.co/guestresidency

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THE HODDER FELLOWSHIP

Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University

DEADLINE: September 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT

INFO: The Hodder Fellowship will be given to artists and writers of exceptional promise to pursue independent projects at Princeton University during the academic year. Potential Hodder Fellows are composers, choreographers, performance artists, visual artists, writers, translators, or other kinds of artists or humanists who have “much more than ordinary intellectual and literary gifts”; they are selected more “for promise than for performance.” Given the strength of the applicant pool, most successful Fellows have published a first book or have similar achievements in their own fields; the Hodder is designed to provide Fellows with the “studious leisure” to undertake significant new work.

Hodder Fellows spend an academic year with Princeton, but no formal teaching is involved. A $93,000 stipend is provided for this 10-month appointment as a Visiting Fellow. Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree. One need not be a U.S. citizen to apply. Previous recipients of the Princeton Arts Fellowship are not eligible to apply.

To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae, a 500-word project proposal, and samples of your work (i.e., writing sample, images of your work, video links to performances, etc.).

GUIDELINES:

To apply, please submit:

A curriculum vitae
500-word project proposal in which you describe your artistic project and what you plan to do during the fellowship's 10-month appointment
Work samples accompanied by a 150-word statement on how they relate to your proposal. Samples can be submitted as links in a PDF.

Creative Writing: Prose is limited to 3,000 words. Poetry is limited to 20 pages. If both a prose writer and poet, submit up to 2,000 words (prose) and up to 10 pages (poetry)
Dance (choreography): 1-3 links to at least 15 minutes total of rehearsals, research, or performances. Must be continuous footage with cue points. Do not send trailers, photographs or promotional materials.
Music: 1-2 scores and/or links to examples of performance (10 minutes total). Video is optional.
Theater: Up to 15 pages writing sample and/or up to 10 design images (photos or renderings) and/or video/audio reel with cue points.
Visual Arts: Up to 20 still images OR up to 10 minutes of video OR up to 10 still images and 5 minutes of video. Video can represent one work or excerpts; provide cue points if including a link to a longer work.

arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/hodder-fellowship

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PRINCETON ARTS FELLOWSHIPS

Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University

DEADLINE: September 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT

INFO: Princeton Arts Fellowships will be awarded to artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching. Applicants should be early career visual artists, filmmakers, poets, novelists, playwrights, designers, directors and performance artists—this list is not meant to be exhaustive—who would find it beneficial to spend two years teaching and working in an artistically vibrant university community.

Princeton Arts Fellows spend two consecutive academic years (September 1-July 1) at Princeton University and formal teaching is expected. The normal work assignment will be to teach one course each semester subject to approval by the Dean of the Faculty, but fellows may be asked to take on an artistic assignment in lieu of a class, such as directing a play or creating a dance with students. Although the teaching load is light, our expectation is that Fellows will be full and active members of our community, committed to frequent and engaged interactions with students during the academic year.

STIPEND: A $93,000 a year stipend is provided. Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree. One need not be a U.S. citizen to apply. Holders of Ph.D. degrees from Princeton are not eligible to apply.

Past recipients of the Hodder Fellowship and individuals who have had a sustained and continuous relationship with Princeton University are not eligible to apply. Those who have had an occasional and sporadic relationship with Princeton may apply.

GUIDELINES: To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae, contact information for three references (should the search committee choose to contact references, please do not request letters or have letters sent in advance of a request from the search committee), and work samples (i.e., a writing sample, images of your work, video links to performances, etc.). Please also submit a 750-word proposal that includes how you propose to use the fellowship to develop your work, what you might teach or pursue with undergraduates, and how you have approached community building in your artistic practice, teaching, and/or research.

arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/princeton-arts-fellowship/

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Call for application: 2026 Spring Summer Residency

MacDowell

DEADLINE: September 10, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: MacDowell provides time, space, and an inspiring residential environment to artists of exceptional talent. A MacDowell Fellowship, or residency, consists of exclusive use of a studio, accommodations, and three prepared meals a day for up to eight weeks. There are no residency fees, and MacDowell offers financial assistance to reimburse the costs of direct travel to and from the residency, as well as expenses that artists expect to incur while in residence, including rent, lost income, and childcare.

ELIGIBILITY: MacDowell accepts applications from artists working in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. The sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence, which MacDowell defines in a pluralistic and inclusive way. MacDowell encourages applications from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives and demographics, engaging in the broadest spectrum of artistic practice, and investigating an unlimited array of inquiries and concerns. To that end, MacDowell welcomes artists working in various stages of their artistic practice to apply. Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the residency season for which they are applying. Doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework may apply.

MacDowell is committed to diversity and inclusion, and a more equitable arts and cultural sector. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. MacDowell offers barrier-free access in its main buildings and some studios.

While there are no medical facilities or medical personnel on site at MacDowell, the Monadnock Community Hospital is located 3 miles away in Peterborough, NH. Additionally, there are several medical facilities (hospitals and urgent care centers) within a 30-60 minute driving radius. MacDowell welcomes artists of all abilities to apply; artists with questions or concerns about potential medical needs are encouraged to contact us prior to residency to discuss access needs.

WORK SAMPLES: Work samples supporting the proposed project and completed within the past four years are requested, unless otherwise noted. All work samples are uploaded and submitted through the online application. Applicants unable to submit new work for the panel to review should include a note of explanation. Those applicants whose proposed project does not fall clearly within an artistic discipline should contact the Admissions office to discuss which discipline would best fit the proposed work. For detailed work sample requirements for each artistic discipline, click here.

REFERENCES: The MacDowell admissions department has temporarily suspended the reference letter requirement as part of the application process as a result of direct feedback from artists who have said reference letters pose a barrier to applying. Not all artists have access to referrers, and this lack of access disproportionately effects women and BIPOC artists. While reference letters can serve a purpose in application reviews, it is not an equitable or fair assessment tool. This experiment is part of MacDowell’s effort to improve equity and access in its culture.

macdowell.org/apply/application-guidelines

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VCCA RESIDENCIES AT MT. SAN ANGELO

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)

DEADLINE: September 15, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: Residencies can be transformative to an artist’s process and the effect on an artist’s career profound. A residency at VCCA gives artists the time and space to explore and go deeper into their work. Away from the constraints of “the real world” and in an accepting environment of talented peers, one can dream and create with the feeling that anything is possible.

VCCA’s Mt. San Angelo location in Amherst, Virginia, typically hosts 360 artists each year in residencies of varying lengths (no minimum; up to six weeks) with flexible scheduling. A residency at Mt. San Angelo includes a private bedroom with private en-suite bath, a private individual studio, three prepared meals a day, and access to a community of more than 20 other artists in residence.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, VCCA is surrounded by natural wonders and hiking trails. Many local sites and additional inspiration can be found in short drives to Lynchburg (20 minutes), Charlottesville (1 hour), Roanoke (1.5 hours), or Richmond (2 hours).

FULLY FUNDED FELLOWSHIPS:

CHRISTINA CHIU AAPI WRITERS FELLOWSHIP
Who: Writers, with preference given to those who self-identify as part of the AAPI community
What: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo
When: Summer 2026 (May 1 – August 31)

GREATER OPPORTUNITY FELLOWSHIPS
Who: Artists in any discipline who have not previously been in residence at VCCA, with preference given to those who self-identify as people of color
What: Residency of up to two-weeks at Mt. San Angelo
When: Summer 2026 (May 1 – August 31)

RICHARD S. AND JULIA LOUISE REYNOLDS POETRY FELLOWSHIP
Who: Poets
What: Three-week residency at Mt. San Angelo
When: Summer 2026 (May 1 – August 31)

vcca.com

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2026 winter Residency

Monson Arts

DEADLINE: September 15, 2025

Application Requirements include:

Up to 5 images / 5 minutes of media OR 5 pages of writing examples
A letter of intent for your time at the residency
C.V. or Resume (limited to 6000 characters)
Two reference names

2026 WINTER RESIDENCY SCHEDULE:

1/12 – 1/22 – 2 Week Residency
1/26 – 2/19 – Residency (With Abbott Watts Resident)
2/23 – 3/19 – Residency

monsonarts.org/residencies/overview/

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Guggenheim Fellowship

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation

DEADLINE: September 16, 2025 by 11:59pm EDT

INFO: The Guggenheim Fellowship is an annual competition celebrating exceptional achievements in the arts, sciences, and humanities. It offers support to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form, under the freest possible conditions.

For a century, Guggenheim Fellowships have helped artists, writers, scholars, and scientists at the highest levels of achievement pursue the work they were meant to do. Since our founding, we have supported over 19,000 Fellows.

Our mandate is uniquely broad. We support Fellows in over 50 different fields, spanning the full range of creative arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, including several interdisciplinary areas.

The Guggenheim Fellowship supports individuals who have achieved notable success in their careers across the creative arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. It is designed for mid-career professionals whose work is well-established. Potential Fellows have already made significant contributions to their field and are eager for time and resources that will allow them to further their meaningful work.

While many applicants are affiliated with an academic institution or university, independent scholars, writers, and artists are eligible to apply.

A Guggenheim Fellowship term may last from six months to one year, although the proposed project does not need to be completed within that period

We do not require academics to be on sabbatical leave or free from administrative or teaching duties during the Fellowship period, but it’s fine if they are. Also, we do not commit to replacing full salaries or guaranteeing specific costs. The award funds can generally be used for any purpose related to the pursuit of the Fellow’s project – living expenses, materials, travel, equipment, etc.

FELLOWSHIPS IN THE CREATIVE ARTS:

Guggenheim Fellowships in the creative arts have fueled projects in writing, the visual arts, dance, and music.

Our first Fellowship class included 24-year-old Aaron Copland, the “dean of American composers.” Every year since then, we have celebrated the work and vision of numerous artists. We supported Zora Neale Hurston as she wrote “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and Robert Frank as he photographed what would become “The Americans.” We have contributed to the careers of poet laureates, National Book Award honorees, and Pulitzer Prize winners; artists exhibited in The Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and renowned galleries; filmmakers who have won Oscars and revolutionized documentaries; dancers who have established entirely new ways of moving; and composers who have written their own rules for new music.

We are proud to support creativity in all forms, without constraint.

APPLICANT CRITERIA:

All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada at the time of application.
Individuals who have already received a Guggenheim Fellowship are not eligible to reapply.
Guggenheim Fellowships are not open to students (undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate).
Our awards are intended for individuals only; they are not available to organizations, institutions, or groups.

PROJECT CRITERIA:

The Foundation accepts applications from individuals proposing scholarly or creative projects in the creative arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and a range of interdisciplinary fields.

Please note the following exceptions:

Guggenheim Fellowships are not available for the creation of residencies, curriculum development, or any type of educational program, nor are they available to support the development of websites or blogs.
Anthology, oral history, e-book, or textbook projects are not supported by our awards.
We regret that our awards are not available to support the writing of literature for children or young readers, or support any other type of work (e.g., films, plays, etc.) intended for young audiences.
Published writing not regarded as appropriate for our competition includes self-published works, publications for which the author has paid, and publications by publishers who do not engage in a process of critical review of submitted work. In addition, genre work (e.g., mysteries, romance, fantasy, etc.) is not within our scope.

We also accept applications for collaborative projects from two individuals who are working together on the same project, i.e., joint applications. If you would like more information about applying jointly, please contact us at competition@gf.org.

gf.org/program/how-to-apply

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The Diane Rodriguez Teatrista Award

Latinx Theatre Commons

DEADLINE: September 21, 2025 at EOD PST

INFO: The Diane Rodriguez Teatrista Award, “The Diane,” is the Latinx Theatre Commons’ first award dedicated to an individual working in the theatre field who is committed to increasing Latinx representation across disciplines. With this award, the LTC aims to continue the legacy of Diane Rodriguez (1951-2020), an award-winning, multi-hyphenate theatre artist who tirelessly advocated for other artists and opened doors for future leaders in the field.

The LTC will seek Latinx-identifying applicants who are nominated by peers and colleagues throughout the field, and award recipients will be selected by an appointed committee. With this approach, we aim to amplify Diane's spirit of generosity and her commitment to empowering fellow artists throughout her remarkable career. Please note individuals may not nominate themselves.

Nominations are open for theatre makers at any stage of their career. The Diane Rodriguez Teatrista Award recipient will receive a $5,000 unrestricted award. Nominations for the 2025 award will close on September 21, 2025 at EOD PST. Awardee will be notified of their standing December 8, 2025.

More on The Diane and previous awardees here: https://www.ltcommons.org/the-diane

For any questions please contact LTC Producer Jacqueline Flores at jacqueline@ltcommons.org

ltcommons.org/the-diane

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The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writer

New York Public Library

DEADLINE: September 26, 2025

INFO: The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers is an international fellowship program open to people whose work will benefit directly from access to the collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building—including academics, independent scholars, and creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets). Visual artists at work on a book project are also welcome to apply. The Center appoints 15 Fellows a year for a nine-month term at the Library, from September through May. In addition to working on their own projects, the Fellows engage in an ongoing exchange of ideas within the Center and in public forums throughout the Library.

A Cullman Center Fellow receives the use of an office with a computer, full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources, and a stipend of $90,000.

The Center awards fifteen fellowships each year to applicants whose work requires a period of sustained, intense immersion in the collections of one of the world’s greatest research libraries. It provides Fellows with a stipend, a private office for study and writing, and the opportunity to engage and collaborate with other Fellows through weekly lunches and other occasions to share their work. Fellows are chosen from a large field of applicants from across the United States and abroad to work at the Center from September through May.

nypl.org/about/fellowships-institutes/cullman-center-scholars-writers

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2026 RESIDENCIES

Vermont Studio Center

DEADLINE: September 30, 2025 by 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Vermont Studio Center invites applications for 2026. Nestled in the Green Mountains, VSC hosts an inclusive, global community of artists and writers. Enjoy private studios and lodging, fresh - local meals, and a vibrant Visiting Artists & Writers Program.

VSC’s residency program welcomes artists and writers working across all mediums and genres for two, three, and four week sessions.

PROGRAMMING

During each session, Visiting Artists and Visiting Writers are invited to join us for presentations, craft talks, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and individual studio visits. Residents can also enjoy open studio nights, resident presentations, and exhibition openings. All scheduled activities are optional. Residents are encouraged to unplug, completely immerse themselves in their work, and work at their own pace.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

VSC is committed to community building both locally and on campus. Every resident has the opportunity to participate in our Community Contribution Program for 3 hours per week, by assisting in one of these areas: Kitchen, School Arts Program, Visual Arts, and the Writing Program. No prior experience is necessary.

vermontstudiocenter.org/apply

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2025 John Lewis Writing Grants

Georgia Writers Association

DEADLINE: October 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET

SUBMISSION FEE: $0

GRANT: The winning recipients will receive $500, and an invitation to read from their work at the next Red Clay Writers Conference.

GUIDELINES:

Writers may apply in only one genre and must submit the following:

A completed grant application
An artist statement of 500 words (max.) as a concise description of your work and goals as a writer. Tell us what inspires your writing career, and how your work engages (directly or indirectly) with the legacy of John Lewis.
A writing sample of 10 pages (max.) of a published or unpublished piece in the genre in which you are applying: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or screen/playwriting. If submitting poetry, one poem per page please.

*Do not include your name or any identifying information in the writing sample.

georgiawritersassociation.submittable.com/submit/333082/2025-john-lewis-writing-grants

THEATER — AUGUST 2025

July 31, 2025

THE 7-YEAR RESIDENCY

New Dramatists

DEADLINE: August 4, 2025

INFO: At New Dramatists, each resident playwright acts as the artistic director of their own seven-year new play laboratory, utilizing a menu of programming resources to pursue their artistic, process and development goals. Their Lab work is housed in a mindfully cultivated environment, free from financial and critical pressures, with guidance and support from a dedicated staff who encourage expansive, creative, and strategic thinking. Writers map their own journeys with complete creative authority.

Each resident playwright has access to and can schedule working sessions with collaborators, calendar permitting, on a first come first-serve basis, with casting and additional collaborator support from New Dramatists staff. Writers decide at which point it is helpful to invite an audience into their development process, and all public readings are free of charge. These sessions range from 1-2 day readings to 29-hour workshops. Because we cannot offer every playwright an extended workshop each season, with the combined goal of accommodating individual requests and equity for the whole company, when programming extended workshops, we consider who has had greater or lesser access to these resources over time, who’s later in residency years, and calendar availability. Like all development at New Dramatists, each playwright determines their own artistic goals and terms of engagement for the extended time, and all writers and their collaborators are compensated financially when working on extended workshops in the Lab.

Each year, we also offer two in-house PlayTime retreats for multiple writers and companies of collaborators with programming and support intended to inspire ambitious creation, spark collaboration, and encourage artistic growth.

ELIGIBILITY: Any playwright who is a U.S. citizen or who resides in and has the legal right to work in the United States may apply for the 7-year residency at New Dramatists as long as they can meet the submission requirements of 2 full-length plays and a biography or resume.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Before beginning your application, please download and read the Guidelines for Resident Company document.

It is in your best interest to gather the documents required to upload to the application—two "blind" scripts and your bio/resume—early in the window, and submit your application in one session. You may be able to pause and return to your application as long as you continue working in the same browser, but this is not our recommendation. Once you complete the final step to “Submit Your Application”, you will no longer have access to your application.

The button to “Begin Application” will be posted on this web page at 10am EDT on Monday, July 21, 2025.

The application window closes automatically at 11:59pm EDT on Monday, August 4, 2025. Sessions will time out at this point and NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS, including those in progress, will be accepted after the window closes. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT TO SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS UNTIL THE LAST DAY.

Please email our Literary Services Manager Connie Hall admissions@newdramatists.org with any questions.

newdramatists.org/7-year-residency

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call for submissions: ‘Love Your Mother: Environmental Responsibility and Recovery’

Revolutionary Dreaming

DEADLINE: August 12, 2025

INFO: Revolutionary Dreaming is inviting all self-identified Black girl (ages 11-24) literary artists to submit poems, flash-fiction pieces (NOT to exceed 500 words), nonfictional short essays (NOT to exceed 1,000 words), short screenplays, and plays in alignment with the theme Love Your Mother: Environmental Responsibility and Recovery.

We're encouraging submissions to reflect on what Black girls feel the human responsibility to the Earth is, as they consider Mother Earth as a site of reconciliation, recovery, and purpose -- ultimately led to wherever their imagination transports them

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzZ2dkIxsP8g8Ue6H9iFiZjeHW2-eX0-8x26UbCYifUhR6fQ/viewform

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Yale drama series

Yale University Press

DEADLINE: August 15, 2025

ENTRY FEE: $0

INFO: The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2026 playwriting competition.

JUDGE: The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

PRIZE: The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a staged reading at the Schwarzman Center at Yale University. The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement.

GUIDELINES:

Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:

This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered.
Translations, adaptations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.
Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.
Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
Plays must be typed/word-processed and page numbered. Plays with images are not accepted.
The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.
The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES:

Before submitting your play, please:

Omit your name and contact information from your manuscript and submission file name.
Begin your manuscript with a title page that shows the play's title, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes.
Enter the title of your play, your name and contact information (including address, phone number, and email address), and a brief biography where indicated in the electronic submission form.

yup.submittable.com/submit

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Playlab

Pipeline Theatre Company

DEADLINE: August 15, 2025

INFO: Pipeline's Playlab is a playwrights' group that aids and encourages artists in growing their biggest, wildest ideas into imaginative and daring new plays. Through monthly meetings, one-on-one dramaturgical support, and workshop-events, each writer is supported in developing their ambitious initial concept into a new script over the course of a year!

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR: In line with our vision, we want your most impossible idea for a play that you can't wait to write. We're looking for plays that bend the rules, and playwrights who crave a space in which they can dive into new, uncharted territory. We are interested in fostering projects in their earliest stages of conception – the closer you are to first putting pen to paper, the better!

TIMELINE: We will accept applications until August 15th! We will reach out to playwrights in August to schedule interviews, and the first Playlab meeting will take place at the end of September!

DATES: PlayLab meetings typically take place on the third Sunday of each month, from 11 - 2, but we will work with the PlayLab class to finalize dates that work for all. Throughout the year, we will also host three "Springboards;" workshops for playwrights to test out their projects in motion!

PAYMENT: This year, all playwright's will be paid $500 for their participation in PlayLab!

PLEASE NOTE that this year, we will be hosting PlayLab digitally or hybrid digital and in person. As such, we invite applications from outside of New York City.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaeDn_Wd3pC5wrWtw_a5tnX2DjhSiXuZn0QNvzTY1UfBZ2HQ/viewform

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script submissions

Clubbed Thumb

DEADLINE: August 31, 2025

INFO: From time to time we evaluate our submission policy to ensure that we’re giving writers the opportunity to share their work, in a way that is sustainable for our small team.

To that end, Clubbed Thumb will open play submissions this year for the month of August. Alongside submitting to our Biennial Commission (just announced; next up in 2027) and inviting us to your readings and productions (NYC only), this is an excellent way for us to get to know your work. We will read and respond to the plays we receive by May 2026. Please note we are not reading for a specific opportunity or production. Many of the writers we work with we met when they sent us a play!

Clubbed Thumb develops and produces plays that are funny, strange and provocative. If you’ve not seen our work, then look through our production history and read some of the plays we have produced (in our anthologies or published elsewhere) before submitting.

GUIDELINES:

Beyond our aesthetic criteria, Clubbed Thumb will only accept play submissions that fall within these basic guidelines:

Has at least three roles
Includes substantial and challenging roles for women
Running time of 90 min or less
Intermissionless
Unproduced in New York City

Do not send, for example:

Two-handers or solo shows
Tragedies
Adaptations
Plays that are over 110 pages (unless it reads really fast!)
Do not re-submit plays we have responded to; only submit one play please

Note that if you send work that does not adhere to the above guidelines, we cannot give it a thorough consideration. We understand that many plays do not fit this brief, but our interest is in reading how your unique voice intersects with our mission: funny, strange and provocative.

clubbedthumb.org/guidelines/

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STORYKNIFE WRITERS RETREAT

Storyknife

DEADLINE: August 31, 2025

INFO: Women’s stories are vital and important. Currently, those stories whether expressed in poems, plays, screenplays, novels, essays, or memoirs are not published, reviewed, or promoted as often as the work of men. Storyknife provides female-identified writers with the time and space to explore their craft without distraction. Every aspect of a residency at Storyknife is steeped in a profound generosity of spirit so that each writer knows she and her work are valuable. Storyknife residents carry away both this affirmation and a living community of women writers to assist their valuable work wherever they go.

Residencies at Storyknife in Homer, Alaska, are either for two or four weeks based on preference of the applicant. Resident’s food and lodging is covered during the period of their residency, but travel to and from Homer, Alaska, is the responsibility of the resident. There are some travel scholarships available. Residents stay in individual cabins & dine at the main house. An on-staff chef is responsible for food preparation.

Residencies are available April through October.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must:

Be woman-identified
Be 21 years of age or older
Apply as an individual artist, not a collaborative group or team

You will provide a work sample and answer four questions (each answer 300 words or fewer).

How have you sought to educate yourself as a writer? (Formal education not a prerequisite, but evidence of curiosity and learning in your applicable genre is.)
What is your experience with publishing your work? (Publishing is not a prerequisite but is considered a goal for writers who attend Storyknife.)
What project will you pursue while in residency? (Please note that you will be free to work on whatever writing you wish during residency. We simply are interested in what you think you’ll be pursuing.)
Why would a writing residency benefit you at this time especially?

Work Sample Requirements:

Work samples should reflect work completed within the last two years. All work samples must be uploaded through Submittable.
Applicants can submit published or unpublished work samples.
All work samples must be combined into one PDF file.
A writing sample not to exceed 10 pages (prose: double-spaced 12 point font, poetry: single-spaced 12 point font acceptable). Prose includes screenplays and stage plays which also must conform to the 10 page limit.
Any writing samples with identifying material will be disqualified. This is an anonymous process. Identifying material is your full name, last name, address, or publication credits. Do no include your last name, address, or publication credits in either the writing sample, the file name, or in headers/footers. This only refers to the writing sample, not the answers to the questions.

Diversity

Storyknife is committed to diversity and elevating the voices of historically excluded communities. We value all aspects of diversity and seek to make each resident’s time at Storyknife as productive and pleasant as possible.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

It is prohibited to use any AI tools in any fashion to create/check/modify the answers to your application questions or your writing sample.

storyknifewritersretreat.submittable.com/submit

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FALL 2025 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: GIRLS WRITE NOW COLLABORATORY JOURNEYS

Girls Write Now

DEADLINE: August 31, 2025

INFO: Calling all storytellers! Applications are officially open for Fall 2025 Journeys in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory!

Are you 14-24 and ready to write your truth with support from a mentor?
Are you 25+ and passionate about guiding the next generation of creatives?

Join a powerful community where women and gender expansive writers come together to learn, create, and grow.

Each Journey in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory is a package of Writing Course Content, Mentorship, and Community Experiences. Our team of teachers, artists, and content experts has thoughtfully curated each Journey to be a dynamic, multifaceted experience. Journeys can be light touch or intensive, short or long-term, asynchronous or in real time.

JOURNEY CYCLES:

A Cycle is a three-month time period. You can sign up for one, two, or threeCycles to meet your schedule and goals.

Fall: November 1-January 31
Spring: March 1-May 31

girlswritenow.org/journeys/

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CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS: ‘QUEERING OUR SILOS: GESTURES OF EUPHORIA PROJECT 2025–2026’

Maurice Moore

DEADLINE: September 1, 2025 by midnight

INFO: LGBTQIA2S+ artist(s) & allies in the Appalachian regions are invited to submit proposals to teach in person or online creative arts workshops for the Queering Our Silos: Gestures of Euphoria Project 2025-2026.

These creative arts workshops will help various arts communities get out of our silos and build stronger, more collaborative relationships between LGBTQIA2S+ communities & allies throughout the Appalachian region: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Each selected facilitator will receive a $1,000 grant to support their work. Workshops can be in any creative medium, and may take place in person or online.

Budget - $1000

Artist Labor or Compensation $500

•Funds will be used to pay an artist a $500.00 honorarium to teach their workshop. If there are multiple artists teaching a workshop the $500.00 honorarium will be divided between the artists.

Materials $200

•The artist(s) leading a workshop will receive $200.00 for materials.

Location/Space $200

•$200.00 of the funds will be used for the artist(s) to rent a space to teach their workshops.

*Funds will be reallocated to support additional workshops if the location/space is provided at no cost or if the course is delivered online.

Food $100

•$100.00 of the funds will be used by the artist(s) teaching their workshops to buy healthy food and refreshments for the workshop taught.

*30 days before artist the Artist(s) purposed workshop, the artist(s) will receive funds for materials $200.00, renting Location/Space $200.00, and food $100.00. Total $500.00.

**Upon completion of the workshop, the artist(s) will send the project organizer at QOSGEProject@outlook.com photos and/or video documentation from the workshop, along with receipts/invoices for (materials/food/rented location/space, then the Artist(s) will receive the honorarium. All workshops need to be completed between Oct 1, 2025 - May 15, 2026.

***Artist(s) will have two weeks after the completion of their workshop to send documentation & receipts/invoices to the project organizer at QOSGEProject@outlook.com to receive the honorarium.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Sep 1, 2025: Proposal deadline
Sep 3, 2025: Proposals Reviewed
Sep 30, 2025: Artist Notified of Approved Proposals

*Due our small staff only selected artist/artist team's approved proposals will be notified. We thank you for understanding.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrJbTK2yjxNBTRYVNrWLGedF7VbmYX9mmQ5R3p2p3qC8_H1w/viewform

THEATER — JULY 2025

July 1, 2025

BIPOC Critics Lab

The Public Theater

DEADLINE: July 7, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

INFO: The Public's BIPOC Critics Lab was founded in 2020 by Jose Solís as a first-of-its-kind program designed to train and create work by emerging BIPOC theater journalists.

Sessions for the Lab will span the course of The Public’s 2025-26 season, with 10 weekly sessions in the Fall, followed by four monthly sessions in the Spring. Those chosen to participate will receive offers to join the cohort in August, with the cohort officially beginning in mid-September. This iteration of the cohort will be a hybrid model of online sessions and optional in-person activities. Participants who meet the attendance requirements will be assigned a future commissioned piece with compensation.

Following the tenets of dialogue, compassion, and nurturing one’s unique voice, future critics who participate in the cohort will contribute to the creation of a custom program that fits their specific needs and encourages them to pursue the path of criticism that best serves them. Participating in the cohort is at no cost to members. Selected members will have the opportunity to learn all aspects of arts journalism through a variety of mediums beyond the written word.BIPOC experts in the field also serve as guest speakers for the Lab. Writers who meet the attendance requirements at the culmination of the program will be assigned a future commissioned piece with compensation.

Please reach out to us at BIPOCCriticsLab@publictheater.org for any inquiries.

publictheater.org/artistic-programs/bipoc-critics-lab-pages/bipoc-critics-lab/

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Ruby Creatives In Residence Program

The Ruby

DEADLINE: July 8, 2025

INFO: The Ruby is a collective of creative women, trans women, femmes, and nonbinary people that values empathy and education. Our Creatives in Residence (CIR) program supports QT BIPOC Bay Area creatives with 10 fully-funded year-long memberships.

Our Creatives in Residence Program is designed to offer creatives the opportunity to immerse themselves in a supportive environment and create new work while interacting with the Ruby community. Our program is open to creatives working in all disciplines, including visual arts, music, literature, performing arts, journalism, and more. In addition, we welcome applications from arts educators, oral historians, cultural workers, food and drink-based artisans, community organizers, and other changemakers.

As a Creative in Residence, you will have access to our community workspace and resources from September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2026. You will also have the opportunity to engage with Ruby community members through workshops, readings, community meals, and other events.

The program is open to both emerging and established creatives.

GENERAL CREATIVES IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM:

We are excited to offer 5 CIR opportunities to LGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford a Ruby membership. These are year-long Full Ruby memberships that will span a year, from September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2026.

SPECIALIZED CRATIVES IN RESIDENCE OPPORTUNITIES:

We also have several specialized creatives in residence opportunities available for those with financial need who would benefit from a Ruby membership. These are also year-long Ruby memberships spanning from September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2026.

The Dorothea Gertrude Flynn CIR Opportunity will be given to a recipient who was the first in their family to enroll in higher education. Dorothea Gertrude Flynn was born in 1917. She had planned to attend Barnard College (Columbia did not accept women at the time) and dreamed of a becoming a writer—specifically, a journalist. After her mother died in childbirth and her father subsequently lost everything in the Depression, she was no longer able to afford college, and never attended. She was always a passionate advocate for education for women, and would have been thrilled by the community of writers and creatives here at the Ruby. This is a full, one-year membership to The Ruby.

The Leonore Peyser Davis CIR Opportunity will be given to a musician or music writer with financial need. Leonore Peyser Davis was a devotee of all the arts, and music, especially opera, which was something she adored. This CIR opportunity celebrates her passion for music and is dedicated to cultivating emerging voices in the field. This is a full, one-year membership to The Ruby.
The Rachel Khong CIR Opportunity will be given to a LGBTQ+ and/or POC fiction writer with financial need working on their first novel. Rachel Khong is a San Francisco-based writer and the founder of The Ruby. Rachel worked tirelessly to provide a collaborative, safe space for women and non-binary people to pursue their goals and creative work in community with others. This CIR will join the Ruby for a year as a full member and as a welcome contributor to the mutually affirming community that Rachel built.
The So-Youn Kim CIR Opportunity will be given to an emerging Bay Area LGBTQ+ and/or POC writer tackling topics relating to social justice. So-Youn Kim was a writer and activist, tackled the injustices she saw all around her. She was passionate about advocating for women and girls, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color. She loved deeply and recklessly, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who met her. A San Francisco native, she died at the age of 23 in 2009, while serving with the Peace Corps in Morocco. The So-Youn Kim Creative in Residence opportunity celebrates her life and creativity. In addition to a year-long community membership at the Ruby, the CIR will be able to contribute to a chapbook, housed in the Ruby library, that includes writings from So-Youn and prior So-Youn Kim Creatives in Residence.
The Tillie Olson CIR Opportunity will be given to a creative over the age of fifty with financial need. Tillie Olson was a Bay Area-based writer and labor organizer who stopped writing for thirty years because of financial issues before publishing her seminal work, Silences, at 66. Her interest in long-neglected women authors inspired the development of academic programs in women’s studies. This is a full, one-year membership to The Ruby.

CREATIVES IN RESIDENCE VALUES:

The Ruby Creatives in Residence program extends and expands on The Ruby’s values for collective support and collaboration for artists and creatives. In applying to this program, we expect alignment with the below values:

Collective Support and Care: Creatives in residence, as all Ruby members, are expected to contribute time and care to the Ruby. Each member is expected to contribute approximately 3 hours monthly to the community. This may include organizing opportunities for members to gather, staffing the front desk, supporting an event, or mentoring and supporting other members of the collective.
Dedication to work: Creatives in residence are expected to use the provided communal space for working and showcasing on their art and creative projects.
Respect for the community: Creatives in residence are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner towards other community members. They should treat the space and resources with care and be mindful of the impact their work may have on the community.
Active participation: As the crux of our work is collective support and community empowerment, creatives in residence are expected to participate actively in workshops, exhibitions, events, and, like all members of our community, contribute time in support of community stewardship of our space.

Overall, artists in residence of a creative collective are expected to be collaborative, dedicated, respectful, and active. In exchange, they will have access to a supportive and inspiring environment to create new work, develop their skills, and build connections with other creatives.

APPLICATION SEASON: We are seeking applicants who will regularly use The Ruby as a work space, who might make meaningful progress on their projects during the course of this year, share in our collective values, and who are in financial need. Creatives in residence, as all Ruby members, are expected to contribute time and care to the Ruby. Each member is expected to contribute approximately 3 hours monthly to the community. This may include organizing opportunities for members to gather, staffing the front desk, supporting an event, or mentoring and supporting other members of the collective.

therubysf.com/creativesinresidence

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KYOTO RETREAT

DEADLINE: July 15, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $95

INFO: The Kyoto Retreat is a new program created by Japan-based, independent curator Dexter Wimberly. The Kyoto Retreat offers artists, curators, and writers, based anywhere in the world, an opportunity to spend four weeks in Kyoto, Japan, for research, exploration, and inspiration. If selected for the retreat, you will receive a roundtrip flight, a private bedroom, and $800 USD to supplement meals and local transportation.

The inaugural Kyoto Retreat will take place from October 16 - November 13, 2025. Individuals selected for the retreat will be notified by August 15, 2025.

A 4-WEEK EXPERIENCE:

We select artists, curators, and writers at all career stages, working in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and nonfiction writing, poetry, interdisciplinary, and social practice. Individuals must be over 21 years old to apply. Our application requires you to submit a CV or resume, a brief statement about your creative interests and a description of how you anticipate using the time if selected for The Kyoto Retreat. You can also provide up to 10 work samples.

For artists, Kyoto's temples and shrines, such as the golden splendor of Kinkaku-ji and the serene rock gardens of Ryoan-ji, provide a gateway into traditional Japanese aesthetics. The interplay of light and shadow in these sacred spaces, alongside the intricate details of wooden architecture and ornate carvings, can ignite a profound creative spark.
Curators will find Kyoto's preservation of heritage arts—like tea ceremonies, ikebana (flower arranging), and Noh theater—a living museum that transcends time. The city's numerous galleries and artisan workshops showcase both classical crafts and contemporary art, offering a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of Japanese artistry.
For writers, Kyoto's tranquil gardens and winding cobblestone streets evoke narratives waiting to be penned. The changing hues of autumn during October and November paint the city in vibrant reds and golds, providing a stunning backdrop for contemplation and storytelling. Walking through the bamboo groves of Arashiyama or along the philosopher's path can stir reflections on nature, philosophy, and the human experience.

kyotoretreat.com

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2026 artist residency

Marble House Project

DEADLINE: July 15, 2025

INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas, by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work together. The residency is dedicated to ecological principles and integrates sustainable practices, including small-scale organic food production and waste conservation. Residents sustain their growth by engaging with the grounds while working on their artistic practice. Marble House Project is founded on the belief that the act of creating, whether in the studio or in nature, is how human potential expands and community thrives.

Marble House Project accepts approximately 60 residents and is open to artists living in the United States and abroad. You must be at least 21 years old. Each session accommodates eight artists and is specifically curated to bring together a diverse group of creative workers, to maximize potential for collaboration and dialogue while in residence and beyond.

RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2026:

April 21 - May 12
May 19 - June 9
June 30 - July 14 (ecology residency)
September 29 - October 20

ABOUT: All residents live together in the historic, eight-bedroom Manley-Lefevre house, a communal space organized around responsibilities-sharing systems which highlight sustainability and community. The residency is an opportunity to develop and carry out practices of mutual support, group conversation, and to cultivate adaptive relationships with the environment. This can take the form of discussions with guest multidisciplinary artists, thinkers, and activists and other individual and group activities that benefit our community of residents.

Residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners at least three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. . Each session culminates with a short video interview and artists are invited to publicly share their work with our community and each other. Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food, private studio space, and artist support. We are not able to cover costs related to travel or materials. There is no fee to attend the residency.

Applications are accepted in all creative fields including but not limited to writing, dance and choreography, performance, music composition and sound, film and video, visual arts, and culinary arts. Applications are reviewed by a jury of alumni and staff. Artists are selected based on quality of work, commitment to practice, and project description. Please choose the application that best describes your work. Two artists may apply together as a collaborative, and should complete one application. Within each application you will be asked to select the session dates best for you.

If you are applying to the ecology residency you must have a project that aligns with this theme. You may also apply to the other residency sessions as well.

Marble House Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. For exact dates, more information or questions about the residency, visit our FAQ page. If you still have questions you may contact info@marblehouseproject.org.

Personal information is not shared with our jury and will remain confidential. This includes email, home address, phone number and any information regarding your family, anything else you would need to tell us and how you heard about Marble House Project. Please remove this information from your resume. All of our outreach questions also remain confidential and blind to our jury.

marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit

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DGF 2025-2026 NATIONAL PLAYWRITING FELLOWS

Dramatists Guild Foundation

DEADLINE: July 21, 2025

INFO: The DGF National Fellows program is a nine-month virtual intensive for dramatists who want to develop their existing work and advance their careers.

The National Fellows program is a free program created by the Dramatists Guild Foundation, designed to eliminate historical barriers of entry for many emerging dramatists. This nationwide cohort of playwrights, composers, lyricists, librettists, and bookwriters will work together under the guidance and leadership of prominent program chairs to develop their current work.

Selected writers, in all stages of their careers, will work with industry professionals as the Chairs for the program, over nine months to learn how to develop, promote, and market their work for a staged production. National Fellows will receive a stipend, access to career resources, become part of a nationwide cohort of dramatists, and have the opportunity to visit New York at the end of the Fellowship and attend the Dramatists Guild Foundation Gala in October.

PLEASE NOTE: this Fellowship opportunity is not for anyone who resides in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania). If you are in one of these areas, you are welcome to apply for our New York Fellows Program in 2026.

dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit

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The 7-Year Residency

New Dramatists

APPLICATION PERIOD: July 21 - August 4, 2025

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Before beginning your application, please download and read the Guidelines for Resident Company document.

The button to “Begin Application” will be posted on this web page at 10am EDT on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Please email our Literary Services Manager Connie Hall admissions@newdramatists.org with any questions.

newdramatists.org/7-year-residency

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2025-2026 CoCo Residency

Colt Couer

DEADLINE: July 29, 2025 by 10:00 pm EST

INFO: The CoCo Residency program started 8 years ago and invites 6-9 early and mid-career theatre artists to form a cohort over a year-long period. The cohort includes playwrights, directors, creative producers, and designers.

If selected, you will be required to attend and participate in five CoCo Residents' meetings (in Brooklyn). Each Resident is responsible for 1 'half-meeting' chunk which can be spent completely as they wish. That is not hyperbole - the time does not have to be 'theatre' or 'productivity' focused. In fact, we prefer that the session not consist exclusively of ‘reading pages’ - we encourage you to explore the unique perspectives in the room and facilitate conversations and/or activities that open our minds to new ways of thinking, being, and making.

We also invite the cohort of Residents to join as much CoCo programming as they're interested in. We hold Community Gatherings quarterly, featuring workshops and trainings, as well as games & exercises led by CoCo Company members and affiliated artists. We also produce 1-3 world premiere productions/year and we expect you to see and engage with the work.

The goal of this program is for residents to build authentic relationships within their cohort, as well as with the Colt Coeur Leadership team. (We also hope you get to know the artists in the Company!) Unlike other residencies, there is no specific product you are working on, nor is there a forward-facing presentation of any kind. Hopefully, our time together yields exciting ideas, nourishes our souls, and establishes the foundations for future collaborations.

The CoCo Residency program alumni include: Brittany K. Allen, Will Arbery, Rashad T. Bailey, Micaela Bottari, Katie Brook, Bleu Beckford-Burell, Dustin Chinn, Kate Cortesi, Melissa Crespo, Sarah Dahnke, Adrienne Dawes, Kate Douglas, Tara Elliot, Justine Gelfman, Emma Goidel, Jeremy O. Harris, Justice Hehir, Rachel Herron, Obehi Janice, C.A. Johnson, J. Mehr Kaur, Portia Krieger, Ying Ying Li, Alex Lin, Niara Mae, Natalie Margolin, Rehana Lew Mirza, Lia Romeo, Sarah Sander, Danya Taymor, Corey Umlauf, Liba Vaynberg, Noelle Viñas, Whitney White, Seayoung Yim, Pirronne Yousefzadeh, and Cate Yu. (If you know any of these artists - we encourage you to ask them about their experience!)

Because we are hoping to engage with you in person and we know that community building requires significant time and energy - we ask you to be honest with yourself and with us about what you're up for. If this isn't a good year, please don't apply. If you already feel spread thin in terms of artistic homes/projects/etc, please make space for another artist to have this opportunity. This opportunity is specifically for NY-based artists - please do not apply this year if you are not NY-based. Additionally, please know that far more playwrights apply to this program - but we want designers, directors and creative producers too - please help spread the word to them!!

Through this residency, we are excited to offer:

an $800 stipend (in two payments, one in October 2025, one in August 2026)
access to the CoCo office/rehearsal studio in DUMBO (we encourage Residents to collaborate with each other and share their work in our DUMBO studio)
Up to $50 towards workshop/development to support your creative work/sharing

We ask all Residents to list their engagement (Colt Coeur Resident Artist) in their bios for the duration of the Residency and to commit to attending at least 4 of the 5 CoCo Resident meetings.

Please take a few moments to read our Code of Community (https://www.coltcoeur.org/code-of-community) and fill out the form below. Every individual who collaborates with Colt Coeur is held to the same standard as outlined in this Code. We ask that you join us in creating a nurturing and supportive space (virtual or in-person) for all.

Please note that these responses will be shared among Adrienne Campbell-Holt (she/her, CoCo Artistic Director), Heather Cohn (she/her, CoCo Executive Producer), Talya Braverman (any pronouns, CoCo Artistic Associate), Maya Smoot (she/her, CoCo Director of Outreach & Education) and Board members serving on the Artistic Programming committee.

We will notify finalists and conduct interviews the week of August 18th. (In-person interviews are preferred but zoom is possible.) Our first session is Friday, September 12th.

If you would like to speak to our team about alternative ways to apply (i.e. self-recorded video, or audio file), please get in touch at coltcoeur@gmail.com.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcy4un7sFgB_9-vEBzg42_JBrTdnK4TGCT_DBjalxOgx2KYg/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafpQCuPdKbJXG7iP1-z76ehwZWC7z5HcJ3yu8gzpdxS1mwmtKbPhfVlFPP3zg_aem_UqEPbtrOpBXfd346p2iRbA

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CALL FOR MENTORS: Prison Writing Mentorship Program

PEN America

DEADLINE: July 31, 2025

INFO: The PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program has been a pillar of the Prison and Justice Writing Program for nearly 50 years. Separated from the outside world, incarcerated writers face unique challenges to their emergence and careers as writers, journalists, and artists with valuable contributions.

The PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program aims to fill this gap by matching an incarcerated writer with a writer on the outside who has volunteered to read and respond to submitted work—a relationship similar to that of a writer and editor. The majority of mentees join the program through the annual PEN Prison Writing Awards, either as winners or by recommendation of the judging committee.

Through these pairings, writers receive feedback on new or existing work, support with crafting a writing practice and process, and, most importantly, a tether to literary communities outside prison walls. These exchanges are designed to be connective experiences, where reciprocal learning occurs between mentees and mentors. In this respect, the PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program aims for participants to:

Celebrate Different Perspectives
Develop a Writing Practice
Strengthen Literary Craft
Explore New Methods of Storytelling
Foster Connections with Literary Landscape

LASTING IMPACT: The impact of the PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program often extends beyond the writing goals of its participants. Participating mentees who complete the correspondence cycle receive a certificate of completion. Previous participants have included this certificate—as well as other documentation of their work with PEN America—in dossiers for parole hearings.

The program also facilitates the cultivation of deep and enduring relationships between writers in prisons and those on the outside. These meaningful connections are honored through the annual PEN America/L’Engle Rahman Prize for Mentorship, which is named for the 10-year written friendship of the late acclaimed author Madeleine L’Engle and scholar, writer, and former Black Panther Party leader Ahmad Rahman. In his nomination essay, 2023 PEN America/L’Engle Rahman Prize winner Steven Perez writes about his impactful relationship with his mentor, Alison Harney:

MENTEES: The Prison and Justice Writing Program works with adult writers who are incarcerated in federal and state prisons, jails, and detention centers. Program participants are of all age groups, races, ethnicities, genders, ability, and educational backgrounds, and join a community of writers with diverse lived experiences and writing backgrounds. PEN America works with individuals regardless of the circumstances that led to their incarceration.

MENTORS: The community of volunteers involved in the PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program are writers and editors of all genres who have direct experience with teaching, conducting an editorial process, facilitating workshops, and/or have familiarity with the media, literary, and publishing landscapes. This program is not suited for high school and undergraduate students. Graduate students, in MFA programs or otherwise, are welcome to apply. Individuals with justice involvement are highly encouraged to submit a mentor application.

PAIRING PROCESS: Pairings are decided based on the experience, skills, and strengths of each mentee and mentor applicant. We also cross reference each mentee’s expressed goals and intentions from their onboarding survey to provide a supportive and enriching experience.

Due to the convoluted nature of sending mail to and from prison, as well as the increasing censorship practices and mail digitization, the PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program is generally limited to writers who are recipients of the PEN Prison Writing Awards. Mentor applicants who are not paired for the upcoming cohort, may apply next year for the 2026-2027 mentorship cycle, and are encouraged to register for Works of Justice—PJW’s newsletter-based content series—to learn about future opportunities.

Please note that this is not a pen pal program. We support and admire the important work of pen pal programs and encourage those who do not fit the above criteria, or who don’t receive a pairing, to pursue those opportunities which are critical to mitigating the impact of isolation on the millions of people incarcerated in the US. Some of our favorites areHuman Rights Pen Pals, Lifelines to Solitary, Black and Pink, pARTner project.

MENTOR ENGAGEMENT:

PEN America facilitates most correspondence between mentors and mentees, with the expectation that mentors respond to each mentee communication within three weeks. Mentors are expected to correspond with mentees throughout the 10-month cycle, but are welcome to continue beyond that.

Throughout the cycle, the Prison and Justice Writing Program team will also host a variety of community-based sessions for volunteers, including an orientation, webinars, and other learning opportunities.

2025-2026 TENTATIVE TIMELINE:

Below are key dates for the 2025-2026 mentorship cycle. Some of these dates, such as the orientation, are subject to change based on internal and participant scheduling.

June 1 – July 31, 2025: Mentorship application open
September 30, 2025: All mentor/mentee pairs confirmed
October 7, 2025: Mentor Orientation (virtual)
October 15, 2025: Correspondence cycle begins
August 14, 2026: Correspondence cycle ends

pen.org/prison-and-justice-writing/mentoring-program/

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Emerging Writers Residency

Circle in the Square Theatre School

DEADLINE: September 1, 2025

INFO: The Emerging Writers Residency is a new works incubator that offers theater writers a four-week residency at our premier acting conservatory to develop a play or musical, culminating in a presentation on the Circle in the Square Broadway stage..

The CITSTS New Works Residency offers writers a creative space, an acting troupe, and time to develop their work. One musical and one play are selected each year to be workshopped for four weeks each, with CITSTS student actors and faculty directors. Each piece will receive a public reading on the Circle in the Square Broadway stage at the end of that four weeks.

SCHEDULE:

The Musical will be in residence from January 13, 2026 to Feb 9, 2026, with the public presentation on February 3, 2025. See the Musical Submission Guidelines for a detailed schedule.
The Play will be in residence from January 13, 2026 to Feb 9, 2026, with the presentation on February 10, 2025. See the Play Submission Guidelines for a detailed schedule.
Writers are required to be present in person at Circle in the Square in NYC for the residency. There is an honorarium, but no housing or transportation is provided.

HONORARIUM:

Playwright: $500
Musical team: $500 per team member, maximum of $1000 to be divided evenly

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

Printing, photocopies, and binders
Access to the CITSTS library and rehearsal rooms as a space to write outside of the session times
Complimentary tickets to the show playing on the Broadway stage when available

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN A WRITER:

There are no limitations on writer experience level or demographics. The first round of submissions will be read BLIND.
As an educational institution, it is imperative to us that the writers we bring in are comfortable working in an educational environment with actors who have never been part of a new works process before. There will be an interview process for the six finalists (3 plays, 3 musicals) to determine which writers will be the best fit for our institution.
Writers are expected to be within commuting distance of NYC for the duration of the residency. No housing or transportation will be provided. Please reach out to us with any questions regarding potential conflicts.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN A SCRIPT/SCORE:

A full draft of a script/score in early stages of development that has NOT been professionally produced (1st drafts are great!)
Substantial and challenging roles for a diverse array of actors (both racial and gender diversity)
A MINIMUM of 4 substantial roles*, not including ensemble for the musical. Musicals with ensembles are encouraged to apply!
You must be the sole author or authors of the piece you are submitting, and the exclusive owner of all rights to the play or musical. If you are submitting an adapted work, the rights to any material not in the public domain must have been granted in writing and you will submit a copy of the release with your application.

* Note: as we are casting within our student body, flexible casting may be necessary

circlesquare.org/emerging-writers-residency

THEATER — JUNE 2025

May 31, 2025

2025-2026 Artists in Residence program

Ars Nova (NYC)

DEADLINE: June 6, 2025

INFO: The Artists in Residence Program is an individually tailored, development-based residency for early career performing artists of all disciplines to explore a project in house at Ars Nova over the course of a season. The residency is a unique opportunity for artists who develop work in non-traditional ways to make use of Ars Nova’s customized, flexible support to discover new things about their project and process, and to build community and peer relationships with artists across genres in the residency cohort.

Residents will be invited to develop a specific project in house at Ars Nova for a season, working toward goals and benchmarks for that project that are defined at the beginning of the residency. The focus of an artist’s residency at Ars Nova is on a fruitful process and the development of an artistic practice, not on a finished product. Through a wide range of development tools, institutional resources and hands-on artistic support, residents are encouraged to think big, take risks and push their creative potential as they make work under Ars Nova’s roof. Residents will also have the opportunity to connect with one another and with the wider Ars Nova community through events, monthly get-togethers, and more.

Ars Nova is now accepting Intent to Apply Forms for our new 2025-2026 Artists in Residence program. We’re looking for early career artists of all disciplines, including but not limited to playwrights, composers, devisers, curators, comedians to join a cohort of creatives who will spend a season in residence with Ars Nova.

RESIDENCY EXPECTATIONS:

Resident Artists will be in residence with Ars Nova from early September 2025 throughend of June 2026;
Resident Artists will attend monthly cohort gatherings led by a member of the Ars Nova Artistic Team;
Resident Artists will work with the Artistic Team to design a development trajectory for their residency at the beginning of the season.

RESIDENCY RESOURCES:

A monthly residency stipend
A budget, managed by Ars Nova, to support their development in the residency;
Hands-on support and mentorship from the Ars Nova artistic team on their artistic trajectory;
Access to the space and resources in the Ars Nova building, including, but not limited to, rehearsal space, theater space, jump desks, printers, and more;
Participation in a retreat at some point in the season;
Complimentary tickets to Ars Nova shows;
The opportunity to present work onstage at the Ars Nova Theater.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: I create with a collaborator. Can I apply with them?

A: We will accept applications from individuals, duos, or trios collaborating on a project.

Q: What kinds of artists can participate in this residency?

A: We would love to receive applications from early career generative artists of all types in the performing arts. This could include—but is not limited to—playwrights, composers, devisers, curators, comedians, clowns, choreographers, and directors. Are you a generative artist who doesn’t yet have a name for what you do? We’d love to meet you!

Q: What kind of projects are you looking for in this residency?

A: Projects that are either new or in early stages of development will benefit most from the resources offered in this residency.

Q: Is this residency open to artists outside of New York City?

A: Given the frequency of cohort gatherings and onsite development work, this residency is best suited to artists who live in the New York area.

Q: What will the full application process look like?

A: Interested artists should submit an Intent to Apply form by June 6. After reviewing all submissions, Ars Nova’s Artistic Team will invite a selection of those artists to submit a full application to the program in July. A select group of those applicants will be asked to interview with the Artistic Team in August, with the goal of finalizing the cohort by the end of August for an early September start.

Q: I want to apply to Play Group, CAMP, the Vision Residency, or Maker’s Lab. When are those applications opening for next season?

A: You should apply to this program! This year, we are putting our energy into a program that connects artists working in all mediums rather than siloing them into separate programs. The Artists in Residence Program will support all the same genres of art-making that Play Group, CAMP, Vision Residency, and Maker’s Lab supported. And ideally, its flexible nature will make room for artists who might not have found a home in any of those programs!

arsnovanyc.com/ARTISTSINRESIDENCE/

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Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)

DEADLINE: June 17, 2025 at 5:00pm ET

INFO: The Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award is an $8,000 cash grant to be awarded to one (1) New York State-based playwright or screenwriter who self-identifies as LGBTQ+.

The Award honors the life and work of Ryan Hudak. Ryan was a gay playwright, theater maker, filmmaker, and a valued member of NYFA’s staff who served on the executive and development teams. Tragically, Ryan passed away in May 2022 after a long battle with Leukemia at the age of 32. The Award is open to playwrights and screenwriters who live in New York State, including those who live within the five boroughs of New York City.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award is open to New York State playwrights and screenwriters, including those who live within the five boroughs of New York City.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Must be a working playwright or screenwriter. Acceptable forms of playwriting or screenwriting include stageplays, screenplays, teleplays, libretti, radio plays, and audio dramas. No audio is accepted.
Must self-identify as LGBTQ+.
Must be a current full-time resident of New York State for a minimum of 12 months at the time the application closes.
Must be at least 25 years of age at the time the application closes.
Cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind.
Can be past recipients of any NYFA grant or fellowship programs, except past recipients of The Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award.
Cannot be a NYFA employee, members of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, and/or an immediate family member of any of the above.

nyfa.org/awards-grants/the-ryan-hudak-lgbtq-dramatic-writing-award/

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2025 Theater Production Awards

Gerbode Foundation

DEADLINE: June 18, 2025 at 4pm PST

INFO: The Gerbode Foundation is pleased to announce a $400,000 fund for the creation and development of new theater productions by California writers, playwrights, spoken word artists, and theater-makers. The new works will be commissioned and produced by Bay Area nonprofit artist-centered organizations with annual budget sizes of $60K to $3M that can apply for grants of $50,000 each.

PROGRAM GOALS:

Support the creative process involved in developing new work.
Recognize the exceptional contributions of innovative writers, playwrights, spoken word artists, and theater-makers.
Support projects that represent diversity in gender-expression & identity, race, ethnicity, culture and are inclusive of individuals of all abilities.
Support artist-centered organizations in their commitment to commission, develop, and produce new work by California artists.
To support organizations and companies that are deeply rooted in Bay Area communities and have a positive impact within these communities.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

View Program Guidelines here.
Download Guidelines here.

GERBODE APPLICATION FORM & THE COMMON APP

The Common App is a collaboration between funders and grantmakers with unique histories and objectives. The 2025 Theater Production Awards is a part of the Common Application for the Arts – Bay Area (“Common App”) – an initiative in which participating funders use standardized questions to help create greater efficiency for grantseekers.

The information requested in our Application Form aligns with the Common App with notations in parentheses. While the intent of the Common App is to provide an easy copy-n-paste from the Common App template, be mindful of our program’s goals and criteria. Consider making minor revisions to ensure responses address the specific nuances of the 2025 Theater Production Awards program.

Download Gerbode Application Form (Word doc) here.
Download the Common App template here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Please review FAQs here.

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION:

Olivia Malabuyo Tablante
Program Director
Email: special.awards@gerbode.org

gerbode.org/arts

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THE WATERING HOLE WINTER RETREAT

The Watering Hole

DEADLINE: June 22, 2025

SUBMISSION FEE: $10

INFO: The Watering Hole Summer Retreat is a multi-genre, virtual summer retreat that is by poets for poets. We've invited poet-facilitators who also write in another genre to come teach that other genre.

Over a three-day period, Summer Retreat participants will be able to attend two readings, evening community activities, and daily classes/workshops (3 hours each) in three major genres:

Children's Literature with Dinah Johnson
Playwriting with Stacey Rose
Poetry with Jessica Helen Lopez

Our mission is to build Tribe through genuine relationships and help poets reach their best work.

RETREAT DATES: July 18-20, 2025

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

A Cover Letter (with aesthetics statement) and
A writing sample of 3 poems

ELIGIBILITY: You must be 21 years of age by July 17th.

ADDITIONAL HELP:

The poems may be written or audio. We accept a variety of file types. The poems must have been written within the last two years). Do not include your name on these materials. Judging will be blind.

The cover letter must be written (not audio). If you need help with the basic cover letter format, check out our blog post of Cover Letter Advice. The type of aesthetics statement that we ask for is a paragraph or two that details...

who influences your writing,
what challenges have you faced on your creative journey,
what you seek to accomplish in your poems,
and what The Watering Hole means to you as a writer of color.

This will contextualize the poems in your submission and help us get to know you as an artist. You may also optionally include how your writing or aesthetic informs what you do, where you work, or any work you do in the arts community or vice versa. Make certain your submission is your final version. Corrections and new versions will not be accepted.

NOTES:

***We ask for a sample of your recent poetry, because we don't want to see "hits from the '80s." We want to get to know you through your current artistic voice.

***We ask for an aesthetics statement, because once you have one written, you can use it to apply for lots of writing opportunities across the industry. Not just for TWH. It just a great tool to have in your toolbox.

What's the Review Process? New applications are reviewed and accepted by The Watering Hole graduate fellows. They have a vested interest in continuing to build TWH Tribe with a wide variety of talents, backgrounds, and aesthetics. While under review, preference is given to...

those who follow our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
and members of The Watering Hole Facebook Group

What if my Application is Accepted? When the time comes, The Watering Hole will send out information about online payment options and the welcome packet upon acceptance. We expect this to be by May 15th.

twhpoetry.submittable.com/submit

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FALL 2025 Trillium Arts Residency

Trillium Arts

DEADLINE: June 26, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Trillium Arts residencies offer secluded space for rejuvenation and creating in a beautiful, remote setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our location is ideal for an individual artist to complete an existing work, or develop and incubate new material. Our facilities in the fall months are best suited to the disciplines of literary arts, photography, visual arts and arts administration.

Individual artists who do not require a rehearsal studio (such as writers and photographers) are encouraged to apply for a one week residency. Performing artists (such as choreographers and theater artists) are also welcome to apply, with the understanding that the Red Barn Studio is seasonal and availability is dependent on weather. The Red Barn Studio will not be available after October 31.

Use of the studio is an additional fee of $35 per day.

There is ample land and outdoor space available for ideation and research. We are currently unable to accommodate groups or collaboratives on the Trillium property. Individual artist residencies are on a solo adventure during their time here and your residency will not overlap with other awarded artists. If an artist would like to bring collaborators, there are a variety of AirBnB’s available for rent in the immediate area. A list of recommended AirBnB’s is available upon request.

2025 RESIDENCIES INCLUDE:

Private accommodations in a one-bedroom, ground floor suite. (Trillium Arts co-founders live upstairs but resident artists have a private entrance).
Welcome dinner with your hosts
Shared use of the grounds, including firepit, hot tub, walking paths and waterfall area
Use of onsite creative spaces that include a contemplation gazebo and a 380 square foot open air, covered workspace. Learn more about creative spaces HERE
Basic kitchen supplies and all household goods (towels, linens, paper products, etc.)
Access to high speed fiber optic internet
Laundry facilities
Mentorship services (optional for an additional fee)

DATES: All 2025 residencies are one week of seven consecutive days in length. Applications are currently being accepted for residencies one week in length during:

September 21-28, 2025, or
Anytime between October 10-November 14, 2025

A limited number of work exchange scholarships are available.

ELIGIBILITY: Artists of various disciplines (writers, photographers, visual artists, choreographers) at any stage of their careers are invited to apply.

trilliumartsnc.org/artist-residencies

THEATER — MAY 2025

May 1, 2025

2025/26 LITERARY ARTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM

The Studios of Key West

DEADLINE: May 15, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $45

INFO: The Studios of Key West, the premier arts organization at the Southernmost Point of the United States, offers a residency program for emerging and established artists and writers from around the world. We provide residencies to visual artists, writers, composers, musicians, media artists, performers, and interdisciplinary artists.
The program grants nearly 40 artists each year the time and space to imagine new artistic work, engage in valuable dialogue and explore island connections.

The Studios’ residency program is community-based and built upon the hope that visiting artists will take inspiration from Key West’s rich artistic past and present, and will engage with — and be inspired by — the remarkable people and culture that surrounds them.

skw.org/pear-program/

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call for submissions: SAPPHEST VOLUME III

Sapphest NYC

DEADLINE: May 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET (or once they hit 200 submissions)

INFO: Sapphest is NYC's premier sapphic playwriting competition and play festival. The next installment of Sapphest will take place on 7/19/25 and 7/20/25 at Brooklyn Art Haus.

ELIGIBILITY:

Submissions are open to playwrights who:

Are 18 years of age or older
Live anywhere in the world
Identify as Sapphic*

*In our context, we use “Sapphic” as an inclusive term for those who identify as women, nonbinary, trans, two-spirit, genderqueer, or agender and who experience love or attraction for others within these communities. Sapphics may identify as queer, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, lesbian, or use another term that resonates.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Please write an 8–10 minute piece inspired by a sapphic song (think Good Luck, Babe, Honey, Lunch, Slumber Party, Where Does the Good Go, Her Body is Bible, Lipstick Lover, Fast Car, etc.). The play should have no more than four actors (you may include more than four characters, but they must be played by a maximum of four actors).

The audience will guess which song inspired each play. Please note: the play should not be a direct retelling of the song, but rather inspired by the title or lyrics. Each playwright/writing team may submit one play per submission cycle.

Plays will be selected by a committee of queer judges. All plays will be read blind. The other questions in the form will help us get to know you as an artist and understand who we are reaching, but will not be shared with the readers. Selected playwrights will be notified by the end of June and will receive a ticket-split stipend after the festival has completed.

HELPFUL REMINDERS / TIPS:

Make sure the title of your play is not the same as the title of the song that inspired it.
Remove your name and any identifying information from the play and title of the document before submitting - (submissions that include identifying details may not be considered)
Your play must not exceed 11 pages, 12pt font, standard margins.
Only one submission per playwright or writing team.

If you have any questions, email us at sapphestnyc@gmail.com.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfszWe2eGD5_xJlQY8lgSoBfH9CtFENHxHKp8Bv-9LyXoI3dA/viewform

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2025 FALL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST RESIDENCY

Bethany Arts Community

DEADLINE: May 26, 2025 at 11:58pm EST

INFO: Bethany Arts Community (BAC) offers residencies to emerging and established artists for the development of both new works and works-in-progress. BAC welcomes artists working across any discipline and medium, including visual artists, sculptors, writers, playwrights, choreographers, musicians, composers, performance artists, filmmakers, and more to our Fall Multidisciplinary Residency. Any and all artistic mediums are encouraged to apply. Enjoy an environment where artists from different disciplines and walks of life can work in community and near each other, creating opportunities for generative collaboration and cross-pollination.

Residents will be surrounded by uninhibited creativity during their time at BAC, in the form of other Multidisciplinary Residents, local studio artists, BAC staff and board members, those presenting programs on campus, and more!

A unique component of residencies at BAC is Community Programming. As part of a residency, we ask each artist to develop and facilitate a Community Program related to their residency plan. This part of the residency is an opportunity for artists to engage with the local community in Ossining and Westchester County, and for the local community to engage with artists through their work.

The Fall Multidisciplinary Residency runs for two, two-week sessions, September 9 to 23, 2025 and September 26 to October 10, 2025, each with its own cohort. Artists are provided room & board, a private studio conducive to artists’ medium and/or project, 3 basic meals a day*, and a $225 stipend per week upon completion of the residency. Artist is responsible for transportation to and from BAC and any supplies or materials needed for their practice. We ask that you only apply if you can stay for the entire length of this residency.

*Please note for the 3 meals a day included during the residency, Bethany Arts Community is only able to accommodate for vegan, plant-based, vegetarian, dairy-free, and/or gluten-free diets. Please contact submit@bethanyarts.org with any questions or if you have any further allergies/dietary needs not listed.

Regarding Artist Teams/Groups/Collaborations: Artist team applications will only be considered for groups up to 3 members.

TIMELINE:

Application Deadline: May 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM EST
Letters of Recommendation Deadline: June 2, 2025 at 11:58 PM EST

As letters of recommendation (LORs) requests are sent out at the time of application submission, we give applicants another week to ensure that their LORs are in. Please ensure your LOR is submitted by this deadline to be considered for this residency.

There is one letter of recommendation and one reference (not the same person who wrote the LOR) required to be considered.

Your LOR and your reference should come from someone who can speak to your artistry, character, and integrity. LORs and References from relatives will not be accepted.

Notifications: June 25, 2025

bethanyarts.org/calendar/fall2025residency/

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The Writers’ Room

Geffen Playhouse (Los Angeles)

DEADLINE: May 30, 2025

INFO: A group for Los Angeles-based playwrights, The Writers’ Room is a product of the Geffen’s deep commitment to supporting new plays and specifically to fostering bold, relevant work by the vibrant artistic community of this city.

During a twelve-month residency (September 2025 – August 2026) a cohort of six selected playwrights/writing teams will attend in-person meetings at the Geffen once per month as they generate the first draft of a new play or musical. One to two playwrights share work at each meeting and receive feedback from their cohort in a forum facilitated by the Geffen’s Literary Manager & Dramaturg.

At the conclusion of the residency (September – December 2026), each playwright will have the opportunity to further develop their completed draft in a culminating reading produced by the Geffen. Readings are conducted on the LORT Staged Reading Guidelines, which allow for up to 35 hours of rehearsal and an invited audience.

Writers’ Room playwrights receive a $2,000 stipend for their participation in the program, as well as a $1,000 fee during their reading week. A meal and parking are provided at each meeting. Playwrights will also receive complimentary tickets to all Gil Cates Theater shows (and to Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater shows, subject to availability) at the Geffen during their Writers’ Room tenure.

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

Friday, May 9, 2025: Applications Open
Friday, May 30, 2025: Applications Close (12 NOON PDT)
July 2025: Finalists Notified / Interviews Scheduled
August 2025: Writers’ Room Playwrights Selected / Announced

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:

The Writers’ Room is intended to support the generation of a first draft of a play. Project proposals should be for a play that you have not yet written.

Applications are open to all playwrights who currently reside in Los Angeles. You do not need to be represented by a literary agent to apply.

Applicants must be available to attend monthly meetings in person at the Geffen on Monday evenings (dates TBD) from September 2025 – August 2026 and to attend rehearsals of their culminating reading (one week; dates TBD) between September – December 2026. Please note that exceptions to the in-person attendance policy will be made for emergencies only.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

You will submit your application via this form. Please review the requirements below before beginning your application to ensure that your materials are formatted to meet the submission guidelines. Please note that the deadline for application is 12 NOON (PDT) on Friday, May 30.

Playwrights selected as Finalists will be notified in July 2025. Finalists will interview with members of the Geffen’s artistic staff.

Name
Pronouns
Email
Phone Number
Permanent Address
Confirmation of your eligibility:
- You are or will be local to Los Angeles during the dates of the Writers’ Room program.
- You are proposing a project that has not yet been written.
- You will be available to attend in-person meetings once per month at the Geffen.
- You will be available to attend in-person rehearsals of your culminating reading.
Bio (100 words max)
Answers to the following questions, which will serve as the proposal for the project you would like to work on in the Writers’ Room. If you are applying with a collaborator (co-written play or musical), you should work together on your answers. Please note that you are not required to hit the maximum word count; brevity is appreciated.
- What is the kernel of the project you would like to work on in the Writers’ Room: the image/idea/ambition that is driving you to write this play? (100 words max)
- To the best of your ability, outline the story, plot, or experience of your piece. (200 words max)
- What about the Writers’ Room program feels most useful or necessary in supporting this particular project? (100 words max)
- Is there anything else you’d like us to know? (100 words max)
Please provide a 15-page writing sample of original material. Please note that ALL listed material does count towards your 15-page total; your PDF should not exceed 15 pages.
- We recommend providing an excerpt from a full-length play (or musical). Please note that we do not accept screenplays as writing samples.
- Please include the piece’s title, character list, and setting at the top of the excerpt.
- The excerpt may begin at any point in the script. Please choose the pages that you feel are the best representation of your writing.
- Though it is not required, you may also choose to provide a brief synopsis, a recap of the action leading up to the sample pages, and any other relevant material.
- If you are applying to write a musical, please include at least two complete sets of song lyrics in your 15-page sample. These lyrics may be included within the scene(s) of your writing sample or may be self-contained.
- If you are applying to write your first play, you may provide a sample (up to 15 pages max) of poetry, essays, and/or fiction. Poetry, essays, and fiction should be double-spaced and in 12-point font, with one-inch margins.
- If you are applying with a collaborator (co-written play or musical), you may split the 15 pages between individual projects or may submit co-written material. Please provide attribution, where applicable.
For teams submitting a musical pitch: in addition to the writing sample above, please provide two demo recordings that correspond to the two sets of lyrics in your writing sample. Demo recordings should be submitted via one accessible link.

geffenplayhouse.org/tickets/new-plays/the-writers-room/

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BLUELIGHT READING SERIES 2025

Conchshell Production

DEADLINE: May 30, 2025

INFO: Conch Shell Productions is now accepting submissions for our 2025 Bluelight Series!

We are seeking full-length plays (5 characters max) by Caribbean heritage writers based in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut). Selected plays will receive one (1) free public staged reading in Queens, NY, followed by an audience Q&A with the playwright.

The 2025 Bluelight Series theme is 'Voices Unbound.' We are looking for plays that defy convention, celebrate freedom of expression, and expand the narrative landscape of Caribbean and Diaspora storytelling.

Playwrights whose works are selected will receive:

A $100 stipend
Development support from Conch Shell Productions’ Resident Dramaturg to prepare the script for the reading
Public reading (date: TBD)

ELIGIBILITY:

Playwright must identify as of Caribbean heritage.
Must currently reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, or CT).
Play must be a full-length work (minimum 60 minutes in performance time).
Scripts must require no more than 5 actors.
Scripts must be original, unpublished, and unproduced (readings/workshops ok).
Playwright must be available to attend the in-person staged reading and post-show Q&A (dates TBD).

This is a wonderful opportunity to develop your work, build audience connection, and celebrate Caribbean heritage storytelling.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSercA4K2N0cBypiPc-rf_lkUjX-F6jqAq0uNsrsyjSQsnbZkQ/viewform

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Playwrights Unit 2025

The People’s Theatre (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: May 31, 2025

INFO: The People’s Theatre is seeking playwrights whose voices, experiences, and perspectives emerge from communities that have been historically excluded from the American theatre. We are especially focused on uplifting the work of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ artists.

This Playwrights Unit is grounded in our mission to build a more equitable, representative, and inclusive theatre landscape. Applications will be evaluated with a strong emphasis on alignment with that mission.

Three playwrights will be chosen to develop new plays each under the mentorship of award-winning playwright Marco Antonio Rodriguez. The culminating plays will be showcased at The People’s Theatre New Horizons Play Reading Festival in December 2025.

YOU WILL RECEIVE:

Ongoing Support to Develop Your Play: Develop your work-in-progress into a 90 min play in workshops led by award-winning playwright Marco Antonio Rodriguez.
Actor Readings and Feedback: Have actors read your latest writing during workshops and receive supportive feedback.
Insight on the business of show business and resources to access: Gain show business insights and resources from well-recognized industry members to advance your career.
Director and Actors for Staging: Have your play directed and staged by professionals.
Showcase your work: Present your play at The People’s Theatre New Horizons Reading Festival.
Shared Dinner: Enjoy meals provided during each in-person workshop.
$1500 award for your participation.

The People's Theatre will receive

The right of first refusal to produce the selected plays within three years.

ELIGIBILITY:

The applicant must have completed at least 1 full-length play or at least 2 one-act plays.
Local NYC and its surrounding areas. If not living in the NYC metropolitan area, you must be willing to travel to NYC for in-person sessions.
Must be available to attend in-person workshops and Reading Festival.

SCHEDULE:

Developmental Workshops

Wed, Aug 6, 5:30-8pm (In-person)
Wed, Aug 20, 5:30-8pm (In-person)
Wed, Sep 3, 5:30-8pm (In-person)
Wed, Sep 17, 5:30-8pm (In-person)
Wed, Sep 24, 5:30-8pm (Zoom)
Wed, Oct 22, 5:30-8pm (In-person)
Wed, Nov 5, 5:30-8pm (In-person)
Wed, Nov 12, 5:30-8pm (In-person)

Location: The People's Theatre Office, 700 W 192nd St Suite 2, New York, NY 10040

New Horizons Reading Festival

Dec 1- Dec 7, 2025

Each play will have 1.5 day rehearsal that culminates in a public staged reading.

Venue: TBA

Reflection meeting

Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 5:30-7pm

SUBMISSION SCHEDULE:

May 31, 2025: Submissions Close, or when 100 submissions are received

The week of June 16, 2025: Finalists invited to online interviews

The week of July 7, 2025: Participants Selected

APPLICATION LINK: https://forms.gle/nBznuaKJti7dvXCC8

For any questions regarding The People’s Theatre Playwrights Unit 2025, please email sinny@peoplestheatreproject.org.

ABOUT THE PEOPLE’S THEATRE:

Over the last 16 years, The People’s Theatre has been creating theatre with and for the immigrant community to create a more just and equitable world and doing this through Productions, Education, and Advocacy. Over the last 6 years, we have specifically been producing plays created by and about the immigrant experience in NYC. The Playwrights Unit is an integral part of The People's Theatre mission to support Immigrant, Latine, Black, Queer playwrights in promoting innovative theatrical works. During the next artistic season, The People's Theatre will present a Staged Reading Festival featuring three original new plays in December 2025.

thepeoplestheatre.org/careers/

THEATER — APRIL 2025

March 31, 2025

SITKA RESIDENCY

The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology (Otis, OR)

DEADLINE: April 4, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: Sitka residencies provide time and space for self-paced work and reflection in an inspiring natural setting. Residents from a broad range of art, writing, performance, science, education and interdisciplinary practices come to Sitka to create and explore away from the familiar contexts and constraints of daily routines, and free from external expectations.

Sitka Residencies offer dedicated time and space for artists, writers, scientists, educators and interdisciplinary creators to immerse themselves in independent work amid the remarkable ecology of Cascade Head and the Oregon coast.

Sitka residents enjoy solitude as well as opportunities for self-directed exchange and collaboration in a supportive environment, free from outside pressures, drawing inspiration from a landscape that invites discovery, reflection and renewal.

Residencies, ranging from two weeks to three months between October and May, are awarded through an annual juried process and provided free of charge. Some Sitka residents also receive living and travel stipends as part of their awards.

RESIDENCY DETAILS:

Facilities

Each resident is provided with private living and, if needed, studio space. Residences include living, sleeping, bathroom and kitchen areas, equipped for basic cooking. Laundry facilities are available on campus. Wi-Fi is provided in both residences and studios. Residents are responsible for their own transportation, food and supplies.

The Sitka Center is a non-smoking and non-vaping environment. Please avoid strong scents, as some individuals have allergies. Candles and incense are not permitted. Pets are not allowed on Sitka’s main campus or at our 80 acre nature preserve.

Sitka is family-friendly, and partners are welcome to stay or visit. Please inform the Sitka office if you have overnight visitors.

We are located about seven miles from the nearest grocery store, in Lincoln City, a small coastal town. The area receives about 98 inches of rain annually, so rain gear is essential for outdoor activities.

Cost

Living and studio spaces are provided free of charge. There is a $30 application fee to cover administrative costs. Residents are responsible for their own travel, food, supplies and other expenses. If the application fee is a barrier, please contact Sitka at info@sitkacenter.org for a fee waiver.

Accessibility

Sitka’s studios, office and library are ADA accessible, with one ADA-compliant cabin. Some areas on our steep campus may be less accessible. Please contact us with any specific needs or concerns. Certified service animals are welcome with prior disclosure and permission. Sitka has housing options for families with children of different ages or residents who are caretakers. Please indicate any housing needs in your application. Sitka has an extremely limited ability to host a pet or emotional support animal in a single off-campus cabin. Please do not count on being able to bring your pet when you apply.

Collaborations

Collaborating teams should submit one application. Please note if you will need sperate sleeping accommodations.

Studio Supplies and Materials

Sitka provides basic studio equipment, including easels, task lights, tables, and chairs, as well as a printing press and a small ceramics studio. Residents must bring their own materials for their work, and we can discuss specific needs ahead of time.

Solitude and Engagement

Residents can engage with other residents and the local community in their own ways. We host a Zoom Resident Talk event where each resident shares their work. Participation is encouraged but not required.

Expectations

Residents are asked to present at a Resident Talk event, complete an exit survey and leave their assigned residence and studio clean and in the same condition as when they arrived. There are no expectations regarding creative or scientific productivity and no culminating report or presentation is required.

Commitment to Equity

The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology affords equal opportunities to applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to equity and inclusion and believe different voices and perspectives strengthen our organization and amplify Sitka’s impact.

MATERIALS NEEDED TO APPLY:

References – Name and contact information (your references will be sent a form to complete).
Application – Complete responses to all application questions.
Resume – Submit as a .doc, .docx or .pdf file.
Work Samples – Provide examples of your current work in formats that best showcase your practice.
- Visual artists, designers and architects: 8-10 high quality images of your most current work.
- Creative writers, journalists, playwrights and poets: 2 writing samples of up to 10 pages. For shorter works (poetry, short prose, etc.), submit 4 samples of up to 5 pages each. Excerpts are accepted for all writing forms. (.doc, .docx or .pdf)
- Scientists: Any combination of images, files and text that reflects your most current work, up to 6 images or files (if applicable) and up to 2 writing samples (up to 10 pages each) (.doc, .docx or .pdf).
- Musicians, composers, performers and Film Makers: 2-4 audio or video files (mp3, video files or links) of your most recent work. Excerpts are encouraged for longer works.
- ‍Curators, educators and social practice artists: Any combination of images, files and text that reflects your most current work, up to 6 images or files and up to 2 writing samples of a maximum of 10 pages each.
- ‍Interdisciplinary practitioners: Any combination of images, files and text that reflects your most current work, up to 6 images or files and up to 2 writing samples of a maximum of 10 pages each.

sitkacenter.org/residency-at-sitka/

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BIPOC ARTIST RESIDENCY AT SITKA CENTER

Portland in Color / The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology (Otis, OR)

DEADLINE: April 4, 2025 by 11:59 PM PT

INFO: The Portland in Color Residency at Sitka Center was created to establish the foundation for a partnership between our community organizations in an effort to collectively support artists of color in Oregon.

Artist residency programs can offer creatives at all stages a supportive place to rest, dream, and/or create as they see fit, without the expectation of production or output. It can be a meaningful, regenerative process to have time and space away from existing routines and setting, yet we recognize that residencies can be inaccessible to artists so this initiative seeks to address some barriers of access by waiting application fees, including a modest stipend of financial support, and flexible scheduling.

In 2025-2026, The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology will offer 2 residency spots for a Portland in Color collaboration, with the opportunity for 2 artists of color to be in residence at Sitka Center for up to a month.

DETAILS:

Residency Period: October 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026
Duration: 2-4 weeks (length and dates to be determined by your availability)
Eligibility: Open to BIPOC artists over 18 years old residing in Oregon who have not previously participated in a Sitka artist residency.
Location: Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, 56605 Sitka Dr, Otis, OR 97368
Funding availability: $600 stipend flat fee
Notifications: All applicants will be notified by email by April 30th, 2025.

portlandincolor.com/residency

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Brown Handler Residency

Friends of the San Francisco Library

DEADLINE: April 6, 2025 at 11:59pm PST

INFO: Friends of the San Francisco Public Library (Friends) is pleased to announce this year’s application for the 2025-2026 Brown Handler Residency. Created by Lisa Brown and Daniel Handler in 2018, this residency supports the creative expression of diverse San Francisco-based writers, offering time, space, and a connection to the public through the Library. The Brown-Handler Residency offers five San Francisco writers a free, year-long studio space, a connection to the SF Public Library system, and opportunities to engage the public through literary programming.

Reflecting the Library’s mission as a democratic, public, and accessible institution, we are committed to supporting writers from a wide spectrum of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and genre.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Residencies will be offered to five San Francisco-based writers for one year, open to:

Fiction writers
Nonfiction writers
Children’s writers and illustrators
Poets
Playwrights/screenwriters

Both emerging and established writers are welcome to apply. Priority will be given to applicants who can most benefit from access to space, support, and connection.

There is no cash award offered for the residency.

There is no requirement to publish a work at the end of the residency, but candidates must be

working on a personally significant project.

Residents will be required to participate in at least two Library events and programs.

THE SPACE:

The writing space is located at the office of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library at 1630 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 (between Carolina & Wisconsin). It is a rich, supportive environment with Friends staff working during regular business hours. The large writing space is in the front of the office, with a vast window overlooking Jackson Park. The back of the building houses thousands of donated books, sold to support the Library’s programs and services.

It is important that residents can work well in an office community of this arrangement. The office will not be perfectly quiet nor without exciting bustle. Residents will have 24-hour access to the space, though, seven days a week — plenty of quiet time without staff around.

BENEFITS:

Dedicated, free space to focus on your creative work 24-hour access to Friends’ writing salon conveniently located near Potrero Hill Storage, printers, copier, kitchen, bathrooms, free access to the internet, and a Friends’ email address for business use, if desired

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY:

As the Library is a public place, it cannot designate a permanent space for a writer. However, residents can be paired with neighborhood library branches in relationships of support and exchange. Residents often have relationships with a library “host branch,” and Friends’ staff will help facilitate the relationship to ensure a quality experience as a “special author” at select branches.

Opportunities are available for residents to participate in library programs and activities that promote their work and public engagement with writing. (i.e. toddler and children’s reading circles; teen book clubs; branch literary and cultural events; and special readings/activities designed by you and the Library staff)

PROMOTION:

Marketing and social media exposure through Friends’ Communications Department and the Public Relations Department of the Library Readings at books sales and events coordinated by SFPL or Friends

friendssfpl.org/residency.html

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2026 Writer-In-Residence

Hedgebrook

DEADLINE: April 14, 2025

INFO: Hedgebrook is a nonprofit organization serving women-identified writers. Our retreat program is located on Whidbey Island near Seattle where writers come to write, rejuvenate and be in community with each other. Hedgebrook welcomes all women-identified writers representing diversity in citizenship status, nationality, current place of residence, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, trans* identity, age, disability, professional experience, and economic resources. We welcome applicants, published or not, who embrace the mission and opportunity to be a member of Hedgebrook's community.

Writers join an intimate and diverse community of six residents at a time who share a home-cooked meal, their work, their process and their stories, in addition to the time spent in solitude.

Applications will be accepted in the following genres:

Non-Fiction
Poetry
Screenwriting
Playwriting
Fiction

https://hedgebrook.slideroom.com

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Letras Boricuas Fellowship

Flamboyan Arts Fund

DEADLINE: April 30, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. (AST)

INFO: The Letras Boricuas Fellowship is an opportunity sponsored by the Mellon Foundation and the Flamboyan Arts Fund that awards individual grants of $25,000 to literary writers who identify as Puerto Ricans. The program began in 2021 and has named three cohorts of Letras Boricuas Fellows to date.

The fellowship’s call for 2025 will open Tuesday March 18, 2025. The next round for Letras Boricuas will open in 2026. Twenty-four writers will be selected annually in 2025 and 2026. The fellowship supports writers working within one of the following literary genres: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Spoken Word and Playwriting.

In addition to providing unrestricted funds to support writers in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. diaspora, Letras Boricuas seeks to encourage literary practice, connect writers, expose writers’ works to a wider audience, and support the creative development of works that celebrate Puerto Rican lives and culture.

The fellowship program aims for each group of grantees to include writers from different literary genres. Applications will be accepted in Spanish, English, or both languages.

GUIDELINES: Please read the following guidelines closely, as our application requirements may have changed from previous years and aspects of the program have been adjusted for 2025. Learn more about Letras Boricuas on www.letrasboricuas.org

FELLOWSHIP TIMELINE:

Online Application Period - March 18 to April 30, 2025
Application Period Ends - April 30, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Evaluation and Selection Period - May 1 to September 30, 2025
New Letras Boricua Cohort Announcement - Fall 2025

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION PROCESS:

ELIBILITY: To determine eligibility and be considered for this fellowship, the applicant must meet and adhere to the following criteria:

Must be 21 years of age or older at time of application
Self-identify as Puerto Rican
Must be a current resident of Puerto Rico or reside in the United States (50 states)
Must present original work
Must have or create an account at www.submittable.com
Must complete and submit the application on time by Wednesday April 30, 2025. The application portal closes at 5:00 p.m. (AST).
Former Letras Boricuas Fellows are not eligible to rapply for an additional fellowship.
Writers of multiple genres must select one eligible genre in which to complete the application
Applications from publishers, organizations, or institutions will not be considered.
Employees or contractors of the Flamboyán Foundation and the Mellon Foundation are not eligible. Immediate family or people living in their household cannot apply either.

SELECTION PROCESS: The new Letras Boricuas cohort, made up of twenty-four writers, will be chosen through a two-step nomination and selection process by committee members. The Selection Committee, appointed by the Mellon Foundation and the Flamboyan Arts Fund, consists of experienced writers, literary experts, and former Letras Boricuas Fellows.

Eligible applications will be reviewed based on literary merit, the latter of which may include work samples that display some or all of the following characteristics: originality, imagination, creativity, a strong point of view, a unique voice, facility with language, technical skill and craft. Financial status will not be taken into consideration.

It is recommended to closely review all required materials listed in the guidelines. The application has specific requirements for each genre; each applicant can apply in one literary genre. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet specifications will result in disqualification. Late applications will not be accepted, without exception.

NON-ELIGIBLES: The following publications will NOT be considered as demonstrating eligibility or as valid work samples:

co-authored or co-published works
academic writing (dissertation, thesis, critical essays, research, textbook chapters, etc.)
journalism (articles, reporting, pieces of criticism including book or
other reviews, opinion pieces, etc.)
biographies
graphic novels
wordless books
cookbooks
song lyrics
screenplays or television scripts
opera theater plays (libretto)
any other works that are not considered literary.

Decisions by the Flamboyan staff regarding eligibility are final. Due to the high number of submissions, we are not able to provide individual feedback on any application.

Letras Boricuas Boricuas does not discriminate based upon age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, status as a veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

flamboyanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/guialetrasingles2025-2-1.pdf

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U.S. Writers Aid Initiative

PEN America

DEADLINE: May 2, 2025

INFO: PEN America is an organization of writers and their allies, and that solidarity is never more important than when members of our literary community face crises. PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative, part of the PEN America Writers Emergency Fund, offers grants for writers in the United States facing acute financial need following an emergency situation.

The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported. Grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis by a volunteer committee of literary peers in consultation with PEN America staff, using the following guidelines to evaluate professional credentials:

Publication of one or more books. (Writers who are only self-published or published by a press that charges for publication are not eligible.)
Multiple essays, short stories, or poems appearing in literary anthologies or literary journals (either online or in print) in the last two years.
A full-length play, performed in a theater by a professional theater company. Productions in academic settings qualify if the author is not a student at the time of the production.
Employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, or critic, or a record of consistent publication on a freelance basis in a range of outlets during the last two years.
Contracted forthcoming books, essays, short stories, poems, or articles for which the name of the publisher can be provided.
Other qualifications that support the applicant’s professional identity as a writer.
The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is not intended to subsidize writing-related expenses, such as residencies, sabbaticals, computers, printing, shipping, travel, or publicity services. Applications received on or before the following quarterly deadlines will be reviewed before the last day of that month.

ELIGIBILITY: Writers currently enrolled in degree-granting programs are also not eligible. Writers do not have to be Members of PEN America to receive a grant, but all recipients of emergency funding will be given a complimentary one-year PEN America membership.

PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is made possible by generous support from an anonymous donor , PEN America Members, and other supporters. Questions may be addressed to writersfund@pen.org

pen.org/us-writers-aid-initiative/

THEATER — MARCH 2025

February 28, 2025

HANSBERRY-LILLY AWARD

Dramatists Guild Foundation

DEADLINE: Extended to March 7, 2025 by 11:59pm ET

INFO: The Lillys’ Lorraine Hansberry Initiative, under the leadership and vision of Julia Jordan and Lynn Nottage, has generously developed this opportunity to honor the great American Lorraine Hansberry and ensure the next generation of women and or non-binary playwrights of color is able to follow in her footsteps, regardless of their economic situation.

AWARD: Two Hansberry-Lilly awardees will be given stipends of $25,000 each year of their graduate education in playwriting. The award is a need-based scholarship to both acknowledge and combat the financial disparities between races and between genders. The awardees must be newly accepted to or currently enrolled in one of the designated MFA programs. The funds awarded are to be used to support cost of living expenses that are not otherwise covered by other scholarships, subsidized tuition, or fellowship monies. The Hansberry-Lilly Award was specifically created to ensure that our awardees have protected time to actually write, time to develop relationships with peer collaborators, and time to nurture relationships with mentors that will endure through their careers.

ELIGIBILITY:

Persons wishing to apply must:

Be a person of color
Be a woman or non-binary
Be a first-year/newly accepted into one of these graduate dramatic writing programs: Brooklyn College, Brown, Columbia University, Julliard, NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, Northwestern, Yale, University of California at San Diego, and Hunter College.

dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit

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2025 Summer Institute on Environmental Justice

Black Midwest Initiative (University of Illinois Chicago)

DEADLINE: March 7, 2025

INFO: The Black Midwest Initiative (BMI) at the University of Illinois Chicago invites applications from early-career scholars, artists, and community organizers to its 2025 Summer Institute on Environmental Justice. This convening will bring together 15 participants, designated as BMI Fellows, who are doing work around environmental justice issues affecting Black people and communities within the Midwest and Rust Belt regions of the United States for a week-long series of discussions, presentations, and workshops with leading figures in the field. In alignment with environmental sociologist and Institute facilitator David Pellow, we conceive of environmental racism as a “form of violent control over bodies, space, and knowledge systems.” Accordingly, we define the parameters of the environmental justice issues applicants might propose to address broadly—from urban agriculture, toxic emissions, natural disasters, and climate change to carcerality, housing instability, residential segregation, community health and wellness, and beyond.

After the conclusion of the Institute, each Fellow will also work to develop a project, individually or in collaboration with one or more other Fellows, that will be incorporated into the Black Midwest Justice Hub (the HUB)—a digital platform we will launch in the fall of 2026 that will serve as a resource repository for the BMI Environmental Justice Collaboratory, a set of environmental justice courses that will be taught across multiple midwestern colleges and universities during the 2026-27 academic year. HUB projects may ultimately take any number of forms that can be accessed digitally, including but not limited to short films, virtual exhibits, traditional academic papers, storymaps, graphic notes, sound recordings, oral histories, interviews, and introductory essays or lectures.

INSTITUTE FACILITATORS:

Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective
Adrienne Brown, University of Chicago
Lydia Marie Hicks, Black Eden Arts Alliance
Fayola Jacobs, University of Minnesota
Tonika Lewis Johnson, UnBlocked Englewood
David Pellow, UC Santa Barbara
LaShawnda Crowe Storm, Indianapolis, Indiana
Monica M. White, University of Wisconsin-Madison

ELIGIBILITY:

Emerging artists of all genres (including filmmakers, dancers, poets, and other literary, visual, sound, and performance artists), community organizers and activists, graduate students, junior faculty, adjunct and non-tenure track faculty, independent scholars, and postdoctoral scholars whose work deeply engages with environmental justice issues affecting Black communities in the Midwest or Rust Belt regions of the United States (ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, SOUTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN).

DETAILS OF PARTICIPATION:

Fellows from outside of the Chicago area will be expected to arrive in Chicago on Sunday, July 20, with departure scheduled for the morning of Saturday, July 26. Most days of the Institute will feature a morning session during which facilitators will discuss their work with the Fellows and an afternoon session during which the Fellows will present their work to the group. There will also be a site visit during the week to a location TBA that is engaging critical EJ work in the Chicago metro area. Fellows will be expected to attend all sessions, including the site visit and final group dinner, to complete any readings or screenings assigned by the facilitators, and to prepare a presentation of their work to be shared during one of the afternoon sessions. The Summer Institute will be hosted at the UIC Institute for the Humanities, and all sessions will be held in person.

Each Fellow will receive up to $500 toward their travel expenses to attend the Summer Institute. Lodging will be provided in UIC campus housing for all Fellows coming from outside of the Chicago area. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day of the Institute, as well as dinner on Friday. After the conclusion of the Summer Institute, each participant will receive a $1000 stipend to be used toward the costs associated with their HUB project.

APPLICATION:

The BMI Summer Institute Application requires a 500-word project statement and a 5-page cv or resume.

Applicants will be notified of decisions by April 10.

QUESTIONS?

Please feel free to email theblackmidwest@gmail.com with any questions.

theblackmidwest.com/summer-institute

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2025-2026 emerging writer fellowship

GrubStreet (Boston, MA)

DEADLINE: March 10, 2025

INFO: The Emerging Writer Fellowship aims to develop new, exciting voices by providing three writers per year tuition-free access to GrubStreet’s classes and several key publishing/industry events. Over the course of one year, each Emerging Writer Fellow will attend a combination of seminars and multi-week courses of their choosing, along with a wide selection of other topical programming, in order to enhance their understanding of craft and the publishing industry.

We hope that this year's fellows will be able to join us in-person for classes and events. Priority will be given to applicants who will be able to join us in Boston.

OVERVIEW: The Emerging Writer Fellowship will be awarded to three writers who demonstrate a passion for writing, a commitment to developing their writing abilities, and financial need. Any person 18 and older who demonstrates ability and passion for writing is eligible.

The Emerging Writer Fellowship will provide access to each of the following:

5 multi-week courses
5 three-hour seminars
Access to key annual industry events and other craft-related programs.
Access to GrubStreet's Artistic Director and/or other program staff members for quarterly (or as-needed) office hours for personalized mentorship. (Optional)
At the end of the program, fellows will also receive a complimentary one-year GrubStreet membership so they can continue enjoying extra community perks even after their program year ends.

The fellowship year begins in May.

WHO SHOULD APPLY: This fellowship is open to anyone 18 and older with a passion for writing. The fellowship specifically aims to assist writers in need of financial assistance in reaching their writing goals. We particularly encourage writers of color, ethnic minorities, those who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and other members of communities historically underrepresented by the literary community to apply.

WHY WE CREATED THIS FELLOWSHIP: Over the years, GrubStreet encountered more and more people who loved to write but didn't have the money to invest in a creative writing education that would help advance their craft or give them a thoughtful introduction to the publishing world. As part of its mission to make sure that voices of every type and talent are heard, GrubStreet developed the Emerging Writer Fellowship to eliminate some of the financial barriers to entry. Through this program, we hope to connect writers to a literary world – a world made richer and more relevant with the contribution of these voices.

In the program's first year, we were able to offer one fellowship to one student. As of the 2018-2019 cycle, we were able to begin offering a second fellowship in memory of novelist Anita Shreve, longtime board member and dear friend of GrubStreet. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we now offer three fellowships each year.

HOW TO APPLY:

The Emerging Writer Fellowship Application Form will require the following:

A sample of your writing that demonstrates your artistic style and voice. 5-10 pages for prose, screenwriting, or playwriting. 3-7 pages for poetry.

A personal statement—no more than 500 words please!—which should include the following:

How you envision using the fellowship.
A description of your relationship to writing. By this we mean: what excites you about it? What does it mean to you personally?
How the fellowship will help you in your growth and success as a writer.
Your writing and workshop history (Note: Prior workshop experience at GrubStreet is not required).
The Fellowship year begins in May.
All applicants can expect to hear back by early May.

grubstreet.org/write/emerging-writer-fellowship

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BAYARD RUSTIN RESIDENCY

Penington Friends House (New York City)

DEADLINE: March 15, 2025

INFO: Building on the social activist history of Penington’s founders, original board, and later residents, the Bayard Rustin Residency at Penington Friends House (PFH) is envisioned as an ongoing ladder to empowerment for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) working to end Systemic Racism and to create a culture of anti-Racism and intersectional equality in the United States of America. It is also intended to extend and strengthen the wider Quaker witness to equality.

Beginning in September of 2025, this residency will provide up to one year of room and board to a person who demonstrates a strong project that addresses ending Systemic Racism and who has a necessity to be in New York City for up to one year. They will reside at the Penington Friends House located in New York City’s Lower East Side of Manhattan. The Bayard Rustin Resident will demonstrate a need to live in Manhattan. Areas of focus of their work can include activism in the arts, policy change, human rights, community organizing, and other areas of activism focusing on ending racism and strengthening equality. Residents will meet regularly with the Residency Manager and will be expected to share their progress with the New York City community in the form of presentations or workshops.

The resident does not have to be Quaker but their work should be shaped by and in harmony with our tenets of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. The resident will be expected to be a full-time resident of PFH and be participating member of this intentional community. This includes eating chef prepared dinners with the other residents and participating in shared light house chores. ( 1 1/2 hour commitment per week on average.) The Penington Friends House’s approach to living collaboratively may be new to you. We encourage to look at our website and instagram account (@Penington_friends_house) to gain a better understanding of what we are. Feel free to call us as well with questions. We are LGBTQ embracing community. We believe Black Lives Matter. We are always working to be a safe space and an anti-racist community.

Resident selection is made through a BIPOC committee of Quakers and non-Quakers and is based on the strength of the applicants work and proposed project. Final approval of the Bayard Rustin resident is made by the Penington Friends House Residents and staff, in the same interview process that all other residents are approved to live at the Penington. Applicants should note that the Bayard Rustin Resident bedroom is on the 4th floor of an historic Brownstone. An elevator is not available. Bathrooms are shared with other floor residents. This residency covers the cost of rent, boarding (food) provided 5 nights a week, internet, cable, and heat/AC. Limited access ( starting at 3:30PM weekedays) to a studio space may be available. A stipend is NOT currently provided by this residency.

Here are a few types of artists and activists activities that we would be interested in considering. Please contact us before applying if you are not sure your project would fit our call. Questions can be directed to Todd Drake at outreach at penington dot org.

An artist working on a body of art that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
A writer working on a new book, play, screenplay, or collection that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
A performer creating a new dance piece that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
A community based artist designing or carrying out a community based project that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
An activist organizing communities to address racism and/or intersectional issues.
A social entrepreneur that is starting a non-profit focused on addressing racism and/or intersectional issues.
An inventor or designer working on solving a problem associated with systemic racism and/or intersectional issues.
A graduate student that has a strong and well defined anti-racism project that needs support and time to launch.

BACKGROUND: The residency is named after Bayard Rustin who was a Quaker and an attender at 15th Street Monthly Meeting in New York City. This meeting (Quaker house of worship) is next to the Penington Friends House. Rustin worked commitedly for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He was an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on nonviolence. Rustin was also a chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and a founding member of the Freedom Riders. He was an early advocate for gay rights. Rustin’s later work included a heavy focus on refugee affairs. Rustin served as Vice Chairman of the International Rescue Committee, helped to found the National Emergency Coalition for Haitian Refugees, and was Chairman of the Executive Committee of Freedom House. He died in 1987. In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom. ( Source rustinfund.org)

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Bayard Rustin Residency. This is our 5th Bayard Residency.

The Bayard Rustin Residency is supported with funds from the Society of Friends (Quakers) New York Yearly Meeting, the New York Quarterly Meeting, the Brooklyn Monthly Meeting, the Mertz-Gilmore Foundation, and the Board of Penington Friends House. Donations are currently being accepted.

penington.org/rustin-residency/

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Theatrical Fellowship Program

Playwrights Horizon (New York, NY)

DEADLINE: March 28, 2025 at 11:59pm ET

INFO: The Playwrights Horizons Theatrical Fellowship Program provides hands-on learning opportunities for the next generation of leaders in the performing arts industry.

This program offers excellent practical experience and training for a career in arts administration or stage management, and an opportunity to collaborate closely with and learn from Playwrights staff members and professionals in the industry. We are proud that many program alumni have gone on to become some of the most active directors, writers, composers, and administrators in the country, and in addition, many former fellows have joined the Playwrights staff.

The fellowships that are currently offered are:

Stage Management
Artistic/Literary
Casting
Marketing
General Management

Fellows are paid $16 per hour, and in 2025 will be paid $16.50 per hour. Fellows also receive unlimited MetroCards for the duration of their fellowship.

FELLOWS WILL…

Be invited to attend a series of seminars that include talks with seasoned professionals in the industry
Have access to a professional development stipend
Be invited to participate in Opening Nights, Community Events, and other staff events
Receive theater tickets and tickets to PH’s shows

playwrightshorizons.org/site/jobs/fellowship-program

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The Democracy Cycle

The Perelman Performing Arts Center / Civis Foundation

DEADLINE: April 1, 2025

INFO: Over a five-year period, The Democracy Cycle will commission and develop 25 new performing arts works across the fields of theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performance. The commissioned works, to be selected over the course of three annual Rounds of Open Calls (2024, 2025, and 2026) will explore themes relating to the nature, practice, and experience of democracy.

Civis and PAC NYC have come together because of our shared beliefs to create this commissioning program. These shared beliefs are:

We believe that democratic values are a global expression of humanity’s striving to live with one another with respect and in peace.
We believe that democracy, as practiced in the United States of America, includes a history of founding exclusions and that it has been, and must continue to be, the ongoing work of our society to expand upon the inclusive ideals embedded in our founding documents.
We believe that democracy faces significant perceived and actual threats in the current moment, both domestically and internationally.
We believe that the intersection of capitalism and democracy creates both opportunities and tensions.
We believe that artists are the beating heart of democratic values because of their ability to imagine new worlds, envision new possibilities, and provoke meaningful discourse across any number of divides.

Our hope is that projects commissioned as part of The Democracy Cycle will enrich and expand the discussion around and participation in democracy – be it in the national, state, regional, or hyperlocal community realm – as it is practiced both within the United States and worldwide.

The Cycle will provide $60,000 in support to each awarded project, consisting of a $30,000 commission as well as an additional $30,000 towards each commissioned project’s development process (research, readings, workshops etc.). The commissions will be awarded across three annual Open Calls, beginning in January 2024. In each Open Call, The Democracy Cycle will commission at least eight projects.

For more information, please read the following material and review our FAQs. Updated Submission Guidelines will be posted before the start of each Open Call.

Alongside this Request for Proposals or RFP, applicants are encouraged to review PAC NYC’s mission and Civis’ mission before submitting proposal materials.

HOW WILL PROJECTS BE SELECTED?

The application consists of narrative questions and supplemental materials, including artist statement, project description, project development schedule and projected budget, work samples, and artist resume/CV and bio.

Please note: You will need to make a free account for yourself on Submittable in order to apply.

In February 2025 The Democracy Cycle staff will host a webinar and give an overview of the steps to apply and the application elements, with an opportunity for questions and answers at the end.

PAC NYC / Perelman Performing Arts Center

PAC NYC is a new home for emergent and established artists in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and media from New York City and around the world. Flexible in design, the center is fully responsive to artists’ creative visions. Intimate in scale, PAC NYC fosters an immediate connection between artists and audience members. The center’s projects will sometimes involve significant community participation and will always strive to have audiences reflect the work onstage.

PAC NYC’s mission is to create connections by cultivating bonds between extraordinary artists and communities, with exemplary performances in active dialogue across the arts, and in our flexible, intimate spaces, inviting conversation and new relationships. Our art and our audiences reflect the dynamic energy of all five boroughs of New York City. Our work asks all of us to consider and embrace the complexities of society. Together, we welcome the entire world. The center is where the world trades ideas.

Civis Foundation

Civis (a Galvan Initiatives affiliate) advances the Common Good through investments in root cause advocacy, cultural work, and facilities that illuminate our interdependent future. We pursue our work independently and in collaboration with others whose missions align.

Civis believes that coalitions and partnerships can create winning campaigns for meaningful societal change. By leveraging the unique strengths of private sector companies, government programs, and nonprofit organizations, we are nurturing an American democracy with the constant capacity to effectively serve the welfare of all people residing in this country.

instagram.com/p/DD7aSFRp5fB/?igsh=bmF1NTB0NjlhOG

THEATER — FEBRUARY 2025

January 31, 2025

2025-2026 CSP ARTIST COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Conch Shell Productions

DEADLINE: February 3, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

INFO: Screenwriters and playwrights of Caribbean heritage! Conch Shell Productions is accepting applications for membership in its CSP Artist Collective.

MEMBERSHIP PERIOD: March 2025 - Feb 2026

GUIDELINES:

As per our mission, members must be of either of Caribbean ancestry or nationality.
Members agree to attend one monthly Writer's Room (online gatherings). Duration: 3 hours per session.
Members have the option of sharing up to 40 minutes (20-30 pages) of current work (film, tv or theatre) and get feedback (members will cold read the pages for each other.)
Members will sign up to share pages (preferably a month ahead of time)
Fellow members, CSP’s dramaturg and AD will provide feedback on works
Members will volunteer to lead discussions about the craft, and the session opening icebreaker.
Members agree to be Conch Shell Productions ambassadors

Sharing CSP weekly posts via social media
Getting the word out about all online and in person CSP events.
Introduce CSP to possible supporters, sponsors, new audiences, and donors.
Collaborate with follow members on CSP readings (whenever possible)

8. Members must attend a minimum of 80% CSP online monthly meetings and events. In-Person events - when possible.

9. Membership in the collective is a yearly membership at no cost to members. (workshops and CSP events are free for members)

10. If invited to do so, members are welcome to extend their membership into the following year

11. Annual new works readings:

Artistic Director and Dramaturg will select works to be included in the reading series (Bluelight Series (full length works), CSP New Works Fest (one act plays)
Playwrights will self-produce their plays for these event
Max cast size: 5.
CSP will finance part or the whole cost of the reading (based on available funding)

12. Cold readings and shared pages readings during meetings - private. No audience.

13. Public readings will take place online or in-person - depending on the location of the writer (only NYC-based writers or writers ready and willing to self finance travel and stay in NYC are eligible to have their work featured in our in-person reading fest)

14. CSP budget for readings - tbd.

15. Reading date (s): Bluelight Series (dates tbd); CSP New Works Fest December 2025 (dates tbd)

conchshellproductions.com

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2025 TORCH RETREAT

Torch Literary Arts

APPLICATION PERIOD: February 3 - 17, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Torch Literary Arts is proud to provide our annual creative writing retreat. We welcome applications from Black women writers with works-in-progress across poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction (personal memoir or lyric essays), and script (plays or screenplays).

RETREAT LOCATION: Austin, TX

ABOUT THE RETREAT:

Dedicated Writing Time - Fellows receive plenty of time for dedicated writing devoted to their works in progress. We gently support you in your writing goals for the week by providing group check-ins and the opportunity to share your progress in a nurturing environment.
Comfortable Accommodations - Retreat fellows will stay at the beautiful Colton House Hotel. Accommodations include a private bedroom and bathroom in a two-bedroom suite with a shared living room and full kitchen. During your week-long retreat, you will receive dedicated writing time each morning, catered breakfast and lunch, and ample time during the afternoons and evenings to rest, recharge, enjoy the hotel amenities, or explore the city. The retreat will also include guest speakers and a public reading by fellows at the end of the week.
Financial Support - There is no fee to apply or attend the retreat. Each fellow will receive a $1,000 stipend to assist with travel, supplies, childcare, or anything else that helps make it possible for fellows to attend regardless of financial ability.

torchliteraryarts.org/retreat

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HANSBERRY-LILLY AWARD

Dramatists Guild Foundation

DEADLINE: February 7, 2025 by 11:59pm ET

ELIGIBILITY:

Persons wishing to apply must:

Be a person of color
Be a woman or non-binary
Be a first-year/newly accepted into one of these graduate dramatic writing programs: Brooklyn College, Brown, Columbia University, Julliard, NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, Northwestern, Yale, University of California at San Diego, and Hunter College.

dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit

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2025-26 Writing Fellowship

The Playwrights Realm

DEADLINE: February 10, 2025 by 11:59pm EST

INFO: The Writing Fellowship is at the heart of what we do: helping writers write. Four early-career playwrights receive nine months of resources, readings and feedback designed to help them reach their professional and artistic goals. The culminating event of the program is our INK’D Festival, which features public readings of each Fellows’ play.

To be eligible you must:

Live within commuting distance to Midtown Manhattan, and be able to make it to regular evening writers meetings, rehearsals, and events.
Have a script that would benefit from a nine-month, intensive development process.

Please note: short plays, solo plays, plays with multiple authors, and musicals are not eligible for the Writing Fellowship.

GUIDELINES:

Applicants for the Writing Fellowship will submit:

Online application - short-answer questionnaire (see details here)
Artistic résume (PDF format)
Complete draft of the play that you wish to develop (PDF format), with your name and the play title on the cover page.
Music samples (if applicable)

playwrightsrealm.submittable.com/submit

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2025-26 Scratchpad Series

The Playwrights Realm

DEADLINE: February 10, 2025 by 11:59pm EST

INFO: Scratchpad Series jumpstarts The Realm’s relationship with early-career playwrights from around the country. Participants will spend a week in New York City for a developmental reading of their play with top-notch professional collaborators—director, cast, and The Realm’s artistic staff. If the playwright is based outside of New York, The Realm will provide travel and housing or per diem. To be eligible you must:

Have a script that would benefit from dramaturgical conversation with The Realm and 15-hour developmental reading process reading. (Plays can be anything from a rough first draft to a play that is close to production-ready.)

Be able to be present in New York City for a process of between 3-6 days, at a time agreed upon by both you and The Realm.

Please note: short plays and solo plays not eligible for the Scratchpad Series.

GUIDELINES:

Applicants for the Writing Fellowship will submit:

Online application - short-answer questionnaire (see details here)
Artistic résume (PDF format)
Complete draft of the play that you wish to develop (PDF format), with your name and the play title on the cover page.
Music samples (if applicable)

playwrightsrealm.submittable.com/submit

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Indigenous Writer in Residency

Cranberry Lake Biological Station (Syracuse, NY)

DEADLINE: February 15, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Cranberry Lake Biological Station (CLBS) is located in the heart of the Adirondack Park, on the lands of the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The biological station is a satellite campus of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), in Syracuse, NY.

For over 100 years CLBS has served as a source of ecological knowledge and inspiration. Generations of students have learned from the land, explored their interests, and built lasting bonds with other students. CLBS is a place where student aspirations take root and career paths are launched. It is also a hub of research with over 115 peer reviewed publications crediting CLBS. Building on this tradition our mission is to provide learners with exceptional field experiences, further ecological understanding of the Adirondacks, engage with the broader scientific community, ensure diverse communities are supported in field studies, and to engage with local communities.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY:

Three, three-week residency slots are: May 18 - June 6, June 8 – June 27, July 13 - August 1. Housing, a private room with shared living space, three meals a day are provided at the station dining hall, and a workspace will be provided. The resident will also have access to all facilities including canoes, classroom spaces, microscopes, and the ability to join classes if desired. Additional needs and requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility: The residency is open to Indigenous writers over 21 years of age whowrite poetry, plays/screenplays, fiction/short stories, and/or nonfiction.
Funding: The residency is fully subsidized and provides housing, food, and workspace space at no cost. In addition, the selected artist will receive a stipend/travel allowance of $1,000.
Expectations: It is expected that each resident will offer two evening readings/discussion during the residency, one for students at the station and one for local residents, these programs will be planned in conjunction with CLBS staff. In the fall writers are asked to participate either virtually or in person in an event on the SUNY ESF main campus in Syracuse, NY alongside the other residents. Past residents are also asked to serve on the selection committee for the next year.
Support: The residency is jointly supported by the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment and the Cranberry Lake Biological Station

APPLICATION DETAILS:

The application is hosted through an online form. The required information for the application is provided below. You may be unable to save your application, so please be prepared to submit all information at one time. Please submit all materials as a single PDF or word document.

Brief Biography - In 500 words or less, please share your professional trajectory, skills, and any relevant background you would like to share
Applicant Proposal - A 500-word proposal that addresses the concept and direction of planned work
Importance of Cranberry Lake Biological Station
- In 500 words or less, please explain how CLBS is suited to your work and how you will utilize the station and its resources.

Résumé/CV - Please include educational background, teaching, publications, awards, honors, and other pertinent experiences.
Preferred Residency Dates - You will be asked to submit your ranked choice of residency dates.
Work Samples - Please submit a work sample no longer than 10 pages.

EVAULATION: Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of past recipients, Indigenous and non-Indigenous professional writers, and other qualified individuals.

This committee will make the final decision on who will be awarded residencies. The residencies can be awarded to writers at all career stages, from those who have never been published and without formal writing education to established writers with extensive education. Selection will be based on the strength of the application package.

NOTIFICATION:

Writers will be notified in mid-March whether they have been offered residency. All applicants will be notified about the final status of their application.

For questions, please reach out to Terrance Caviness at tcaviness@esf.edu

esf.edu/clbs/iwr.php

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OPEN CALL: The Artist Publishing Cohort

at Louis Place

DEADLINE: February 15, 2025

INFO: at Louis Place is a community for artists and writers. Through an accessible, collaborative online platform, at Louis Place is an ecosystem for artistic practice that values liberation, experimentation, cooperation, and shared leadership. Daily co-writing, weekly writing groups, monthly guest workshops, peer exchange, and other offerings connect participants to peers around the world. at Louis Place was created by and for writers marginalized by conventional writing communities, including Black, Indigenous, immigrant, disabled, and over-50 writers, as well as writers outside urban centers; it is open to everyone who shares our values.

The Artist Publishing Cohort is a new initiative offering personalized support for eight artists with publishing projects in progress. Selected artists receive a $1,000 stipend, coaching and staff support, optional weekly workshop, and access to aLP resources.

The Artist Publishing Cohort at Louis Place is made possible by the generous support of Wagner Foundation.

WHO IS THIS FOR:

The Artist Publishing Cohort is right for:

Visual artists, choreographers and performing artists, and other interdisciplinary artists whose primary training is outside of the field of creative writing
Artists preparing a publishing project featuring their own creative work, such as a novel, memoir, monograph, or book of poems
Artists looking for regular practical and creative support on their publishing project
Artists looking to build their work in fellowship with other artists and writers
Artists preparing work for digital publication, self-publication, or traditional publication
Artists with projects actively and urgently in progress and ready for support

We love all writers, but this particular program is not suited for:

Academically-trained writers preparing academic manuscripts in any field
Playwrights and other trained writers preparing projects for performance rather than publication
Published authors with access to extensive writing networks
Artists preparing print editions that won’t require an editorial process
Artists preparing projects that will be distributed in editions less than 50

Current and past aLP writers are eligible for this opportunity, along with those who are new to our community.

Not eligible?

Artists curious about publishing who do not have a specific project in mind are invited to join our Artist Publishing Practicum in Spring 2025 to learn more about pathways to publication for artists and nontraditional writers.

The creative community at Louis Place welcomes artists and writers who share our values, even if they are not eligible for the Artist Publishing Cohort. We review registrations in September, January, and May.

WHAT DO PARTICIPATING ARTISTS RECEIVE?

Participating artists receive:

Financial support: A stipend of $1,000 to support their creative work—use it to offset childcare, research, rent, groceries, supplies, or anything else connected to life as an artist.
Mentorship: A supporting coaching session by an external mentor aligned with the artist’s creative goals, scheduled early in the cohort session
Peer support: Monthly cohort meetings to share project progress and identify opportunities and connections, facilitated by aLP staff
Workshop: Participate in a weekly workshop for creative feedback and accountability (this is an optional offering)
Practicums: In March and October 2025, aLP will offer two comprehensive practicums designed to demystify the pathway to publication for visual artists featuring a network of special guests. aLP Cohort artists are encouraged to join these special retreats.
Resources: Benefit from monthly writing workshops by guest lecturers, our archive of past events, our prompt and resource libraries, our extended network of writers of all kinds, and all other aLP offerings.

Artist Publishing Cohort artists should be prepared to participate fully in program offerings. Cohort artists are not required to attend every event, but should be able to make a meaningful commitment to regular participation.

HOW DO I APPLY:

The application requests biographical information, a CV, information about your project, and a work sample.

Have questions? Join us for the information session January 23 at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern time. Register for the information session HERE.

Artists registered for the information session also receive access to the information session recording.

HOW ARE ARTISTS SELECTED?

After an internal review for eligibility, cohort artists are selected by an independent jury of artist-writers.

Applications are reviewed according to the following criteria:

Is this the publication the world needs now? Is the work innovative, excellent, and exciting to the jurors?
Is the project feasible; is the opportunity timely? Can this project be realized with the capacity you have and according to the plans you described? Is the opportunity a good fit with your current stage in career as well as the stage of the project?
Is the project aligned with aLP values and priorities? Is this project under-supported by traditional publishing pathways—would it benefit from the specific resources we offer at Louis Place?

IMPORTANT DATES:

Applicants notified: Early March, 2025
Program dates: March 22, 2025 - September 30, 2025

atlouisplace.com/cohort

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International Summer Program

The Watermill Center

DEADLINE: February 19, 2025 AT 11:59pm EST

INFO: The International Summer Program is an exceptional residency that brings 20 artists together for four weeks at The Watermill Center.

Participants are invited to develop new works alongside emerging artists and established creative professionals from various countries and disciplines. They exchange ideas, share practices, attend workshops, and collaborate on projects in a communal and experimental environment that encourages them to push the boundaries of contemporary creative practice. Participants also have opportunities to work with Founder/Artistic Director Robert Wilson on workshops, rehearsals, and installations.

The program culminates in a festival of works developed during the residency, alongside works by renowned artists across dance, visual arts, theater, music, and performance art.

During the program, artists are immersed in an extensive collection of resources, including The Watermill Center Collection, the Library of Inspiration, and ten acres of landscaped grounds and sculpture gardens.

PROGRAM DATES: July 7 – August 2, 2025

watermillcenter.org/summer

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KHN Residency

Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (Nebraska City, NE)

DEADLINE: March 1, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $35

INFO: The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts awards up to seventy juried residencies per year to established and emerging visual artists, writers, composers, and interdisciplinary artists from across the country and around the world. Residencies are 2 to 8 weeks in length. Each resident receives a $175 stipend per week, housing, and a private studio.

2025 SESSIONS: July 7 - December 19, 2025

GUIDELINES: Each item will be presented as a separate form within our online application portal. Before beginning your application, download the WORK SAMPLES guidelines specific to your discipline (file links located bottom of page) and follow the directions to help prepare files. Application sections include:

General Application Information including your preferred dates and length of residency.
2 ANONYMOUS Statements: An anonymous Statement of Submitted Works that clarifies the work and/or its relevance within contemporary or historical creative practices, contemporary society/issues, or the evolution of your personal creative practice; and an anonymous Statement of Intent regarding how you intend to utilize your time and why a residency at KHN is important to you at this point in your career.
- KHN utilizes a blind jury process. The ONLY items seen and reviewed by jurors are ANONYMOUS WORK SAMPLES and ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS. Jurors rate applications based solely on the quality and relevance of the submitted work and the statements' effectiveness in clarifying the work and the applicant’s intentions for a residency.
- Do NOT include your NAME, CREDITS, AWARDS, UNIVERSITIES, EMPLOYERS, COLLABORATORS, COMMISSIONING OR PUBLISHING AGENTS, GALLERY OR VENUE NAMES, or any other identifying information within the statements.
ANONYMOUS Work Samples: See the guidelines PDF specific to your discipline (file links located bottom of page) to help you prepare your materials.
- KHN utilizes a blind jury process. The ONLY items seen and reviewed by jurors are ANONYMOUS WORK SAMPLES and ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS. Jurors rate applications based solely on the quality and relevance of the submitted work and the statements' effectiveness in clarifying the work and the applicant’s intentions for a residency.
- Do NOT include your NAME, CREDITS, AWARDS, UNIVERSITIES, EMPLOYERS, COLLABORATORS, COMMISSIONING OR PUBLISHING AGENTS, GALLERY OR VENUE NAMES within any uploaded work samples, file names, or descriptions.
References: Contact information for two professional references that are familiar with your work and your potential to be a positive member of our small community of residents.
Professional History from your current resume or CV. Your name MAY appear in the contents of this information.
Application Fee of $35 paid via credit card through the online portal. All fees must be paid through the online portal. We are unable to waive the application fee.

STIPEND, HOUSING, + TRAVEL: Residency awards come with a weekly $175 stipend. All residents are provided housing that includes a private bedroom, bathroom, and studio space. Writers and visual artists generally share an apartment with one other resident, with shared kitchen, living room, and balcony space. Composers are generally housed in a garden-level studio apartment.

All travel expenses are the responsibility of the awardee, with the exception of cab fare from Omaha or Lincoln on the day of arrival and/or departure.

There are two airports about an hour away: Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) and the Lincoln Airport (LNK). To get from either airport to Nebraska City, residents can arrange for transportation with Nebraska City's Tree City Cab at least 24 hours prior to their arrival or departure. The taxi fare ($100 per trip) will be paid for by the Kimmel Foundation.

Residents can also consider traveling by train or bus to Lincoln or Omaha. The same arrangement with the taxi service applies. The Kansas City Airport (KCI) is two hours away. However, taxi service will not be paid for from Kansas City to Nebraska City.

WORK SAMPLE GUIDELINES FOR WRITER + POET (LITERARY) SUBMISSIONS:

Upload one PDF that contains all writing samples (up to 10MB).

Previously published or non-published material is eligible.
Only writing submitted in English will be considered.

Fiction: Submit no more than 2 short stories or novel chapters, not to exceed 7500 words in length. If a portion of a novel is submitted, a brief (100-200 word) synopsis may be included and does not count toward the 7500-word limit.

Non-fiction: Submit no more than 2 essays or chapters, not to exceed 7500 words in length. If a portion of a manuscript or book is submitted, a brief (100-200 word) synopsis may be included and does not count toward the 7500-word limit. If the work submitted is memoir or biography, the requirement to remove your name from the writing sample may be disregarded.

Poetry: Submit up to 10 poems, combined length not to exceed 30 pages.

Drama: Submit up to 2 one-act plays or up to 2 excerpts (monologues, acts, scenes) from a longer work. Include a character list and brief synopsis. Total number of pages may not exceed 30.

Screenplays: Submit no more than 2 screenplays. Include a brief synopsis. Total number of pages may not exceed 30.

Combination of Genres/Non-traditional applications: If submitting samples from more than one genre, total submission should not exceed 7500 words or thirty pages in length.

All work samples MUST be ANONYMOUS. Do NOT include your NAME, CREDITS, AWARDS, UNIVERSITIES, EMPLOYERS, COLLABORATORS, COMMISSIONING OR PUBLISHING AGENTS, or GALLERY or VENUE NAMES within any work samples or in the title/description area within Slideroom.

*If your application includes a combination of visual and literary works, please consider applying under the interdisciplinary category.

Contact us at info@khncenterforthearts.org or 402-874-9600 with any questions regarding applications or submission materials.

khncenterforthearts.org/residency

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2025 Summer Institute on Environmental Justice

Black Midwest Initiative (University of Illinois Chicago)

DEADLINE: March 7, 2025

INSTITUTE FACILITATORS:

Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective
Adrienne Brown, University of Chicago
Lydia Marie Hicks, Black Eden Arts Alliance
Fayola Jacobs, University of Minnesota
Tonika Lewis Johnson, UnBlocked Englewood
David Pellow, UC Santa Barbara
LaShawnda Crowe Storm, Indianapolis, Indiana
Monica M. White, University of Wisconsin-Madison

ELIGIBILITY:

DETAILS OF PARTICIPATION:

APPLICATION:

The BMI Summer Institute Application requires a 500-word project statement and a 5-page cv or resume.

Applicants will be notified of decisions by April 10.

QUESTIONS?

Please feel free to email theblackmidwest@gmail.com with any questions.

theblackmidwest.com/summer-institute

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2025-2026 emerging writer fellowship

GrubStreet (Boston, MA)

DEADLINE: March 10, 2025

We hope that this year's fellows will be able to join us in-person for classes and events. Priority will be given to applicants who will be able to join us in Boston.

The Emerging Writer Fellowship will provide access to each of the following:

5 multi-week courses
5 three-hour seminars
Access to key annual industry events and other craft-related programs.
Access to GrubStreet's Artistic Director and/or other program staff members for quarterly (or as-needed) office hours for personalized mentorship. (Optional)
At the end of the program, fellows will also receive a complimentary one-year GrubStreet membership so they can continue enjoying extra community perks even after their program year ends.

The fellowship year begins in May.

HOW TO APPLY:

The Emerging Writer Fellowship Application Form will require the following:

A sample of your writing that demonstrates your artistic style and voice. 5-10 pages for prose, screenwriting, or playwriting. 3-7 pages for poetry.

A personal statement—no more than 500 words please!—which should include the following:

How you envision using the fellowship.
A description of your relationship to writing. By this we mean: what excites you about it? What does it mean to you personally?
How the fellowship will help you in your growth and success as a writer.
Your writing and workshop history (Note: Prior workshop experience at GrubStreet is not required).
The Fellowship year begins in May.
All applicants can expect to hear back by early May.

grubstreet.org/write/emerging-writer-fellowship

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BAYARD RUSTIN RESIDENCY

Penington Friends House (New York City)

DEADLINE: March 15, 2025

An artist working on a body of art that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
A writer working on a new book, play, screenplay, or collection that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
A performer creating a new dance piece that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
A community based artist designing or carrying out a community based project that addresses racism and/or intersectional issues.
An activist organizing communities to address racism and/or intersectional issues.
A social entrepreneur that is starting a non-profit focused on addressing racism and/or intersectional issues.
An inventor or designer working on solving a problem associated with systemic racism and/or intersectional issues.
A graduate student that has a strong and well defined anti-racism project that needs support and time to launch.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Bayard Rustin Residency. This is our 5th Bayard Residency.

penington.org/rustin-residency/

THEATER — JANUARY 2025

December 30, 2024

SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIPS FOR WRITERS, ARTISTS, AND OTHER HUMANISTS

Newberry Library

DEADLINE: January 3, 2025

INFO: Newberry fellowships give researchers the time, space, and community required to pursue innovative and ground-breaking projects. Fellows advance scholarship in various fields, develop new interpretations, and expand our understanding of the past.

The Jan and Frank Cicero Fellowship - Offering one month of support for a person working in the visual and performing arts who wishes to advance their artistic practice through the use of the Newberry collection.

Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Artists and performers including (but not limited to) painters, sculptors, choreographers, dramaturgs, creative writers, composers, and others in artistic fields.

The Arthur and Lila Weinberg Fellowship for Independent Researchers - This fellowship is for writers, journalists, filmmakers, visual and performing artists, and other humanists who wish to use the Newberry’s collection to further their creative work. Preference is given to individuals working on projects that focus on social justice or reform.

Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Applicants must be individuals working outside of traditional academic settings.

The Historical Fiction Writing Fellowship - Offering one month of support for a person working in the area of historical fiction. We encourage applications relating to a wide range of historical fiction including novels, short stories, plays and theatrical works, or poetry.

Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Writers of historical fiction.

newberry.org/research/fellowships/short-term-fellowships

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2025 RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Saltonstall

DEADLINE: January 5, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Each year, the Saltonstall Foundation awards free, stipend-supported, accessible residencies to artists and writers who are residents of New York State and Indian Nations therein. We support artists and writers working in the following disciplines:

Poetry
Playwriting & Screenwriting (NEW in 2025!)
Photography (film or digital) & Filmmaking
Painting | Sculpture | Visual Arts

A Saltonstall residency is a small community. We strive to provide a quiet, welcoming, respectful, and nurturing environment for creative individuals looking for uninterrupted time to focus on their craft. There is NO COST to attend Saltonstall or to apply. We welcome submissions from artists and writers living in New York State and Indian Nations therein.

There are five people in residence at a time: one poet, one playwright or screenwriter, one photographer or filmmaker, and two visual artists. Each group of five arrives and departs at the same time. Each Fellowship recipient is provided with a stipend, and a private live/work space with separate private studios for the two visual artists. There is also a darkroom built into the main house.

Since 2021, Saltonstall offers wheelchair friendly facilities with additional private space for a caregiver if needed.

DATES FOR 2025 RESIDENCIES:

Our fifth annual residencies for artist/writer parents -- now including full-time caregivers!

Friday, May 30 – Friday, June 6
Friday, October 17 – Friday, October 24

Please note: this residency is strictly for artist/writer parents who have at least one dependent child (under 18) at home. NEW in 2025: this category now includes full-time caregivers with no restrictions related to the age of your dependent. Since the residency is designed to be a period of solitude and focus for artists and writers, we ask that children and other family members remain home.

Our four-week residencies:

Monday – Monday, June 9 – July 7
Monday – Monday, July 14 – August 11

One (of two) two-week residency:

Thursday – Thursday, August 14 – 28

Our three-week residency:

Tuesday – Tuesday, September 2 – 23

Our second two-week residency:

Monday – Monday, September 29 – October 13

Applicants may apply for either our residency for parents/caregivers or the 3- or 4-week residencies or the 2-week residencies (not a combination). For those applying for the longer residencies, you will be given an opportunity to rank your choice of dates within the application.

All applicants (including those applying for the residency for parents) may apply in more than one artistic or literary category, however a complete and separate application for each category is required.

Note: for our two-, three-, and four-week sessions, artists and writers will be expected to participate in an open house at the end of the residency.

saltonstall.submittable.com/submit

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THE TERRENCE MCNALLY NEW WORKS INCUBATOR

Rattlestick Theater

DEADLINE: January 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST (or when 500 applications have been received)

INFO: Rattlestick Theater, the Terrence McNally Foundation, and Tom Kirdahy Productions (TKP) are excited to open applications for Cycle 3 of the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator.

As a continuation of Terrence McNally’s singular legacy of mentorship, and his commitment to fostering bold new voices in the American theater, the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator is designed to support ambitious early-career playwrights by giving them time and space to develop their work, professional mentorship with veteran playwrights, and access to the community of artists and work being developed at Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions.

McNally fellows are selected by a panel of renowned American playwrights. The Playwright Advisory Council for cycle two included Sheila Callaghan, Halley Feiffer, Madeleine George, Stephan Karam, Mike Lew, donja r. love, Rehana Mirza, and Lynn Nottage.

ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM:

Stipend
Each McNally fellow will receive a one-time stipend of $7500 to be used as the playwright sees fit to best further their goals.

Mentorship
In consultation with Rattlestick Theater and Tom Kirdahy Productions, each McNally Fellow will be paired with a veteran playwright mentor who will read a minimum of two drafts and offer one-on-one feedback, in addition to attending a workshop rehearsal and/or final presentation subject to their availability.

Three-Week Incubation
After the initial mentor meeting, the playwright will revise and develop their play for three weeks. This is time for rigorous thinking, dreaming, and writing outside the constraints of a product-oriented rehearsal space.

In addition to mentor feedback, the playwright will meet with the literary teams at both Tom Kirdahy Productions and Rattlestick to discuss their work and process.

McNally fellows will be invited to participate in additional Rattlestick events where they will have the opportunity to get to know the teams at Tom Kirdahy Productions and Rattlestick as well as the other McNally Fellows and other industry professionals.

29-Hour Workshop
The second part of the incubator will take the form of a developmental workshop culminating in a industry presentation. Core collaborators (director, dramaturg, actors) will be chosen in consultation with the selected playwright, Tom Kirdahy Productions, and Rattlestick and will be compensated for their time.

rattlestick.org/terrence-mcnally-new-works-incubator

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WINTER/SPRING '25 GUEST RESIDENCY

Woodward Residency

DEADLINE: January 10, 2025

INFO: Applications are now open for our Winter/Spring '25 Guest Residency in Ridgewood, Queens.

ELIGIBILITY: Established/emerging artists and creative professionals in the fields of literary arts, design, music, and multi-disciplinary arts are encouraged to apply.

AWARD BENEFITS:

Access to the building from 9AM-5 PM, Monday through Friday for the duration of your Guest Residency.
Guest Residents will work in the communal Great Room, with library etiquette.
Open invite to weekly tea and cake gatherings, and occasional work shares and evening parties.
A supportive and engaged community of working creatives.

REFERENCES: Please provide the contact info of at least one professional and one personal reference (excluding family members or significant others).

RESIDENCY SESSION: Feb 10— June 20, 2025

Selection criteria includes originality, commitment to your proposed field of work, interest in community, and demonstrated need for a work space.

We have limited space for Guest Residents and encourage all applicants to reapply if they don’t get a spot in the upcoming session.

NOTIFICATION: All applicants will be notified at least two weeks in advance of the start of their requested residency session.

woodwardresidency.co/guestresidency

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2025 EARLY CAREER ARTIST RESIDENCY - FOR MN + NY ARTISTS

Anderson Center at Tower View

DEADLINE: January 14, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Anderson Center’s Early Career Artist Residency Program offers month-long residency-fellowships at Tower View to a cohort of emerging artists from Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City for concentrated, uninterrupted creative time to advance their personal artistic goals and projects.

Anderson Center’s Early Career Artist Residency is an ideal fit for early-career artists in need of focused time and dedicated space in an inspiring residency work environment that empowers them take risks, embrace challenges, and utilize unconventional approaches to problem-solving.

Thanks to generous support from the Jerome Foundation, selected emerging artists receive a $625/week artist stipend, documentation support, art-making resources, lodging & studio space, a travel honorarium, groceries, and chef-prepared communal dinners.

Anderson Center is an artist community founded in 1995 on the Tower View estate, a venerable research-and-development lab for the arts rooted in an expansive natural setting in rural Red Wing, MN (approximately 1-hour outside the Twin Cities metro).

The Anderson Center’s Early Career Artist Residency is geared toward generative art making, as well as exchange across an interdisciplinary cohort. The program is well suited for vocational early-career artists in pursuit of time, space, and resources to truly commit to a project and explore new creative territories. Critiques, studio visits, and formal professional development are not offered.

The Anderson Center seeks to support emerging writers and artists with an uncompromising drive to create new work at Tower View in September 2025 that demonstrates significant potential for cultural and community impact, is technically accomplished, and engages diverse communities. The organization also believes that the environment and resources of Tower View, along with an exchange of ideas between artists working across disciplines, can serve as a catalyst for new inspiration and innovative directions for the work emerging artists create while in residence.

TO APPLY:

The application deadline for the Anderson Center's 2024 Early Career Artist Residency Program is Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 12 p.m. Noon, Central Standard Time. Applications must be submitted on or before the deadline in order to be considered in the jury review period. There is no fee for applying to this residency program.

Jury review will take place in late January and early February. Applicants will be notified by Feb. 7 as to the status of their application. A phone interview process with finalists will take place in late February following a second round of jury review. Selected artist residents, wait-list and runners-up will be notified by March 4, 2024.

ABOUT ANDERSON CENTER: Anderson Center nurtures a vibrant artist community based at Tower View, an expansive Historic Site and natural area in Red Wing, Minnesota. Founded in 1995, the Anderson Center has renovated and restored Tower View's historic buildings to support working artists and the creative process, including developing twenty-two active studio spaces and three galleries. A renovated barn serves as a performance and event venue, the historic main residence houses artists-in-residence, and fifteen acres support a sculpture garden.

Anderson's signature Artist Residency Program, together with the Studio Artist Program, forms the core of the organization's artistic community. The Residency Program provides artists, writers, musicians, and performers of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment with dedicated time and space to create, advance, or complete new work. In addition to community engagement activities through the artist residency program, the organization's additional outreach programs create connections and integrate the arts into community life through local partnerships, hosting annual arts events, and participating in other community-based initiatives.

ABOUT JEROME FOUNDATION: The Jerome Foundation, founded in 1964 by artist and philanthropist Jerome Hill (1905-1972), honors his legacy through multi-year grants to support the creation, development, and presentation of new works by early career artists. The Foundation makes grants to vocational early career artists, and those nonprofit arts organizations that serve them, in all disciplines in the state of Minnesota and the five boroughs of New York City. The Jerome Foundation is generously providing support for the Anderson Center’s Emerging Artist Residency Program.

LOCATION: Anderson Center is located on the 350-acre historic Tower View campus, built by scientist & farmer Dr. Alexander Pierce Anderson between 1915 and 1921, on the western edge of Red Wing, Minnesota, and its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center features a large sculpture garden, and is adjacent to the Cannon Valley Trail, a 20-mile biking and walking trail that runs from Cannon Falls to Red Wing. The Center is 45-60 minutes southeast of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Transportation is provided between the Center and the Twin Cities airport on the first and last day of residencies only. Artist Residents that choose to drive will have access to private parking on the property.

The community of Red Wing, Minn., (pop. 16,000) is nestled amidst the scenic bluffs of the upper Mississippi River.

DEFINITION OF “EARLY CAREER”: While Anderson Center’s general Artist Residency Program hosts artists with a wide range of talent and experience, its Early Career Artist Residency Program exclusively focuses on meeting the specific needs of artists who are in the early stages of their artistic development and career.

Anderson Center’s goal is to support artists early in their careers who create work that is and/or has the potential to be:

Compelling—offering distinctive vision and authentic voice;
Deeply considered, imaginative, and executed with attention to craft and with technical proficiency, providing artistic experiences that communicate unique perspective/s, and invite viewers to question, discover, explore new ideas in new ways;
Innovative and risk-taking—engaging, questioning, challenging or re-imagining conventional artistic forms.

Anderson Center defines an early career artist as someone in the early stages of their creative development with 2-10 years of generative experience, and:

have a focused direction and goals, even while still developing their artistic “voice”
have yet to be substantially celebrated within their field, the media, funding circles or the public at large
are vocational (as opposed to avocational, academic, amateur or educational) artists

Artists who have been in the field for longer than 10 years (excluding any time in a degree-granting program; as a dancer in work created by others; remounting the work of other choreographers; or time away from working as an artist due to circumstances–e.g., having children, caring for family members, long-term illness, etc.) are generally not eligible, even if they feel under-recognized. Age is not a factor in determining emerging artist status.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:

The four primary eligibility guidelines for Anderson Center’s Early Career Artist Residency are:

Legal residency in the State of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City.
Not enrolled in any degree-granting program from time of application through residency period.
Self-identification as an “early career artist” with 2-10 years of generative experience in the field
An artistic practice centered in generating and creating entirely new work.

Minnesota or New York City artists - Artists must currently be legal residents of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City and have been residents for at least one year prior to the submission of an application. Artist did (or will) file US federal taxes as a resident of Minnesota or New York City. Account address in Submittable must be within MN or NYC. Selected artists will be required to provide proof of Minnesota or New York City residency before a residency is formally offered. Artists must have a US Social Security Number or US Tax ID.

No students - Students enrolled in any degree-granting program from the time of application through the residency period are not eligible to apply for an Early Career Artist Residency at the Anderson Center (this includes any and all K-12, technical school, college, graduate, postgraduate, ABD studies). There are no exceptions to this eligibility criterion. If an artist is pursuing a degree-granting program in some form, they are not eligible. Please do not contact Anderson Center staff regarding technical situations or special edge cases around student status. This program supports vocational artists, not students. No matter the specifics or details, if an artist can be considered a student of a degree-granting program in any way, they are simply not eligible.

“Early Career Artist” Status – Eligible artists self-identify as an “early career artist” and are in the early stages of their creative development with 2-10 years of generative experience. The Anderson Center’s goal is to serve a spectrum of artists typically in their 2nd to 10th year of creative practice, post-student status (if applicable). This spectrum is framed by artists with some track record of creating and presenting full work (not beginning artists), and artists who are NOT at a point in their careers where they receive consistent development and production opportunities and significant recognition, awards, and acclaim (not mid-career or established artists).

Artists who have been in the field for longer than 10 years (excluding any time in a degree-granting program; as a dancer in work created by others; remounting the work of other choreographers; or time away from working as an artist due to circumstances–e.g., having children, caring for family members, long-term illness, etc.) are generally not eligible, even if they feel under-recognized.

Age is not a determining factor. Career stage is assessed by the cumulative number of years an artist has been generating their own work. Mid-career or established artists shifting from one artistic discipline to another will not be considered early career. For example, a composer with a substantial career in music who is now moving into film will not be considered early career.

Anderson Center has defined the 2–10 year span recognizing that some artists may experience enormous success and move past early career status well before their 5th year or 10th year. The organization recognizes that the number of opportunities afforded to artists may differ significantly based on discipline, race/ethnicity, class, gender, physical ability, and geography among other factors. Consequently, some artists may be past their 10th year and still be on the spectrum of early career status due to taking time out of active artistic practice for school or other circumstances. The Anderson Center understands that the lack of an absolute or rigid definition leaves room for interpretation but embraces this flexibility out of our value around diversity and in recognition of the many variables that impact artists’ careers.

New Work – Eligible artists are generating and creating entirely new work (rather than interpreting, translating, arranging, copying, remounting pre-existing work or the work of others). Generative artists are those who conceive and create new original work (e.g., choreographers, composers, playwrights and devisers, filmmakers, writers, visual artists, etc.). This program does not support artists who solely perform or develop/produce the work of others (e.g., dancers, musicians, actors, editors, journalists, etc.).

Collaboratives - Artists that are part of an artistic collective, partnership, or collaborative are welcome to apply, but collaborative residencies are also rare. The program is extremely competitive, and space is simply limited. Each artist must also complete their own application form. Obviously, each application will repeat things and have much overlap. That is OK. In the work plan for in each application, highlight that artist's contribution / skills, while making clear the collaborative nature of the project.

Notes - Artists of all disciplines are eligible and are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted through the Anderson Center’s online webform via Submittable.

Please direct any questions regarding early career artist status and eligibility requirements directly to Anderson Center at Tower View staff at 651-388-2009 or info@andersoncenter.org.

APPLICATION: A completed application form includes a brief artist statement, a work plan, an early career statement, work samples, and a resume or CV. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the panel. You may begin your application, leave and return as many times as necessary to complete the form PRIOR to clicking the submit button at the bottom of the completed form. Important: do not submit your application form until you are completely finished editing as your application will be finalized at that time.

If you are a prior resident of the Anderson Center, you must wait one year from the time of your residency to apply again.

The Artist Statement, provides an opportunity for you to share, in 100 words or less, a brief statement or summary about your past and current work.

The Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement is a Word or PDF document that shows education, work experience, publications, awards, and previous residency experience. 3 pages maximum.

The Work Plan is a one page Word or PDF document that clearly and concisely describes what you are working on and what you’d like to accomplish at the Anderson Center. Successful applicants address how the timing, location, and cohort-based model of the residency would benefit their practice. Artists may also mention how specific amenities or resources at the Anderson Center (such as the surrounding natural environment, specific studio spaces or equipment) would advance their work. The statement can be single-spaced.

An Early Career Statement addresses, in 250 words or less, your status as an emerging artist or early-career artist. How would participating in this program impact or advance your practice as an early career artist? In what ways would this program meet your needs as an early career artist? Why is this residency important to this stage of your career path? How do you identify as an early career artist?

Work Samples should be of recent work and should include:
     · For composers and musicians: 3 recordings
     · For visual artists: At least 5 images of work (300 dpi or larger)
     · For nonfiction and fiction writers: 10 pages of double-spaced prose
     · For playwrights & screenwriters: 10-page excerpt (does not need to be from the beginning)
     · For poets: 10 pages of poetry
     · For translators: 10 pages of translation and original text
     · For performance artists: 3 short video excerpts of performances (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
     · For filmmakers: at least 3 short film clips (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
     · For Scholars: 10 pages of work, including research abstracts and relevant diagrams

If you are an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary artist, you may "split the difference" on the work sample guidelines above at your own discretion. For example, including 5 pages of writing and 3 images, etc.

Likewise you may also choose to simply submit a PDF or Word Doc with hyperlinks to work samples that meet the guidelines outlined above.

DURATION OF RESIDENCY: The Anderson Center’s Early Career Artist Residency Program is a 4-week residency-fellowship the month of September 2025. Selected artists must commit to arriving on September 2 and departing on September 29. September is the only month the program takes place.

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Each artist-in-residence receives:

$625/week artist stipend
Travel honorarium ($550 for New Yorkers and $150 for Minnesotans)
$450 documentation budget (services for photography, video, audio, etc.)

Evening dinners are prepared and presented by the Anderson Center chef Monday through Friday. The chef also shops for meal items for artist residents, and residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and meals over the weekends. There are also housekeepers who clean and maintain the historic facilities.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Each resident is provided room, board, and workspace for the length of the residency period in the historic Tower View residence. Visual artists are provided a 15' x 26' studio and are responsible for supplying their own materials. Other workspaces on site include a dark room, and a print studio (with a Vandercook 219 letterpress and a Charles Brand-like etching press) for printmakers with demonstrated experience. Practice space is also available for dancers, choreographers, and musicians. Composers are provided with access to a 1904 Steinway piano and a Royale grand piano.

Residents have access to the many walking trails on campus and to the Cannon Valley Trail, which goes through the Anderson Center’s property. Bicycles are also provided. Residents have responded to many different aspects of the gorgeous Tower View campus through their work, including composers sampling natural sounds and visual artists harvesting plant materials to create site-specific natural inks.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The program is set-up to minimize distractions and other obligations so that artists have every opportunity to fully focus on their work. However, the Anderson Center was one of the first artist residency programs in the country to require that residents give back to the local community and connect with area residents & organizations through community engagement activities.

Staff work with artists to facilitate and customize at least one hour of mutually beneficial exchange with the Red Wing community that helps foster connection and greater a sense of place.

Within the last few years, Anderson Center residents have connected with schools in five area communities (ranging from elementary through college), senior centers, correctional or detention facilities, community organizations serving children and families, and community organizations serving adults. Residents have also engaged individuals from all walks of life through public workshops, events, discussions, and artful interventions -- both at the Anderson Center or in the community of Red Wing.

PROGRAM MISSION & VALUES: As an interdisciplinary arts organization, the Anderson Center embraces artists who are diverse in every way. Since its inception, the organization has intentionally worked with artists representing a wide range of disciplines, with the belief that the exchange of ideas is generative. The residency program supports artists from around the world, representing a wide range of cultures, races, sexual identities and genders. The Center strives to bring people and ideas together and operates with a spirit of welcome for all.

SELECTION TIMELINE:

January 14, 2025 (12:00 p.m. Noon CST) – application deadline
February 7, 2025 – Jury has selected Round 2 applications. All artists are notified of the status of their application.
February 25, 2025 – Jury has determined finalists. Phone interviews with finalists begin.
March 4, 2025 – Final notification to selected artists, wait-list and runners-up

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Selection criteria include (in order of importance):

Artistic excellence as demonstrated by work samples, resume and artist statement
Potential benefit and impact on career as demonstrated by work plan
Balance of artistic disciplines, identity, geography, etc within selected cohort

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: The Anderson Center provides equal opportunity for all people to participate in and benefit from the activities of the Center, regardless of race, national origin, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, in admission, access, or employment. The Anderson Center staff is willing to do what they can to accommodate residents with disabilities. Please call before applying to discuss special needs.

theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit

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2025 ANDERSON CENTER RESIDENCY

Anderson Center at Tower View

DEADLINE: January 14, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: Anderson Center nurtures a vibrant artist community based at Tower View, an expansive Historic Site and natural area in Red Wing, Minnesota. Founded in 1995, the Anderson Center has renovated and restored Tower View's historic buildings to support working artists and the creative process, including developing twenty-two active studio spaces and three galleries. A renovated barn serves as a performance and event venue, the historic main residence houses artists-in-residence, and fifteen acres support a sculpture garden.

Anderson's signature Artist Residency Program, together with the Studio Artist Program, forms the core of the organization's artistic community. The Residency Program provides artists, writers, musicians, and performers of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment with dedicated time and space to create, advance, or complete new work. In addition to community engagement activities through the artist residency program, the organization's additional outreach programs create connections and integrate the arts into community life through local partnerships, hosting annual arts events, and participating in other community-based initiatives.

ELIGIBILITY: The Anderson Residency Program is open to early career, mid-career, and established visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, multidisciplinary artists, musicians, performance artists, scholars, and translators from across the globe. The program is interdisciplinary and the organization welcomes applications from a wide range of creative and intellectual genres, including those that don't fit neatly into the above list.

To be considered, artists must submit an application through the Anderson Center’s online form via Submittable. Complete program details are below. Please contact the organization at 651-388-2009 or info@andersoncenter.org for any questions.

DURATION OF RESIDENCY: For the 2025 season, the Anderson Center is offering 2- or 4-week residency sessions during the months of August and October. Preference is generally given to 4-week residencies. That said, 2-weeks sessions are possible. There is a 48-hour turnover between residency sessions, no matter their duration, to allow time for housekeeping. Specific start and end dates are listed in the application form. Please plan your requested residency dates carefully. Provide as much detail as possible regarding your availability, as that information is incredibly helpful in assembling cohorts and organizing the waitlist.

September 2024 residencies are reserved for the organization’s Early Career Artist Residency.

2025 SCHEDULING & AVAILABILITY:

Each season the Anderson Center hosts a limited number of artists through its various exchanges, fellowships, and dedicated programs that reduce the number of spots available for artists submitting materials for this General Residency program opportunity. In 2025 exterior renovations to the residence limit the residency options to the months of August and October.

Availability as of September 2024:

August 2025 - Four 4-week spots (or eight 2-week spots); space for 4-6 artists depending on duration.
October 2025 - Three 4-week spots (or 6 2-week spots); space for 3 – 5 artists depending on duration.

In general, for months that incorporate 2-week sessions, no fewer than four artists–and no more than six artists would be scheduled for 2-week residencies within that month.

Due to the competitiveness of the program, the organization's goal is to be upfront and transparent about the availability for the General Residency program in 2025 in an effort to help you make a decision about whether this year is the best time to submit an application. Again, please contact us if you have any questions or need further clarification here.

LOCATIONThe Anderson Center is located on the 350-acre historic Tower View campus, built by scientist & farmer Dr. Alexander Pierce Anderson between 1915 and 1921, on the western edge of Red Wing, Minnesota, and its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center features a large sculpture garden, and is adjacent to the Cannon Valley Trail, a 20-mile biking and walking trail that runs from Cannon Falls to Red Wing.

The Center is 45- 60 minutes southeast of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Transportation is provided between the Center and the Twin Cities airport on the first and last day of residencies only. Artist Residents that choose to drive will have access to private parking on the property. The community of Red Wing, Minn., (pop. 16,000) is nestled amidst the scenic bluffs of the upper Mississippi River.

APPLICATION: A completed application form includes a brief artist statement, a work plan, work samples, and a resume or CV. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the panel. You may begin your application, leave and return as many times as necessary to complete the form PRIOR to clicking the submit button at the bottom of the completed form. Important: do not submit your application form until you are completely finished editing as your application will be finalized at that time. If you are a prior resident of the Anderson Center, you must wait one year from the time of your residency to apply again.

The Artist Statement, provides an opportunity for you to share, in 100 words or less, a brief statement or summary about your past and current work.

The Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement is a Word or PDF document that shows education, work experience, publications, awards, and previous residency experience. 3 pages maximum.

The Work Plan is a one-page Word or PDF document that clearly and concisely describes what you are working on and what you’d like to accomplish at the Anderson Center. Successful applicants address how the timing, location, and cohort-based model of the residency would benefit their practice. Artists may also mention how specific amenities or resources at the Anderson Center (such as the surrounding natural environment, specific studio spaces or equipment) would advance their work. The statement can be single-spaced.

Work Samples should be of recent work and should include:

For composers and musicians: 3 to 5 recordings
For visual artists: At least 5 images of work (300 dpi or larger)
For nonfiction and fiction writers: 10 pages of double-spaced prose
For playwrights & screenwriters: 10-page excerpt (does not need to be from the beginning)
For poets: 10 pages of poetry
For translators: 10 pages of translation and original text
For performance artists: 3 short video excerpts of performances (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
For filmmakers: at least 3 short film clips (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
For Scholars: 10 pages of work, including research abstracts and relevant diagrams

Likewise you may also choose to simply submit a PDF or Word Doc with hyperlinks to work samples that meet the guidelines outlined above.

Regarding work samples, please put yourself in the shoes of a jury panel member. Make it easy for them to review your best work first. Yes, give the jury various ways to go deeper or experience more if they are motivated but focus first on presenting only your strongest work samples in the most compelling way possible. Please contact staff if you have questions about work samples, but reflecting on the jury and the many applications they have to review & score can serve as a helpful guide in deciding what to include, how much to share, how long it can be, and how to present it.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Each resident is provided room, board, and workspace for the length of the residency period in the historic Tower View residence. Visual artists will be provided a 15' x 26' studio and are responsible for supplying their own materials. Other workspaces on-site include a dark room and a print studio for professional printmakers (with a Vandercook 219 letterpress and a Charles Brand-like etching press). Practice space is also available for dancers, choreographers, and musicians. Composers are provided with access to a 1906 Steinway piano and a Royale grand piano.

Dinners are prepared and presented by the Anderson Center chef Monday through Friday. This chef also shops for groceries for artists-in-residence. Residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and meals over the weekends. There are also housekeepers who clean and maintain the historic facilities.

Residents have access to the many walking trails on campus and to the Cannon Valley Trail, which goes through the Anderson Center’s property. Bicycles are also provided. There is a very basic home gym in the residence. Residents have responded to many different aspects of the gorgeous Tower View campus through their work, including composers sampling natural sounds and visual artists harvesting plant materials to create site-specific natural inks.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The program is set-up to minimize distractions and other obligations so that artists have every opportunity to fully focus on their work. However, the Anderson Center was one of the first artist residency programs in the country to require that residents give back to the local community and connect with area residents & organizations through community engagement activities.

Staff work with artists to facilitate and customize at least one hour of mutually beneficial exchange with the Red Wing community that helps foster connection and greater a sense of place.

Within the last few years, Anderson Center residents have connected with schools in five area communities (ranging from elementary through college), senior centers, correctional or detention facilities, community organizations serving children and families, and community organizations serving adults. Residents have also engaged individuals from all walks of life through public workshops, events, discussions, and artful interventions -- both at the Anderson Center or in the community of Red Wing.

PROGRAM MISSION & VALUES:

"This stay is particularly suitable for artists who want to devote themselves intensively to the realization of a concept. Here you can devote yourself to artistic work undisturbed and far away from everyday worries." - Eva Möseneder, 2012 resident

Anderson Center’s goal is for connections participating artists make with one another, as well as connections made with other creatives and community members, to outlast the duration of their residency visit. The organization believes that the environment and resources of Tower View, along with an exchange of ideas across disciplines, can serve as a catalyst for new inspiration and innovative directions for the work artists create while in residence.

As an interdisciplinary arts organization, the Anderson Center embraces artists who are diverse in every way. Since its inception, the organization has intentionally worked with artists representing a wide range of disciplines, with the belief that the exchange of ideas is generative. The residency program supports artists from around the world, representing a wide range of cultures, races, sexual identities and genders. The Center strives to bring people and ideas together and operates with a spirit of welcome for all.

SELECTION TIMELINE:

January 14, 2025 (12:00 p.m. Noon CST) – application deadline
February 7, 2025 – Jury has selected Round 2 applications. All artists are notified of the status of their status.
March 5, 2025 – Final notification to selected artists, wait-list and runners-up

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Selection criteria include (in order of importance):

Artistic excellence as demonstrated by work samples, resume and artist statement
Potential benefit and impact on career as demonstrated by work plan
Balance of artistic disciplines, identity, geography, etc within selected cohort

theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit

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OPEN CALL: 2025 BIPOC ART RESIDENCY

Ma’s House

DEADLINE: January 15, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Ma’s House’s Artist-In-Residency program is open to US-based creatives of color working in any genre of visual art, creative writing, and performance arts.

We encourage resident artists to pursue work that relates to or is inspired by Shinnecock’s history, the local landscape, community based work, and critical engagement in issues of diversity, race, and identity.

E:IGIBILITY - The Ma’s House Artist Residency is open to national and international BIPOC artists 21+ years of age. A variety of disciplines are accepted including, but not limited to: visual arts, media/new genre, performance, architecture, film/video, literature, interdisciplinary arts, and music composition. Solo artists are a eligible to apply.

Applicants will be chosen based on project proposals, artistic merit, feasibility/logistics of the residency, and how the artist will benefit from working at Ma’s House and Shinnecock.

RESIDENCY LENGTH - Residencies will be scheduled by mutual agreement between accepted resident artists and Ma’s House year-round.

Residencies can be a minimum of a weekend and a maximum of two weeks. Artists from federally recognized tribes may apply for up to six months.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS - Residents will be required to participate in a minimum of one public program during their stay (open rehearsals, workshops, studio visits, lectures, or artist talks).

Engaging with or researching Shinnecock artists, east-end artists, and local art institutions is strongly recommended before arrival.

RESIDENCY COSTS - There is no fee to apply or fee to attend. Residents will be responsible for their own groceries and meals.

Thanks to the Creatives Rebuild New York grant, we are grateful to offer $250.00 per week honorariums for visiting artists. (Or about $35.70 per day if staying more or less than a week)

RESIDENCY EXPERIENCE - Ma’s House is located in a quiet and remote part of the Shinnecock Reservation. Applicant artists should expect a retreat-style residency.

The lead artist of Ma’s House (Jeremy Dennis) also lives at Ma’s House.

SHINNECOCK INDIAN NATION - Ma’s House & BIPOC Artist Residency is located on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, a sovereign self-governing nation in Southampton, NY.

The residency presents a privilege of being a guest of the nation. We ask that you be respectful to our community by respecting the privacy and space of others on the reservation and to not wander alone through the territory.

TRANSPORTATION, RESIDENCY CAR, & LOCATION - Ma’s House is located on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, NY (about two hours from NYC).

Resident artists traveling from NYC have the option of using the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Hampton Jitney, or drive with their own vehicle. We can arrange for pickup and drop off at the train station or bus stop in Southampton.

As of 2023, we now have a donated vehicle dedicated to resident artist use. Resident artists may use public transit or drive their own car to Ma’s House and decide to use our vehicle. Resident artist will be asked to fill out an additional car usage form and car use is restricted to a one hour radius drive around Ma’s House and no overnight trips with the vehicle.

Uber, Lyft, and car rentals are available nearby.

FACILITIES - Ma’s House has an assortment of woodworking tools, basic art materials including tempera paints, brushes, scissors, colored pencils, crayons, glue sticks, hot glue guns, exacto knives, assortment of beads, and more.

At the moment we do not have a ceramic kiln, metal working tools, 3d printing, or a formal dance platform, but hope to one day!

THE HOMEBODY FELLOWSHIP - Announcing an open call fellowship for QTBIPOC artists based in the San Francisco Bay Area for the Artist Residency Program at Ma’s House! Two chosen artists will be awarded an unrestricted $750 during the residency which spans 2-4 weeks at Ma’s House on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, NY.

This opportunity is made possible by the Homebody Fund, a small donor-advised fund at East Bay Community Foundation, resourcing POC—especially QTPOC—spiritual/healing spaces that support community leadership and cultural transformation in decolonial movements for liberation, especially in the East Bay Area.

.mashouse.studio/residency/

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MACDOWELL FELLOWSHIP: FALL/WINTER 2025-2026

MacDowell

APPLICATION PERIOD: January 15 - February 10, 2025

INFO: The Fellowship application period for Fall/Winter 2025-2026 residencies at MacDowell will open on January 15, 2025.

MacDowell encourages artists to apply in any stage of their career, and from all backgrounds and countries. We invite applications in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. If your proposed project does not fall clearly within one of these artistic disciplines, contact the admissions department for guidance at admissions@macdowell.org.

MacDowell has no residency fees, and to defray expenses that accrue during an artist’s stay, we provide need-based stipends to cover rent, utilities, childcare, and lost income from taking time off from employment, as well as reimbursements for travel to and from the residency.

Fall/Winter residencies will take place between September 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026.

macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

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VCCA RESIDENCIES

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts

DEADLINE: January 15, 2024

FULLY FUNDED RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIPS:

The following fully-funded fellowships are available for the Fall 2025 residency period at Mt. San Angelo.

50TH ANNIVERSARY FELLOWSHIPS FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR

Eligibility: Artists of color who have not previously been in residence at VCCA
Opportunity: Residency of up to two-week at Mt. San Angelo
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

ALONZO DAVIS FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility: American writers, visual artists, and composers of African or Latin American descent
Opportunity: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo; $500 honorarium
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

EDITH LEONIAN WORDS AND MUSIC COLLABORATIVE FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility: Two artists working together on an artistic project combining words and music
Opportunity: Two-week collaborative residency at Mt. San Angelo; $500 honoraria
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

ALISON LURIE MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility: Female-identifying fiction writers
Opportunity: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

SARA PENNYPACKER FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility: Composers creating substantive work for children
Opportunity: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo; $500 stipend
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

STEVEN PETROW AND JULIE PETROW-COHEN LGBTQ+ FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility: Writers in any genre who self-identify as LGBTQ+
Opportunity: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

RICHARD S. AND JULIA LOUISE REYNOLDS POETRY FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility: Poets
Opportunity: Three-week residency at Mt. San Angelo
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

MARIAN TREGER FELLOWSHIP FOR ENDURING CREATIVITY

Eligibility: Female-identifying fiction writers, screenwriters, or visual artists, emerging in mid-life and beyond, whose creative paths may have been detoured or hindered by chronic health conditions or disabilities
Opportunity: Two-week residency at Mt. San Angelo; $400 stipend
Residency available: September 1 – December 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/

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TRANSLATION PROJECT FELLOWSHIPS

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

DEADLINE: January 16, 2025

INFO: Through fellowships to published translators, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other languages into English. The work to be translated should be of interest for its literary excellence and merit. We encourage translation projects that feature languages, perspectives, and writers that are not well represented in English, as well as work that has not previously been translated into English. The NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering mutual support for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups.

Applying for a federal grant can be time consuming. We estimate that after registering, the process to draft and submit an application takes approximately 12 hours. Competition for fellowships is rigorous. Potential applicants should consider carefully whether their work will be competitive at the national level.

ELIGIBILITY: Individual U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who meet specific publication requirements are eligible to apply. To determine eligibility, review the complete list of requirements in the Grant Program Details document linked below.

An individual may submit only one application for FY 2026 Literature Fellowships funding. You may not apply for both a Translation Project at this deadline (January 16, 2025) and a Creative Writing Fellowship in Prose at the March 2025 deadline. See more information about the Creative Writing Fellowships program to determine which opportunity is the right fit for your literary work.

Funding is not available in this category for organizations.

FUNDING LEVEL: Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $25,000. Award amounts are determined by the National Endowment for the Arts.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Applications for Translation Fellowships are accepted annually.

Panel Review - Spring/Summer 2025
National Council on the Arts Meeting - Late October 2025
Notifications - December 2025
Earliest Project Start Date - January 1, 2026

GRANT PROGRAM DETAILS + INSTRUCTIONS:

Grant Program Details: This document includes a detailed description of the grant program, eligibility information, award information, an application calendar, application review details, FAQs, and federal award administration information. Review this information before you decide to apply.
Application Instructions: This document contains step-by-step instructions for assembling and submitting a complete application, including filling out the required Application for Federal Domestic Assistance—Individual form (SF-424), and creating the additional required application materials. Review this information while preparing your application.

HOW TO APPLY:

Submitting an application is a multi-step process. Detailed instructions on how to complete and submit the required application materials can be found in the Application Instructions PDF above.

REGISTER with Login.gov and Grants.gov, or renew/verify these registrations. See the Grant Program Details document linked above for more information about how to register.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Clicking the link below will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in Grants.gov. See the Application Instructions document linked above with detailed instructions for preparing and submitting your application materials.

arts.gov/grants/translation-project-fellowships

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EMERGING WRITERS GROUP

The Public Theater

DEADLINE: January 26, 2025 by 11:59pm ET

INFO: EWG members are selected bi-annually and receive a two-year fellowship at The Public, which consists of bi-weekly meetings where cohort members share new work in progress. We also offer special sessions that connect EWG-ers to the wider theatrical community, including industry panels, "speed-dating" with directors, financial advice, master classes from professional playwrights and more. At the end of the fellowship, The Public presents the EWG Spotlight Series, a festival of professionally produced readings for members of the industry and the general public.

Other program benefits include:

A $10,000 stipend
$1,000 in reimbursable funds for buying tickets to shows outside The Public
Complimentary tickets to Public Theater productions, workshops, special events and Joe's Pub performances
Professional headshots
Opportunities to observe the rehearsal processes of Public Theater shows

CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY:

In accordance with shifts in the field, we have decided to change the eligibility criteria for the 2025-2027 Emerging Writers Group at The Public Theater. As in previous years, you are eligible for EWG if:

You have NOT had a major Off-Broadway or comparable regional production of a play

You are NOT enrolled in a graduate level (MA or MFA) at the time when the EWG 2027 cohort begins meeting (the Fall 2024 semester)

You live within a 90-minute commute of The Public Theater (located at 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003) when the EWG 2027 cohort begins meeting (all EWG meetings are conducted in person at The Public Theater)

However, in a change from prior years, we WILL accept applications from artists who are represented by an agent, manager, or other professional proxy for playwriting.

When the Emerging Writers Group began in 2008, securing a theatrical agent was rare for artists at the beginning stages of their careers. However, in the ensuing years, it has become increasingly common for an agent or manager to sign an artist as a client long before the artist celebrates their first professional production. Therefore, we believe that having an agent is no longer a defining factor when considering the career level of an artist.

We remain dedicated to the mission of EWG as an opportunity for a wide variety of generative artists who identify as “early career.” EWG’s strength lies in the diversity of the lived experiences within each cohort, so although we are expanding our application criteria, those without agents are still strongly encouraged to apply to the Emerging Writers Group.

To that end, we will also institute additional evaluation protocols to ensure equal opportunity among applicants at each stage of the evaluation process.

If you have any questions, please email us at ewgquestions@publictheater.org.

FAQs:

I applied! When will I hear if I got in or not?

Thanks for applying! Applications will remain open until Sunday, January 26th, 2025. At that point, our team of readers will evaluate each application over the course of the spring and summer. You should expect to hear from us no later than October 2025.

Can I submit a short play in my application?

Depends on your definition! Your application play must be over 50 pages in length or no shorter than 45 minutes in running time.

I don’t primarily identify as a “playwright” - am I eligible for EWG?

Absolutely! While a great many of EWG’s alumni consider themselves playwrights, we have also proudly accepted composers, poets, emcees, devisers, performers, and multi-hyphenate artists who are looking to hone their talents as theater writers!

Can I submit a musical as my “application play”?

You may! However, it must be musical of which you are the sole author. Also, please note that we do not accept demo tracks as part of the application, so please upload the libretto only!

I have a college and/or advanced degree in playwriting or another form of theatrical writing. Am I eligible for EWG?

You are! As long as you are not actively enrolled in a degree program (college, grad school, PhD program) while in EWG, you are eligible!

Who has been in the Emerging Writers Group in the past?

The 2023-2025 Emerging Writers are Karina Billini, Tomas Endter, Jesse Jae Hoon, Humaira Iqbal, Celeste Jennings, Nina Ki, Gloria Oladipo, Valen-Marie Santos, Amita Sharma, and Al Sierra.

The alumni of the Emerging Writers Group include are Nissy Aya, Aya Aziz, Francisca Da Silveira, Katie Do, Ying Ying Li, Julián Mesri, AriDy Nox, UGBA, Else C. Went, Brittany K. Allen, Augusto Amador, Bridget Kelso Anthony, Kevin Artigue, Liza Birkenmeir, Radha Blank, Manny Borras, Leila Buck, Oscar A.L. Cabrera, Raul Castillo, Damon Chua, Chris Cragin Day, Daniella De Jesús, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Dyalekt, Keli Goff, Javierantonio González, Christina Gorman, Ryan J. Haddad, A-lan Holt, Phillip Howze, Monet Hurst-Mendoza, Geraldine Inoa, Elizabeth Irwin, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Obehi Janice, C. Julian Jimenez, Sukari Jones, Jeremy Jerome Kamps, MJ Kaufman, Boo Killebrew, Andrew Kramer, Paola Lázaro, Aaron Levy, Ethan Lipton, Patricia Ione Lloyd, Mona Mansour, Laura Marks, Anna Moench, Alejandro Morales, Dominique Morisseau, Nick Mwaluko, Mary Kathryn Nagle, NSangou Njikam, Don Nguyen, Diana Oh, Ife Olujobi, Stav Palti-Negev, Jiehae Park, Jerome Parker, Ricardo Pérez González, Stella Fawn Ragsdale, Vickie Ramirez, Harrison David Rivers, Riti Sachdeva, Akin Salawu, Sarah Sander, Jordan Seavey, SEVAN, Alena Smith, Kevin Christopher Snipes, Celine Song, Susan Soon He Stanton, Alaudin Ullah, Kyle Warren, Pia Wilson, Lauren Yee, Joshua Young, and David Zheng.

publictheater.org/programs/emerging-writers-group/ewg-application

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Hansberry-Lilly Award

Dramatists Guild Foundation

DEADLINE: February 7, 2025 by 11:59pm ET

ELIGIBILITY:

Persons wishing to apply must:

Be a person of color
Be a woman or non-binary
Be a first-year/newly accepted into one of these graduate dramatic writing programs: Brooklyn College, Brown, Columbia University, Julliard, NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, Northwestern, Yale, University of California at San Diego, and Hunter College.

dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit

THEATER — DECEMBER 2024

December 1, 2024

LITERARY ARTS GRANTS

South Arts

DEADLINE: December 4, 2024

INFO: As part of its Literary Arts Initiative, South Arts is excited to announce grants for literary arts projects for writers and publishers. These grants deepen our commitment to amplifying literary traditions and practices of the American South through directly funding the initiation, development, and completion of literary arts projects in poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama (playwriting and screenwriting).

Literary Arts Grants will be made to writers, independent literary publishers, and small presses:

LITERARY ARTS GRANTS FOR WRITERS: South Arts will award literary grants up to $5,000. Applicants (writers or organizations) must apply through Salesforce and include writing samples and other required attachments specified in these Guidelines.
LITERARY ARTS GRANTS FOR PUBLISHERS: South Arts will award literary arts grants up to $5,000 to support Southern independent publishers and small presses. Applicants must apply through Salesforce and include the publisher’s representative work samples and other required attachments as specified in these Guidelines.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Deadline to Apply: 12/4/2024
Awards Announced: February 2025
Funding Cycle: March 1, 2025 – August 30, 2026 (18 months)

The award announcement may be earlier or later than the date listed above, depending on the number of applications and judging process.

Applicants who are not selected for an award will receive notification via the email on their application form before the award announcement.

South Arts reserves the right to not consider incomplete or improperly submitted applications without informing the applicant.

Judges do not communicate any information or details of their review. Given the volume of applications received, South Arts cannot provide individual feedback on the application and from the panel.

Applicants who move from the South Arts Region after they submit their application are encouraged to notify South Arts and will not be eligible to receive a grant award.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES

All applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award.
Current, full-time resident or Headquartered in the South Arts Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and at receipt of the award.

For Writers

One application per artist or arts organization per funding cycle will be accepted.
Applicant artists must be 18 years of age or older.
Applicant artists must not be enrolled in a literary arts/writing academic program at time of application and at receipt of award.
Current, full-time residents for at least the prior 12 months s of the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application during the project period.
Works authored by more than one person are ineligible.

For Literary Arts Organizations

For Publishers: Independent nonprofit publishers and small presses including journals.
Based in the South Arts Region for at least the prior 12 months (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and during the project period.
Other non-profit organizations with a literary arts mission.

INELIGIBLE ENTITIES

Units of government
Colleges/Universities are ineligible to apply for this grant.

UNALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES

General operating support. 
Support for a full season of programming. 
Courses or coursework in degree-granting or continuing education institutions. 
Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers. 
Publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant organization's board members, faculty, or trustees. 
Projects for which no curatorial, juried, or editorial judgment has been applied to the selection of artists or art works. 
Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and potlucks. 
Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable; generally, this includes activities at venues such as bars, wineries, and breweries where the consumption of alcohol/social activity is the primary purpose of the venue. 
Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement. 
Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including arts markets, concessions, food, t-shirts, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops. 
Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.
Sub-granting or regranting.

UNALLOWABLE COSTS

Cash reserves and endowments. 
Startup costs or other costs associated with establishing new organizations. 
Alcoholic beverages or other hospitality costs. 
Purchase and/or use of gift cards and gift certificates to support project costs.
Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items with monetary value (e.g., electronic devices, gift certificates).
Contributions and donations to other entities, including donation drives.
General miscellaneous or contingency costs. 
Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.  
Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.  
Audit costs. 
Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the applicant.
The purchase of vehicles.
Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official project period.

MATCHING REQUIREMENTS

All grants require a 2:1 cost share. South Arts matches $2 for every $1 the applicant contributes towards project costs.

Grants will pay up to 2/3 of the total cost of the opportunity, with a maximum award of $5,000. The applicant must cover remaining expenses, and South Arts requires a 2:1 match (2 South Arts: 1 grantee). Artists may include their own cash in the match. Examples:  

Total Project Cost- $6,000, the applicant can request up to $4,000 and contribute the remaining $2,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions. 
Total Project Costs are $15,000: The applicant can request up to $5,000 and contribute the remaining $10,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.
Toal Project Costs are $3,000:  The applicant can request up to $2,000 and contribute the remaining $1,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.

Budget details should identify the source of funds (including self-funding, private contributions, institutional stipends, or additional grant funding) not requested from South Arts.

Total projected expenses must meet or exceed the request by 50%. 

Funds can be used for these eligible expenses directly related to participation in proposed activities:

For Organizations:  Itemize project personnel costs 
Travel (itemize air, ground, lodging, per diem, visa services) 
Equipment rental (itemize all equipment rental expenses) 
Office expenses (itemize supplies, and shipping/postage) 
Services/professional fees (itemize editorial, graphic design, photography/videography, financial, publishing, production, and distribution services, etc.) 
Marketing 
Facility expenses (itemize rent, space rental, utilities) 
Insurance 
Childcare or elder caregiver service costs that arise as a result of applicant planning and executing the proposed project

southarts.org/grants-opportunities/literary-arts-granthttps://www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities/literary-arts-grant

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WRITERS RETREAT FOR EMERGING LGBTQ VOICES

Lambda Literary

DEADLINE: December 8, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $30

Since 2007, the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices has offered sophisticated instruction in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young adult fiction, playwriting led by the most talented writers working today. In 2022, the Writers Retreat expanded to include instruction in screenwriting and speculative fiction, and in 2025, we will introduce the newest cohort serving writers working in both and between playwriting and screenwriting.

In 2025, as we did in 2024, we are holding our Writers Retreat online. This format allows for us as an organization to continue building our resources while offering the same high-quality programming that remains accessible to folks who may not otherwise be able to attend in-person programs.

We are excited to announce that this year, we will be lengthening the typically week-long program to a 10-day virtual retreat, from Thursday, July 31-Saturday, August 9. In this new model, we will use the first two evenings on Thursday and Friday to build community and hold additional programming. We hope that this new model will build relationships and community, offer more learning opportunities, but we also aim to allow those attending the retreat from home to continue to sustain the elements of their livelihood outside of the Retreat program.

Additionally, we will be adding a brand new cohort to our Writers Retreat: the screen/play/writing cohort. This cross-genre cohort is meant for performance writers who work outside of the stage/screen binary, those who waft between genres, and those who are working in adaptations. We invite all screenwriters and playwrights in this cohort to consider how their work can move between genres, between stage and screen, while centering writing for performance. Coming back for another year after an astounding stint as Playwriting Faculty in 2024, we welcome back Roger Q. Mason to lead this inaugural cohort!

SCHEDULE:

We’ve extended the typical length of the retreat from 7 days to 10:

We will have a mix of synchronous programming and asynchronous programming, and on days when we offer all day programming, fellows can expect to have ample breaks and rest from screens.
Thursday, July 31-Friday, August 1: Programming begins at ~7:00 pm EST/ 4:00 pm PST
Saturday, August 2-Friday, August 8: All day programming
Saturday, August 9: Programming ends at ~6:00 pm EST/3:00 pm PST

APPLICATION DETAILS:

Applications to attend the 2025 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ* Voices open on November 1, 2024 and close at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on December 8, 2024. You may apply to more than one workshop, however, each application must be submitted separately and requires an additional fee.

We are offering a number of application fee waivers for the QTBIPOC** (Queer and Trans folks who are or identify as Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color) folks who would be attending the Retreat for the first time. Please email retreat@lambdaliterary.org to request an application fee waiver.

To Apply, Please Prepare

1. An artistic/biographical statement (max 500 words).

2. a writing sample matching the genre of the workshop you’re applying for:

.DOC, .DOCX, or .PDF format.
For prose, double spaced, 12 point font.
For Fiction, Nonfiction, Speculative Fiction, and Young Adult Fiction: 15 pages maximum. This maximum applies to cross-genre samples as well as samples in verse.
For Playwriting/Screenwriting and Play/Screen/Writing: 15 pages maximum from a full-length work, short play/script, or piece of theatre/film.
For Poetry: 8 pages maximum.
The sample you apply with does not have to be the same sample you plan to workshop at the Retreat.

3. Optional, not required for acceptance:

Any publications of your work during the past two years, including anthologies, literary journals, magazines, websites, and books.
Any other writing conferences, retreats, and workshops have you attended.
If you're applying to scholarships, a scholarship statement (max 500 words).

TUITION + SCHOLARSHIPS:

Writers Retreat tuition is currently set at $1,625. However, we are working on raising funds to lower this price for fellows. This means there is a possibility that the price of tuition will go down, but it will not go any higher than $1,625. All accepted/waitlisted applicants will be notified of the final price of tuition before accepting their fellowship.

Lambda Literary has a host of full and partial scholarships that are available for accepted applicants.

Ability to pay is in no way part of the decision-making process. We have a robust and ever-growing host of scholarships available thanks to our intensive fundraising efforts and generous donors. Lambda also supports fellows in their own fundraising efforts using our fundraising platform. Many fellows who used our peer-to-peer fundraising platform in 2024 raised their entire tuition fee.

The $30.00 application fee is processed through Submittable's online portal. If you wish to pay by cash or check please contact retreat@lambdaliterary.org.

APPLICATION STATUS NOTIFICATIONS:

Writers Retreat Faculty make the final determinations regarding accepted and waitlisted applicants. All applicants will be notified of their application status in April 2025.

lambdaliterary.org/emerging-writers-retreat/

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writers room

Life Jacket Theatre

DEADLINE: December 15, 2024

INFO: Life Jacket is now accepting applications for our WRITERS ROOM, a new dramaturgical home dedicated to supporting and uplifting emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights based in the New York City area who are interested in creating new investigative works based on (or inspired by) real people and events.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

MARCH-MAY 2025: Participants will meet twice monthly in a writing studio in Manhattan (six sessions in total) to take turns presenting new pages from full-length plays that they are actively developing. Playwrights will then receive feedback from their fellow participants to help refine and enhance their work.
MAY 2025: Life Jacket will produce one public reading featuring 10-minute excerpts of the playwrights’ collective works developed during this program. Each playwright will be responsible for securing the actors and directors needed to appropriately present their work.

ELIGIBILITY:

Qualified applicants will identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community, have written at least 2 full-length plays/musicals, reside in the New York City area, be able to meet twice monthly in-person during the duration of this program, and are classified as emerging (e.g., have not had a professional production of their work in New York City with a run longer than 4 weeks or 21 performances). Individuals currently enrolled in full-time degree/certificate programs are not eligible for this program.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

ARTIST BIO: 150 words max.
ARTIST STATEMENT: A description of why you are interested in this group and a synopsis of the work you wish to develop in this program. 500 words max.
WRITING SAMPLE: Excerpt of a completed play OR the work that you wish to develop while participating in this program. 10 pages max.

TIMELINE:

DECEMBER 15, 2024: Applications close (or earlier when 200 applications are received, whichever comes first).
FEBRUARY 2025: Applicants are notified of admission decisions.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email: lifejacketwritersroom@gmail.com.

lifejackettheatre.org/writers-room

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call for one-act plays

Third Coast

DEADLINE: Extended to December 15, 2024

ENTRY FEE: $3

INFO: Third Coast is seeking drama submissions.

GUIDELINES:

Please submit one-act plays of no more than 20 pages.

Third Coast strongly encourages the submission of 10-minute plays that have had readings or productions, but have not received publication.
Please submit in standard play format.

thirdcoastmagazine.submittable.com/submit

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FINE ARTS WORK CENTER FELLOWSHIP

Fine Arts Work Center

DEADLINE: December 16, 2024

APPLICATION FEE: $65

INFO: Each year, the Work Center offers 20 seven-month residencies to a juried group of emerging visual artists, fiction writers, and poets. Each Fellow receives an apartment, a studio (for visual artists), and a monthly stipend of $1,250 plus an exit stipend of $1,000. Residencies run from October 1 through April 30. During this time, Fellows have the opportunity to pursue their work independently in a diverse and supportive community of peers.

THE RESIDENCY:

During the course of the Fellowship, each Writing Fellow is invited to give a public reading and each Visual Art Fellow is given a solo exhibition opportunity. Readings and openings are attended by current and past Fellows, local residents, visitors to Provincetown, leadership of the town’s numerous cultural institutions, and the many illustrious artists and writers who make their homes in Provincetown. Events take place in the beautifully renovated public spaces of the Work Center: the Stanley Kunitz Common Room and Hudson D. Walker Gallery.

VISITING ARTISTS + WRITERS

While in residence, Fellows also help select a series of visiting artists and writers. These visiting artists and writers meet with the Fellows for studio visits and manuscript reviews and give public readings and artist talks that draw thousands from Provincetown and beyond. Visiting guests have included presidential inaugural poet Elizabeth Alexander; Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel; winner of the National Book Award for Poetry Mark Doty; Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress Robert Pinsky; artist and MacArthur Fellowship recipient Judy Pfaff; and Katherine Porter, whose work is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The Work Center’s founders believed that seven months was the minimum amount of time needed for artists and writers in the crucial early stages of their careers to learn to structure their lives around their creative practice. Each generation of Fellows ideally moves on from the Work Center with a firm belief in their ability to pursue a life as a practicing artist or writer.

fawc.org/apply/

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NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship

NYFA

DEADLINE: December 17, 2024 at 5:00pm ET

INFO: The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is an $8,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located therein.

This grant is awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period (five categories a year) and the application is free to complete. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is not a project grant, but is intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, at all levels of their artistic development.

DISCIPLINES:

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

25 years or older by the application deadline date
Current residents of New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located in New York State
Must have maintained New York State residency, and/or residency in one of the Tribal Nations located therein, for at least the last two consecutive years (2023 & 2024)
Not enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind
Are the originators of the work, i.e. choreographers or playwrights, not interpretive artists such as dancers or actors
Did not receive a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in any discipline in the past five consecutive years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024
Cannot submit any work samples that have been previously awarded a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
While collaborating artists are eligible to apply, the total number of artists cannot exceed three individuals (this includes the submitter). Each artist applying must all meet the eligibility criteria for this award. Artists applying as a collaboration cannot apply separately as an individual.
Applicants can apply in a maximum of 2 categories each cycle
Are not a current NYFA employee or have been in the last 12 months, a member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, 2025 panelist, or an immediate family member of any of the above.
Artists that have been awarded five NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships receive Emeritus status and are no longer eligible for the award

NYFA only accepts applications online via apply.nyfa.org/submit.

nyfa.org/awards-grants/artist-fellowships

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Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays

Abingdon Theatre Company

DEADLINE: December 20, 2024

INFO: Seeking Playwrights, Directors, and Actors for Abingdon Theatre Company's upcoming Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays in collaboration with AMT Theater. Abingdon Theatre Company continues to be committed to creating opportunities for all voices to be heard. With this in mind, ATC is thrilled to open submissions for their fifth annual festival of short plays; a festival shedding light on stories by people of color.

Playwrights: Short play submissions should be unpublished, no longer than 40 pages and written by BIPOC individuals. We are accepting applications from artists from all experience levels, locations, and ages.

Directors: Seeking BIPOC directors for our festival of short plays. Please ensure you are available for the in-person festival in New York City from February 15-16.

Actors: Seeking actors of all ethnicities for our festival of short plays. Please ensure you are available for the in-person festival in New York City from February 15-16.

abingdontheatre.org/fsp-2025

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Artivism Fellowship

Broadway Advocacy Coalition

DEADLINE: January 1, 2025 at 4pm ET

INFO: Artivism Fellowship is a 7-month incubation process that provides one participating artist-activist with $10k and the tools and resources to blend artistry, law, policy, and community engagement to leverage their creative talents to drive meaningful systemic change.

In the fifth year of the Artivism Fellowship, we’re focusing on a single fellow who will be exploring alongside our advocacy partner, Community Capacity Development. Community Capacity Development is a world renowned Human Justice and Healing Organization that uproots systemic challenges in marginalized communities. CCD develops and implements community-led solutions.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

We want to keep things straightforward. As a fellow, you’ll be asked to:

Create: You’ll develop one original, narrative-based piece that responds to a pressing social issue in collaboration with a partner organization working toward systemic change. This fellowship doesn’t support projects-in-progress; instead, you’ll create something completely new, addressing a specific issue identified by the partner, ensuring your work is both timely and impactful. You’ll receive advisory, marketing, legal, policy, and production support to ensure your work reflects your creative vision while also driving meaningful real-world impact. The Artivism Fellow will fully integrate BAC’s Theater of Change methodology into their work.
Collaborate: You’ll work closely with peers, mentors, policy advisors, and our partner organization to refine your work, receiving guidance on artistic, legal, and advocacy-related aspects to enhance the impact of your project.
Present: You’ll showcase your work during two key events produced by BAC: a Work in Progress presentation in May and the Night of Artivism in September.

The result? You’ll create an impactful piece of artivism, crafted in collaboration with a partner, ready to share with the public and positioned to inspire real change.

You in?

IMPORTANT DATES:

Please take note of these dates for the application period:

December 2, 2024: Applications open
December 10, 2024: Virtual Info Session
January 1, 2025: Applications due
January 1 - 5, 2025: Applications reviewed by committee
January 5, 2025: Applicants Notified of their status
January 9 - 12, 2025: Top 5 Group Interview x Activity (virtual)
January 16, 2025: Fellows are selected and all applicants are notified of their application status

FELLOWSHIP SLOT:

One narrative-based artivist will receive advisory, marketing, legal/policy, and production support to develop an original new piece as a BAC Artivism Fellow over a 7-month period. Open to artists committed to utilizing their artistic skills for social justice and systemic change, ideal candidates will:

Be a playwright, songwriter, or other creative practitioner with a passion for merging art and activism.
Demonstrate a clear commitment to social justice and anti-racist work through their artistic practice.
Have experience working with or for marginalized communities and addressing systemic inequities.
Be willing and able to fully integrate BAC’s Theater of Change methodology into their work.
Be an alumni of BAC’s Theater of Change workshop.
Be available for in-person cohort meetings and live in one of NYC’s five boroughs.
Be 21 years of age or older.

BAC’s ARTIVISM FELLOWSHIP DETAILS:

One (1) narrative-based artivist will receive advisory, marketing, legal/policy, and production support to develop one original new piece as a BAC Artivism Fellow over a 7-month period.

Please Note: BAC will not support projects-in-progress. This is an issue-responsive fellowship.

Presentation Schedule:

Work in Progress - May 12 2025 at MCC Theater (rehearsals & work in progress)
Night of Artivism - September 2025: (rehearsals & final showing), Space to be confirmed

Courses + Residencies:

Participation in BAC’s Theater of Change course at Columbia Law School: January 31 - Feb 2, 2025 and Feb 9 - 10, 2025
Writing Residency: April 2025 (3 - 5 days) // June 2025 (5 days)
Beyond the Bars Conference: March 6 - 9, 2025

Cohort Sessions:

Fridays (in-person & virtual) biweekly beginning February 21, 2025

Content Shoot Day: Scheduled once the Fellowship Begins

The content day is designed to produce high-quality digital assets that reflect the fellow’s projects and artistic expressions, which may later be used for promotional or storytelling purposes within the fellowship program. The goal of the shoot is to visually align with the themes of artivism and storytelling, connecting the fellow’s individual narratives with broader social change efforts.

Advisory Outings: Throughout the Fellowship

You’ll spend intentional, one-on-one time with Alumni. Whether it’s a feedback dinner, attending a show together, or even participating in your writing residency, this is your chance to connect deeply with an artivist advisor.

Artistic + Production Support:

Selected Artivists Will Be Able To Utilize And Engage In The Following Aspects Throughout Their 7-Month Residency. BAC will cover artistic and production costs as outlined below:

$10,000 fellow stipend and workshop presentation production budget as created, approved and managed by the Program Director.
A Production Stage Manager for Night of Artivism and Work in Progress.
Assistance with research and conceptualization, coordination of readings, facilitation of presentations, organization of workshops, management of rehearsals, and oversight of productions, both in terms of production and administration.
Low-tech/no-tech shared Work in Progress among the cohort with invited audiences and BAC staff (no public BAC marketing) in May 2025.
A Night of Artivism (workshop presentation) in September 2025 with BAC production and marketing support.

Networking + Connections:

Fellows will establish vibrant connections within a peer support and mentorship network, engaging in collaborative discussions on topics such as community engagement in artivism, advocacy strategies, crafting engagement strategies to maximize project impact, and meaningful interactions with impacted communities.

INFO SESSION:

BAC staff will host an online information session for prospective Artivism Fellowship applicants. All interested applicants are encouraged to attend.

Join us virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 6:00-7:00 pm. Click here to register.

For any questions about the application or the fellowship, please contact indigo@bwayadvocacycoalition.org.

bwayadvocacycoalition.org/artivism-fellowship

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Short-Term Fellowships for Writers, Artists, and Other Humanists

Newberry Library

DEADLINE: January 3, 2025

Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Artists and performers including (but not limited to) painters, sculptors, choreographers, dramaturgs, creative writers, composers, and others in artistic fields.

Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Applicants must be individuals working outside of traditional academic settings.

Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Writers of historical fiction.

newberry.org/research/fellowships/short-term-fellowships

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2025 Residency Program

Saltonstall

DEADLINE: January 5, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $0

Poetry
Playwriting & Screenwriting (NEW in 2025!)
Photography (film or digital) & Filmmaking
Painting | Sculpture | Visual Arts

Since 2021, Saltonstall offers wheelchair friendly facilities with additional private space for a caregiver if needed.

DATES FOR 2025 RESIDENCIES:

Our fifth annual residencies for artist/writer parents -- now including full-time caregivers!

Friday, May 30 – Friday, June 6
Friday, October 17 – Friday, October 24

Our four-week residencies:

Monday – Monday, June 9 – July 7
Monday – Monday, July 14 – August 11

One (of two) two-week residency:

Thursday – Thursday, August 14 – 28

Our three-week residency:

Tuesday – Tuesday, September 2 – 23

Our second two-week residency:

Monday – Monday, September 29 – October 13

Note: for our two-, three-, and four-week sessions, artists and writers will be expected to participate in an open house at the end of the residency.

saltonstall.submittable.com/submit

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The Terrence McNally New Works Incubator

Rattlestick Theater

DEADLINE: January 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST (or when 500 applications have been received)

INFO: Rattlestick Theater, the Terrence McNally Foundation, and Tom Kirdahy Productions (TKP) are excited to open applications for Cycle 3 of the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator.

ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM:

rattlestick.org/terrence-mcnally-new-works-incubator

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2025 Early Career Artist Residency - For MN + NY artists

Anderson Center at Tower View

DEADLINE: January 14, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $0

TO APPLY:

The community of Red Wing, Minn., (pop. 16,000) is nestled amidst the scenic bluffs of the upper Mississippi River.

Anderson Center’s goal is to support artists early in their careers who create work that is and/or has the potential to be:

Compelling—offering distinctive vision and authentic voice;
Deeply considered, imaginative, and executed with attention to craft and with technical proficiency, providing artistic experiences that communicate unique perspective/s, and invite viewers to question, discover, explore new ideas in new ways;
Innovative and risk-taking—engaging, questioning, challenging or re-imagining conventional artistic forms.

Anderson Center defines an early career artist as someone in the early stages of their creative development with 2-10 years of generative experience, and:

have a focused direction and goals, even while still developing their artistic “voice”
have yet to be substantially celebrated within their field, the media, funding circles or the public at large
are vocational (as opposed to avocational, academic, amateur or educational) artists

The four primary eligibility guidelines for Anderson Center’s Early Career Artist Residency are:

Legal residency in the State of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City.
Not enrolled in any degree-granting program from time of application through residency period.
Self-identification as an “early career artist” with 2-10 years of generative experience in the field
An artistic practice centered in generating and creating entirely new work.

The Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement is a Word or PDF document that shows education, work experience, publications, awards, and previous residency experience. 3 pages maximum.

Likewise you may also choose to simply submit a PDF or Word Doc with hyperlinks to work samples that meet the guidelines outlined above.

Each artist-in-residence receives:

$625/week artist stipend
Travel honorarium ($550 for New Yorkers and $150 for Minnesotans)
$450 documentation budget (services for photography, video, audio, etc.)

SELECTION TIMELINE:

January 14, 2025 (12:00 p.m. Noon CST) – application deadline
February 7, 2025 – Jury has selected Round 2 applications. All artists are notified of the status of their application.
February 25, 2025 – Jury has determined finalists. Phone interviews with finalists begin.
March 4, 2025 – Final notification to selected artists, wait-list and runners-up

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Selection criteria include (in order of importance):

Artistic excellence as demonstrated by work samples, resume and artist statement
Potential benefit and impact on career as demonstrated by work plan
Balance of artistic disciplines, identity, geography, etc within selected cohort

theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit

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2025 Anderson center residency

Anderson Center at Tower View

DEADLINE: January 14, 2025

APPLICATION FEE: $30

Anderson's signature Artist Residency Program, together with the Studio Artist Program, forms the core of the organization's artistic community. The Residency Program provides artists, writers, musicians, and performers of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment with dedicated time and space to create, advance, or complete new work. In addition to community engagement activities through the artist residency program, the organization's additional outreach programs create connections and integrate the arts into community life through local partnerships, hosting annual arts events, and participating in other community-based initiatives.

ELIGIBILITY: The Anderson Residency Program is open to early career, mid-career, and established visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, multidisciplinary artists, musicians, performance artists, scholars, and translators from across the globe. The program is interdisciplinary and the organization welcomes applications from a wide range of creative and intellectual genres, including those that don't fit neatly into the above list.

September 2024 residencies are reserved for the organization’s Early Career Artist Residency.

2025 SCHEDULING & AVAILABILITY:

Availability as of September 2024:

August 2025 - Four 4-week spots (or eight 2-week spots); space for 4-6 artists depending on duration.
October 2025 - Three 4-week spots (or 6 2-week spots); space for 3 – 5 artists depending on duration.

In general, for months that incorporate 2-week sessions, no fewer than four artists–and no more than six artists would be scheduled for 2-week residencies within that month.

For composers and musicians: 3 to 5 recordings
For visual artists: At least 5 images of work (300 dpi or larger)
For nonfiction and fiction writers: 10 pages of double-spaced prose
For playwrights & screenwriters: 10-page excerpt (does not need to be from the beginning)
For poets: 10 pages of poetry
For translators: 10 pages of translation and original text
For performance artists: 3 short video excerpts of performances (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
For filmmakers: at least 3 short film clips (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
For Scholars: 10 pages of work, including research abstracts and relevant diagrams

Likewise you may also choose to simply submit a PDF or Word Doc with hyperlinks to work samples that meet the guidelines outlined above.

Staff work with artists to facilitate and customize at least one hour of mutually beneficial exchange with the Red Wing community that helps foster connection and greater a sense of place.

January 14, 2025 (12:00 p.m. Noon CST) – application deadline
February 7, 2025 – Jury has selected Round 2 applications. All artists are notified of the status of their status.
March 5, 2025 – Final notification to selected artists, wait-list and runners-up

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Selection criteria include (in order of importance):

Artistic excellence as demonstrated by work samples, resume and artist statement
Potential benefit and impact on career as demonstrated by work plan
Balance of artistic disciplines, identity, geography, etc within selected cohort

theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit

THEATER — NOVEMBER 2024

November 1, 2024

call for Script Submissions

SheNYC Arts

DEADLINE: November 11, 2024

INFO: We accept full-length plays and musicals during our open submissions period for our Summer Theater Festivals. In order to apply, you must be a playwright or composer of a gender marginalized group (including cis women, trans people, and non-binary people), or a writing team that is made up of at least 50% people from a gender-marginalized group.

Script Submissions are now OPEN for our 2025 SheNYC, SheATL, SheLA, and SheDFW Festivals.

Note that we only accept script submissions during our submission window. If you would like to be considered for our summer festivals, you must submit your work during that time period. Read on below for more details on what you’ll need to submit and for the application link.

Looking for CreateHER Applications for high school students? Click here!

READING/PERFORMANCE INVITATIONS

Unfortunately, we do not have the staff capacity to see readings or performances, so do not accept invitations. However, the only way we would choose to produce your show is through the open submissions process listed above – so, send us your materials that way if you’d like to be considered for a production!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT:

1. The full script to your show, in PDF form. It must be at least 75% finished. If the rest is not finished, you need to provide a “treatment” (a detailed outline of the scenes that remain to be written, in order) along with the script. Bear in mind that you will have to send us completed script if you’re selected as a finalist.

2. A completed application form with some basic information (see below for FAQs).

3. If your show is a musical, recordings of at least 3 full songs from the show, in mp3 or m4a form. The more you have, the better! A simple recording with just you and your piano is fine, though obviously you want to make your music sound the best it can. Please do not submit Finale or Sibelius files (or any other automated vocals).

4. If your show is a solo show, a video of at least 5 minutes of your solo performer performing a cut from the show. This can be a video from a prior production or staged reading, or it can be a self-tape of your actor recording themselves at home.

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT:

It’s important to make sure your show is ready for a festival production. Our Festivals differ from city to city, so please read the pages for whichever Festival you plan to apply to — this page outlines exactly what it means to be a part of the Festival!

2025 TIMELINE SUBMISSIONS:

September 2024: Submissions open for NYC, ATL, and LA Festivals.
November 11th: Deadline for all submissions. Submit your show before 11/11 at 11:59pm EST!
February 2024: If you’re a semi-finalist, we’ll notify you in February.
March 2024: Finalists for NYC & LA are chosen. DFW & ATL finalist notifications may come a bit later.
April: Our festival participants are notified, and you’ll be given a deadline to accept your slot in the festival! We will also notify you if you are not selected. *This is SUBJECT TO CHANGE based on the Festival dates given to us by our venues.*
May: All the fun stuff starts! We’ll have a meet and greet and info sessions to make sure you feel 100% ready to produce your show in the Festival.
June/July: Start rehearsals for your show!
July/August/September: The Festivals run! Each show will get two set performances during these two weeks, as well as a tech and dress rehearsal slot. We will also leave a few empty performance slots in the schedule so that any show that sells out its first two performances can add extra performances.

Tentative dates for the festivals are:

SheLA: Mid-July
SheNYC: End of July/Beginning of August
SheATL: Mid-August
SheDFW: September

shenycarts.org/submissions/

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Holiday Playwright Contest

Kinsman Quarterly

DEADLINE: November 15, 2024 at 11:59pm EST.

FEE: $0

INFO: We are looking for holiday scripts for our upcoming collection Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide. Submissions should include one-act shorts with themes of holidays, especially from BIPOC and underrepresented cultures. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, and Easter. Scripts must be original, unpublished works in English, ideal for families and low-budget organizations. Shorts should be between 10 and 20 pages with less than 6 main characters.

PRIZE: Winning scripts receive up to $500 USD and publication.

Selected submissions will be published on the Kinsman Quarterly website and promoted on its social media sites and printed advertisements. Copyrights of the individual submissions remain with the authors. Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc owns the copyrights to the collection as a unit.

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, however submissions should be withdrawn if accepted elsewhere. To ensure that we are able to publish the unpublished work, winning contestants and finalists are asked to wait a full year after publication before they republish the work themselves or with another organization.

ELIGIBILITY:

individuals 18 years or older
authors of BIPOC and underrepresented communities preferred, but not restrictive
must be able to receive award payment through Paypal

CONTEST GUIDELINES:

Each entry should be an original, unpublished work by the submitting author, which does not infringe upon the copyrights of another individual or entity.
Scripts should be between 10 and 20 pages with less than 6 main characters.
Submissions should feature holiday themes with rich cultural content
Participants may enter more than one submission.
Changes to the competition entry cannot be made once a work is submitted. However, a revised version may be resubmitted. In such cases, include the word "revision" in the file name.

FORMATTING GUIDELINES (MUST READ):

Submission files must be named by Title_AuthorName. Example: "Missing Diamonds_DoeJohn".
All entries must be submitted as an MS Word doc/docx or .pdf file.
All entries must be in 12-point courier font for in a standard play format.
Be sure to remove all track changes from edited text.
Entries that do not adhere to guidelines will not be considered.

PRIZES:

Grand Prize = $500 cash prize and publication in the collection "Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide" and as individual scripts on the Kinsman Quarterly website.
1st Runner Up = $250 cash prize and publication in the collection "Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide" and as individual scripts on the Kinsman Quarterly website.
2nd Runner Up = $150 cash prize and publication in the collection "Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide" and as individual scripts on the Kinsman Quarterly website.
Top 6 Finalists receive a $50 Amazon gift card and publication in the collection "Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide" and as individual scripts on the Kinsman Quarterly website.

kinsmanquarterly.org/holiday-playwright

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PAY YOUR PEOPLE GRANTS

IndieSpace

DEADLINE: November 20, 2024 at 11:59pm ET

INFO: The Pay Your People Grants are $1,000 for NYC-based indie theater companies/collectives and venues to pay historically excluded artists or leadership to work in, administrate, or perform in their spaces and/or productions. For venues, you can use these funds to subsidize a rental from an artist in your venue or to pay performers or administration directly.

Please note that while all of these grants are being called “Pay Your People” grants, we will still maintain separate drawing pools for venues and companies/collectives.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE IF:

You ARE a NYC-based indie theater company, fiscally sponsored collective/production, OR indie theater venue (venues with 99 seats or less).
You CAN COMMIT to using the grant to pay artists or leaders of color and/or artists or leaders who have been historically and currently excluded from funding based on gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, disability, economic disadvantage, refugee/immigration status or for other reasons you define.
You ARE planning to produce at least one show, reading, or workshop in the 12 months following The Big Give (December 2024 to December 2025).
You HAVE a bank account in your organization's name or have a fiscal sponsor to receive funds. Checks will NOT be written to individuals.

YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE IF:

**If you are a venue that RECEIVED the Little Venue that Could grant, you ARE NOT eligible to apply for a Pay Your People Grant this year.
**If you received a Pay Your People Grant in 2023, you ARE NOT eligible to apply for the Pay Your People Grant this year. Organizations can not receive this grant two years in a row. If you received a grant in 2023, you are eligible to apply again for Pay Your People in 2025

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply for funds, please complete the application below AND RSVP for The Big Give.

Before submitting your application, please note:

Only one application for the Pay Your People Grant should be filled out per venue/company/collective.
This application will ask you to upload a performance/rehearsal or venue photo to be used in a slideshow at The Big Give event or in marketing materials. By uploading this photo, you give IndieSpace permission to use it in the slideshow at The Big Give, where it may also be captured in the background of photos or video taken that evening to be used in future marketing.

THIS PROCESS HAS THREE STEPS:

READ ALL OF THIS INFO - You are already doing this one! Be sure to consider everything in these guidelines before applying and ask questions if you have them! We are happy to answer them.
FILL OUT THE APPLICATION: To be considered for the Pay Your People Grant and entered into the lottery, you must complete the application through Submittable. And you or someone from your org/collective must be present (in person or on Zoom) at The Big Give to receive a grant if you are pulled in the lottery. The Big Give will be on December 2 at 7pm.
RSVP TO THE BIG GIVE - You must RSVP for The Big Give on EventBrite PRIOR to submitting the application. Register HERE. While only one grant application must be filled out per venue/company/collective, we ask that each person who will be attending The Big Give party RSVPs individually - share the RSVP link with others. You are welcome and encouraged to attend The Big Give party even if you are not applying for a grant. The more the merrier!

If you have any questions about the application or need assistance completing the application via phone, please reach out to our staff by emailing hello@indiespace.org.

APPLICATION CYCLE:

November 20 – Application Closes at 11:59pm
November 21 - November 25 – Applications are reviewed by the IndieSpace staff and Board for eligibility only
November 25 – Applicants are notified of their application status and eligibility. If you do not receive an email regarding your eligibility by November 25, please contact us at hello@indiespace.org.
December 2 – THE BIG GIVE event at the Chelsea Factory and on Zoom!

PAYMENT PROCESS:

Eligible applicants will be entered into the live grant drawing that will occur at our hybrid The Big Give event on December 2. Checks will be written and given out at the event that evening; PayPal is also possible, if preferred. For those who attend the event virtually, IndieSpace staff will reach out to you and arrange payment either via PayPal, ACH, Zelle, or check.

Checks will be cut to companies, venues, or fiscal sponsors, not directly to individuals.

You must have a bank account set up in the name of the company or venue that is accepting the grant check or be working with a fiscal sponsor that can receive the funds.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT you or a colleague representing your company or venue is present, either in-person or virtually, when the names are pulled to claim and receive one of the $1,000 grants. You may only represent ONE company at the event. Names will be called three times. If someone is not present to respond, we will pull another organization’s name for that grant. Checks will be cut that night, and you’ll be on your way to paying artists and leaders!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Do not feel obligated to spend a tremendous amount of time on this application. This is not a trick. We do not want to further tax your limited resources. Feel free to write very short descriptions, even one sentence, or to copy language from other grant proposals. We ask questions primarily to verify that you are actively producing and that you commit to using funds as we intend them to be used, including to pay artists or leaders of color and/or artists or leaders who bring an underrepresented perspective to our community through gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, economic disadvantage, refugee/immigration status or other reasons you define. Your narrative is not otherwise being judged in any way.

There is no required reporting for this grant. You may be asked for a testimonial on the impact of this grant at the end of the grant period.

theindietheatrefundindiespace.submittable.com/submit/308876/pay-your-people-2024-for-companies-collectives-and-venues-only

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MainStage residency program

Brooklyn Comedy Collective

DEADLINE: November 24, 2024 (end of day)

INFO: The BCC is excited to announce the return of our Mainstage Residency program, in which an ensemble creates an original show. Helmed by Artistic Director, Philip Markle, and Associate Director, Maya Sharma, this cast of 6-8 performer/writers will craft a revue featured in a 6-week run on the Mainstage at BCC. Over the course of a 2 month-long rehearsal process, cast members will devise sketch, character, clown, musical comedy, and solo pieces, in addition to improvised elements, that will add up to a thematic whole for the show. This professional process will include significant out-of-rehearsal writing and preparation, all geared toward creating a polished show that plays to the BCC's "fuck it, love it / fun & dumb" style of comedy. This residency is a way to build your performance chops and strengthen your collaborative process.

AUDITIONS: held in 30-min slots Sat, Dec 7 (3-7 PM) and Wed, Dec 11 (7-10PM) and Sat, Dec 14 (3-7 PM)

Auditioners will prepare an original 90-sec solo bit that brings them joy. This can be anything - a character, a short song, a game, an improvised hosting moment - think outside the box and surprise us! After solo performances, auditioners will perform improvised 2-person scenes with one another.

CALLBACKS: held Wed, Dec 18 @ 7-10 PM at the BCC Dog House (137 Montrose).

All performers must be available for one of the audition dates + the callback date.

Rehearsals @ Eris (167 Graham Ave, Brooklyn)

Devising Show:

Sundays, 3:00 - 6:00 PM, Jan 5 - Feb 23 (no rehearsal Feb 16 for President's Day Weekend)
Note: a max of 2 rehearsals may be missed in this time frame due to existing conflicts.

Final Rehearsals/Tech:

Sat, 3:00-6:00 PM, March 1, March 8, March 15
Sun, 3:00-6:00 PM, March 2, March 9
Note: no rehearsals/tech can be missed in this time frame.

Performances: Saturdays @ 7:00 PM, March 15 - April 19 (6 SHOWS).

Note: Performers must be available for all shows.

PAY:

Rehearsals: $250 stipend for rehearsal process (minus $25 for any missed rehearsals).
Performance: Cast members will be paid 60% of the box office (after $150 cover per show) from all 6 shows - split equally between all cast members.

INDUSTRY/CRITICS: BCC will be inviting NY industry and press to attend and review the show.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Students must have completed BCC's Improv or Sketch or Clowning curriculum.

Completed another established comedy theater's full Improv or Sketch or Clowning program.

Have produced/performed in a significant number of shows at the BCC to have a sufficient level of performing and writing experience and understand the BCC style.

NOTE: Audition selections will be made on a case-case basis at BCC's discretion. Spots are limited and meeting the above requirements does not guarantee a slot.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJ0-OwFPhghZLOreRlXANljGV0sz6QSaEFUtnov1Cyfjm2Lg/viewform

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DREAMing Out Loud

PEN America

DEADLINE: November 30, 2024

INFO: DREAMing Out Loud is a paid, tuition-free creative writing workshop series for migrant writers, primarily those who are undocumented, DACA recipients, and/or DREAMers who came to the United States when they were children. By providing community and professional support to the next generation of immigrant writers, the program seeks to counter anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. and to amplify the voices of many living in this country who are marginalized because of their immigration status.

In 2025, three workshops will be in-person and two workshops will be virtual. Instructors Álvaro Enrigue's and Claudia Rueda's in person workshops will be held at the PEN America office (120 Broadway 26N Floor, New York, NY 10271). The in person playwriting workshop will be held at The Drama Book Shop (266 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018). Instructors Charlie Vázquez and Cherry Lou Sy's workshop will be virtual. If selected, attendance and commitment to the program, whether in-person or virtual, is expected and required.

BENEFITS:

In workshops led by established writers from migrant backgrounds or connections to the migrant community, 40 participants are provided a modest stipend to develop original fiction, poetry, nonfiction, plays, and picture book writing.Participants are invited to perform or have their work performed at a public reading and invited to voluntarily publish in various print and digital formats, including an annual anthology. The program provides access and connections to professionals in the publishing and theater industries and empowers DREAMers to develop their own unique artistic voice and craft to ensure that any future literary canon will include their stories, perspectives, and lived experiences. Participants receive access to resources tailored for migrant artists, including at least one author-led talkback about writing and publishing each year.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must identify as an immigrant, reside and/or go to college in New York City, and be 18 years or older to apply. Limited space will be reserved for and DREAMing Out Loud alumni. College graduates are welcome to apply.

The official deadline (Saturday, November 30, 2024 by 11:59 pm) is rolling and may close if all slots are filled. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance via email.

ARTIST RIGHTS AGREEMENT pertaining to The DREAMing Out Loud Anthology:

Ownership: The artist retains full ownership and copyright of all original works submitted for publication or exhibited in any public events and in the DREAMing Out Loud anthology.
Right to Remove: The artist reserves the right to request the removal of their submitted work at any time. Upon such request, the work will be removed in a timely manner.
Attribution: The artist will be properly credited for their work in all instances of publication and exhibition.
Usage Rights: PEN America may use the submitted work for promotional purposes of the program and PEN America, provided the artist is notified and credited accordingly.
Modifications: The artist retains the right to modify their work prior to the final deadline provided. This agreement aims to protect the artist's rights while allowing for collaborative opportunities.

ROYALTIES AND PROFITS pertaining to The DREAMing Out Loud Anthology:

This anthology is published by PEN America, a nonprofit organization, and as such, no profits or royalties will be generated from this publication. Any and all proceeds from the sale of the DREAMing Out Loud anthology will be reinvested into the organization’s mission and activities supporting the program. Please note that this work is printed on demand, ensuring that each copy is produced specifically to meet reader requests without excess inventory. Thank you for your support and understanding.

QUESTIONS?

Contact the Program Coordinator (TC. Mann, tcmann@pen.org).

pen.org/program/dreaming-out-loud/

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literary arts grants

South Arts

DEADLINE: December 4, 2024

Literary Arts Grants will be made to writers, independent literary publishers, and small presses:

LITERARY ARTS GRANTS FOR WRITERS: South Arts will award literary grants up to $5,000. Applicants (writers or organizations) must apply through Salesforce and include writing samples and other required attachments specified in these Guidelines.
LITERARY ARTS GRANTS FOR PUBLISHERS: South Arts will award literary arts grants up to $5,000 to support Southern independent publishers and small presses. Applicants must apply through Salesforce and include the publisher’s representative work samples and other required attachments as specified in these Guidelines.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Deadline to Apply: 12/4/2024
Awards Announced: February 2025
Funding Cycle: March 1, 2025 – August 30, 2026 (18 months)

The award announcement may be earlier or later than the date listed above, depending on the number of applications and judging process.

Applicants who are not selected for an award will receive notification via the email on their application form before the award announcement.

South Arts reserves the right to not consider incomplete or improperly submitted applications without informing the applicant.

Judges do not communicate any information or details of their review. Given the volume of applications received, South Arts cannot provide individual feedback on the application and from the panel.

Applicants who move from the South Arts Region after they submit their application are encouraged to notify South Arts and will not be eligible to receive a grant award.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES

All applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award.
Current, full-time resident or Headquartered in the South Arts Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and at receipt of the award.

For Writers

One application per artist or arts organization per funding cycle will be accepted.
Applicant artists must be 18 years of age or older.
Applicant artists must not be enrolled in a literary arts/writing academic program at time of application and at receipt of award.
Current, full-time residents for at least the prior 12 months s of the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application during the project period.
Works authored by more than one person are ineligible.

For Literary Arts Organizations

For Publishers: Independent nonprofit publishers and small presses including journals.
Based in the South Arts Region for at least the prior 12 months (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and during the project period.
Other non-profit organizations with a literary arts mission.

INELIGIBLE ENTITIES

Units of government
Colleges/Universities are ineligible to apply for this grant.

UNALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES

General operating support. 
Support for a full season of programming. 
Courses or coursework in degree-granting or continuing education institutions. 
Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers. 
Publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant organization's board members, faculty, or trustees. 
Projects for which no curatorial, juried, or editorial judgment has been applied to the selection of artists or art works. 
Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and potlucks. 
Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable; generally, this includes activities at venues such as bars, wineries, and breweries where the consumption of alcohol/social activity is the primary purpose of the venue. 
Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement. 
Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including arts markets, concessions, food, t-shirts, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops. 
Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.
Sub-granting or regranting.

UNALLOWABLE COSTS

Cash reserves and endowments. 
Startup costs or other costs associated with establishing new organizations. 
Alcoholic beverages or other hospitality costs. 
Purchase and/or use of gift cards and gift certificates to support project costs.
Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items with monetary value (e.g., electronic devices, gift certificates).
Contributions and donations to other entities, including donation drives.
General miscellaneous or contingency costs. 
Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.  
Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.  
Audit costs. 
Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the applicant.
The purchase of vehicles.
Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official project period.

MATCHING REQUIREMENTS

All grants require a 2:1 cost share. South Arts matches $2 for every $1 the applicant contributes towards project costs.

Total Project Cost- $6,000, the applicant can request up to $4,000 and contribute the remaining $2,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions. 
Total Project Costs are $15,000: The applicant can request up to $5,000 and contribute the remaining $10,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.
Toal Project Costs are $3,000:  The applicant can request up to $2,000 and contribute the remaining $1,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.

Budget details should identify the source of funds (including self-funding, private contributions, institutional stipends, or additional grant funding) not requested from South Arts.

Total projected expenses must meet or exceed the request by 50%. 

Funds can be used for these eligible expenses directly related to participation in proposed activities:

For Organizations:  Itemize project personnel costs 
Travel (itemize air, ground, lodging, per diem, visa services) 
Equipment rental (itemize all equipment rental expenses) 
Office expenses (itemize supplies, and shipping/postage) 
Services/professional fees (itemize editorial, graphic design, photography/videography, financial, publishing, production, and distribution services, etc.) 
Marketing 
Facility expenses (itemize rent, space rental, utilities) 
Insurance 
Childcare or elder caregiver service costs that arise as a result of applicant planning and executing the proposed project

southarts.org/grants-opportunities/literary-arts-granthttps://www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities/literary-arts-grant

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Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices

Lambda Literary

DEADLINE: December 8, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

APPLICATION FEE: $30

SCHEDULE:

We’ve extended the typical length of the retreat from 7 days to 10:

We will have a mix of synchronous programming and asynchronous programming, and on days when we offer all day programming, fellows can expect to have ample breaks and rest from screens.
Thursday, July 31-Friday, August 1: Programming begins at ~7:00 pm EST/ 4:00 pm PST
Saturday, August 2-Friday, August 8: All day programming
Saturday, August 9: Programming ends at ~6:00 pm EST/3:00 pm PST

APPLICATION DETAILS:

To Apply, Please Prepare

1. An artistic/biographical statement (max 500 words).

2. a writing sample matching the genre of the workshop you’re applying for:

.DOC, .DOCX, or .PDF format.
For prose, double spaced, 12 point font.
For Fiction, Nonfiction, Speculative Fiction, and Young Adult Fiction: 15 pages maximum. This maximum applies to cross-genre samples as well as samples in verse.
For Playwriting/Screenwriting and Play/Screen/Writing: 15 pages maximum from a full-length work, short play/script, or piece of theatre/film.
For Poetry: 8 pages maximum.
The sample you apply with does not have to be the same sample you plan to workshop at the Retreat.

3. Optional, not required for acceptance:

Any publications of your work during the past two years, including anthologies, literary journals, magazines, websites, and books.
Any other writing conferences, retreats, and workshops have you attended.
If you're applying to scholarships, a scholarship statement (max 500 words).

TUITION + SCHOLARSHIPS:

Lambda Literary has a host of full and partial scholarships that are available for accepted applicants.

The $30.00 application fee is processed through Submittable's online portal. If you wish to pay by cash or check please contact retreat@lambdaliterary.org.

APPLICATION STATUS NOTIFICATIONS:

Writers Retreat Faculty make the final determinations regarding accepted and waitlisted applicants. All applicants will be notified of their application status in April 2025.

lambdaliterary.org/emerging-writers-retreat/

THEATER — OCTOBER 2024

September 30, 2024

call for scripts: “Unplugged”

Playwrights Horizon

DEADLINE: October 8, 2024

INFO: Playwrights Horizon is testing a new idea! We invite artists to submit scripts for “Unplugged” Productions.

“Unplugged” is a new production model that de-emphasizes physical production costs, keeping artists’ pay a priority. We aim to produce our inaugural “Unplugged” show in our 2025-2026 season. Our goal is to find new approaches to theater-making in the hopes of building a healthier and more sustainable future.

Before automation. Before intelligent lighting instruments. Before lavalier microphones, animatronic robots, projection mapping. Before falling chandeliers and swinging Spidermen. Before multimillion-dollar lobby renovations and subscriber perks. There was a text, a stage, an actor, an audience.

Playwrights Horizons exists to put as much new theater in front of as many audiences as possible. To this end, we’re pursuing some new approaches to making theater which turn the financial constraints of these times into an asset, valuing people and artistry over materials and spending. In a climate where shorter seasons have led to fewer jobs for artists (boo!), our aim is to expand programming (yay!), to produce more with less, and to rediscover what is essential about theater.

“Unplugged” is one of several tactics we’re experimenting with to get there. It will be a mainstage show that’s intentionally conceived around a minimal budget for physical production, focusing on a creative design rather than on material goods. It is neither a workshop production nor a stepping stone to a larger production. And crucially, working on Unplugged projects won’t mean working for lower fees.Writers, directors, designers, design assistants, actors, and stage managers will be contracted on all applicable union agreements; compensation will be consistent with traditional productions on Playwrights’ mainstage and not reduced by a restricted production budget. The motto: People, Not Stuff.

Playwrights Horizons is inviting playwrights to submit scripts specifically for the “Unplugged” producing model. We are seeking plays that are large in imaginative scope but lend themselves to a radically reduced production budget. Submissions will be accepted through this portal, provided they meet the following criteria:

Playwrights must be based in the United States.
Playwrights are invited to submit one play only, during this submission period.
Plays must be full-length, and as yet unproduced in New York City.
Plays must be written for no fewer than three actors, and no more than six actors.

Please note that we will not accept re-submissions of plays you have sent Playwrights Horizons, now or in the future. Additionally, because of the high volume of submissions and small size of our staff, we regretfully are not able to respond to each application

playwrightshorizons.org/artistic-programs/unplugged-submissions

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2025 RESIDENCIES

Vermont Studio Center

DEADLINE: October 15, 2024

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Vermont Studio Center invites applications for 2025. Nestled in the Green Mountains, VSC hosts an inclusive, global community of artists and writers. Enjoy private studios and lodging, fresh - local meals, and a vibrant Visiting Artists & Writers Program.

VSC’s residency program welcomes artists and writers working across all mediums and genres for two, three, and four week sessions.

PROGRAMMING

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

vermontstudiocenter.org/apply

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ART OMI: WRITERS RESIDENCY

Art Omi

DEADLINE: October 15, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

INFO: Art Omi, a not-for-profit arts center with a 120-acre sculpture and architecture park and gallery, offers residency programs for international artists, writers, translators, musicians, architects and dancers. Art Omi believes that exposure to internationally diverse creative voices fosters acceptance and respect, raises awareness, inspires innovation, and ignites change. By forming community with creative expression as its common denominator, Art Omi creates a sanctuary for the artistic community and the public to affirm the transformative quality of art.

Art Omi: Writers hosts authors and translators for two weeks to one month throughout the spring and fall. The program’s strong international emphasis provides exposure for global literary voices and reflects the spirit of cultural exchange that is essential to Art Omi’s mission.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Each applicant is required to provide 4 (four) separate items in total:

A cover letter, which provides the following details: country of birth, country of residency, the language in which you write, your preferred residency dates. Please note we have two sessions per year: Spring (March 27 - May 28) and Fall (September 4 - November 5). Additionally, please let us know how you heard about Art Omi: Writers, why you want to come to Art Omi: Writers and what you expect to get from the experience.
A brief (2 pages, maximum) statement about your work history, referencing publications, performances and writing credits. This can be submitted in CV format.
A writing sample, no more than 25 pages. The work sample does not have to be published or related to your current project and can be a combination of multiple samples.
A one page description of the work to be undertaken while at Art Omi: Writers.

Your writing sample does NOT have to be an English translation; please submit your writing sample in your mother tongue. All other documentation must be submitted in English.

Your cover letter should be provided in the designated Cover Letter field. Items 2-4 should each be provided as separately uploaded files.

Alumni of the program are eligible to reapply after 5 years.

RESIDENCY DATES:

Spring:

Thursday, March 27–Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Thursday, May 8–Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Autumn:

Thursday, September 4–Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Thursday, October 9–Wednesday, November 5, 2025

DECISION NOTIFICATION: January, 2025

artomi.submittable.com/submit

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Moondancer Fellowship For Environmental + Nature Writers

The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow

DEADLINE: October 21, 2024

APPLICATION FEE: $35

INFO: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow (WCDH) is pleased to offer the 2024 Moondancer Fellowship for authors who express their passion for the natural world and concern for the environment through their writing. This fellowship is open to poets, fiction writers, playwrights, screenwriters, essayists, memoirists, and columnists.  Prior publication is not a requirement. The successful applicant will demonstrate insight, honesty, literary merit, and the likelihood of publication or production.

The fellowship winner will receive a two-week residency at WCDH to focus completely on their writing. Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when desired, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for other meals.

Fellowship applications must be accompanied by a writing sample and a non-refundable $35 application fee. Only one writing project may be proposed per application. Writers proposing more than one project must submit a separate application and fee for each one.

The winner will be announced no later than November 20, 2024. Residency must be completed by December 31, 2025.

writerscolony.org/fellowships

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Unleashed 2025 - New Plays for a New World

Porkfilled

DEADLINE: October 25, 2024

INFO: Unleashed 2025 returns for a week-long festival of brand new genre plays by Asian Americans! Pork Filled Productions is sounding the call, once again, for one acts and full length plays that indulge in genre, upend expectations, and expand imaginations.

From Roger Tang, executive director of PFP: “We have more stories in us than oppression or identity plays. We want to give writers free rein to let loose their full storytelling potential on stage. And we want the audience to have fun and we get to tell our stories.”

If you are accepted, you will be given actors, a director, and a dramaturge. Private workshops, writing time, and a public workshop at Theatre Off Jackson in Seattle, W.A.

KEY INFO:

Send plays to – submissions@porkfilled.com
All submitting playwrights must complete the accompanying application form
We have a CAP of 50 eligible plays. We will close submissions early if we reach this mark.
We are only accepting 4 Play at this time for workshop readings.

Questions? – info@porkfilled.com

Plays are not required to have specifically diverse casts or racial themes; however, Pork Filled Productions is dedicated to casting all of our shows with at least 51% actors of color, so please keep that in mind when considering your submissions.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

We are looking for one acts (30-45 minutes) and full length plays (90+ minutes) by Asian American playwrights.
We are specifically seeking bold, imaginative new work in genres such as noir, science fiction, fantasy, horror, action adventure, or any mashup in-between. We want your play to have FUN and FANTASTICAL universes and indulge in the idea of play! No living room drama plays please!
Selected plays will receive a public staged reading in Seattle, WA. Local writers from the Pacific Northwest are strongly encouraged to submit.
We will prioritize local playwrights, but this application is open to a national call. If accepted, your play will have a private and public staged reading, but we are not able to offer accommodation or transportation to Seattle at this time.
All submitted plays will be considered for a full production by Pork Filled Productions.
Deadline for submissions is October 25th 2024.
Only emailed submissions with a completed Application Form will be considered. Please submit all materials as attachments in MS Word or PDF format to submissions@porkfilled.com.
Playwrights may ONLY make one submission, and the plays must not have had a professional stage production at the time of submission. Readings and workshops are not considered productions.
If accepted will receive a stipend of 300$ for you time and dedication to your work
Winners will be announced Early January 2025
In Feb/March/April- Private readings will be had and the playwright will have time to rewrite the script and have feedback from actors, the director, and the dramaturge
There will be a public reading of the play at Theatre Off Jackson the week of 6/16/25

porkfilled.com/wp/

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National Latine Playwrights Award

Arizona Theatre Company

DEADLINE: October 31, 2024

INFO: Latine playwrights residing in the United States, its territories or Mexico are encouraged to submit scripts for the award. Each script will be read and evaluated by a culturally diverse panel of theatre artists; finalists will be judged by ATC artistic staff.

ELIGIBILITY:

The award is open to all Latine playwrights currently residing in the United States, its territories, or Mexico.
Scripts may be in English, Spanish, or a combination of the two (Spanish scripts must be accompanied by an English translation).
Plays must be unpublished, professionally unproduced, and not currently under option at the time of submission.
Full-length and one-act plays, with a minimum length of 50 pages, on any subject will be accepted.

SCRIPTS:

The physical scripts become the property of Arizona Theatre Company and will not be returned. In this case, “property” means the physical property of the theatre, not the intellectual property or any rights to the play.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

Submissions of a single script can be sent via email to NLPA@atc.org.
Include a cover letter of no more than one page describing the play’s developmental history and how the play fits into the playwright’s broader career trajectory.

For more information contact Elaine Romero, ATC Playwright-in-Residence.

atc.org/national-latine-playwrights-award/nlpa-submission-information/

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BLACK STORIES BLACK VOICES’S MONOLOGUE COMPETITION

Barter Theatre

DEADLINE: November 1, 2024

INFO: “Our mission is to tell and amplify Black stories and Black voices through playwriting, acting and all theatrical disciplines. With BSBV, we hope to help shine a light on the richness of the Black experience in the Appalachian region, and for this region, with plays, readings, and community engagement opportunities such as our post show events during our main stage season and our annual SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories event. Below you will be able to read more about our initiative, see our upcoming events, and find resources about our playwriting submissions.” – Terrance Jackson, Director of Outreach & Barter’s Black Stories Black Voices

It is our hope that by connecting Black playwrights (wherever they are located) with stories from Black Appalachian communities, we can:

Create monologues that can be developed into full-length plays
Create work that explores the Black Appalachian experience, both past and present
Establish and cultivate relationships with Black playwrights and other Black theatre artists
Give audiences accessibility to new perspectives on life in Appalachia

2-3 monologues will be selected to be performed at our 4th Annual SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories, in February 2025.

MONOLOGUE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Playwright must be Black.
Monologues must be set in Appalachia. (Click Here list of qualifying states/counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission)
Monologues must be 3-5 minutes in length.
Monologues must be unpublished and not have had a professional production.
Monologues must be submitted electronically.
Monologues must be written using selected prompts, viewable here.

Please submit monologues to: tjackson@bartertheatre.com

bartertheatre.com/black-stories-black-voices/

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Mesa Refuge Residency

DEADLINE: November 1, 2024

APPLICATION FEE: $50

INFO: Mesa Refuge welcomes a diverse community of writers—both emerging and established—who define and/or offer solutions to the pressing issues of our time. Particularly, it is our priority to support writers, activists and artists whose ideas are “on the edge,” taking on the pressing issues of our time including (but not limited to): nature, environment and climate crisis; economic, racial and gender equity; social justice and restorative justice; immigration; health care access; housing; and more.

We especially want writers of nonfiction books, long-form journalism, audio and documentary film. Occasionally we accept poetry, fiction (Young Adult/Adult Literary), screenwriting and playwriting, photojournalism, personal memoirs (as a vehicle to tell a larger story) and graphic narrative. We tend not to accept academic writing. The potential impact and distribution of your project is also important.

We aim to support a diverse community of writers and welcome applicants that represent a broad spectrum of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, immigration status, religion or ability. Please see our DEI statement for more information about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

As a small nonprofit, our application fee of $50 helps underwrite the cost of application review. However, we do not want the application fee to be a barrier to apply. To request a fee waiver, please email us directly here.

GUIDELINES: The questions on our application are mostly short answer. We require one writing sample (max 2,000 words or 10 pages), a current resume, headshot photo and two references (we do not require letters of recommendation). Applicants will be contacted approximately 10 weeks after the application deadline.

Our residencies are two weeks long and there is no residency fee. Additional residency expenses like travel, transportation and food are your responsibility. Our facility accommodates three residents at a time.

When you click the button, below, you will be transferred to our application on Submittable. Our residency application will be available on June 1, 2024.

For more information, read our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us at info@mesarefuge.org.

mesarefuge.org/residencies/application/

THEATER — SEPTEMBER 2024

August 31, 2024

MACDOWELL FELLOWSHIP

MacDowell

DEADLINE: September 10, 2024

INFO: About 300 artists in seven disciplines are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence. There are no residency fees, and need-based stipends and travel reimbursement grants are available to open the residency to the broadest possible community of artists.

MacDowell encourages applications from artists of all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Any applicant whose proposed project does not fall clearly within one of these artistic disciplines should contact the admissions department for guidance. We aim to be inclusive, not exclusive in our admissions process.

macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

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PRINCETON ARTS FELLOWSHIPS

Lewis Center for the Arts

DEADLINE: September 10, 2024 at 11:59pm ET

INFO: Princeton Arts Fellowships, funded in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, David E. Kelley Society of Fellows in the Arts, and the Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship Fund, will be awarded to artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching. Applicants should be early career visual artists, filmmakers, poets, novelists, playwrights, designers, directors and performance artists—this list is not meant to be exhaustive—who would find it beneficial to spend two years teaching and working in an artistically vibrant university community.

A $92,000 a year stipend is provided. Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree. One need not be a U.S. citizen to apply. Holders of Ph.D. degrees from Princeton are not eligible to apply.

To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae, contact information for three references (should the search committee choose to contact references, please do not request letters or have letters sent in advance of a request from the search committee), and work samples (i.e., a writing sample, images of your work, video links to performances, etc.). Please also submit a 750-word proposal that includes how you would hope to use the two years of the fellowship to develop your work, how you would contribute to Princeton’s arts community through teaching and/or production, and how you have encouraged diversity and inclusion and furthered accessibility in your artistic practice, teaching, and/or research.

Applicants can only apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship twice in a lifetime.

arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/princeton-arts-fellowship/

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MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

DEADLINE: September 13, 2024 at 5pm ET

INFO: The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) seeks four new, unpublished, unproduced plays by four grassroots, early-career, and/or emerging playwrights for the Meet the Playwright (MTP) program.

ELIGIBILITY: MTP prioritizes writers identifying BIIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, and People of Color) that are based in Queens. However, any NYC-based BIIPOC playwright is eligible.

ABOUT MTP: Once accepted into MTP, each playwright meets monthly with the MTP's Project Manager and schedules two private readings of the play to take place at JCAL. Throughout their participation in MTP, each playwright is expected to engage fully, professionally, and with integrity in the development of their selected work.

Each month, from November 2024 to February 2025, one of the playwrights will present at least 25 minutes and no more than 35 minutes of an excerpt from their play as a professional staged reading for an audience. The staged reading begins with an introduction to the playwright and play and concludes with a brief moderated Q&A in which the playwright discusses their work.

BENEFITS: Each playwright will receive a $2,000 Each playwright selected for MTP will receive a total fee of $2,000. With this fee, each playwright covers the cost of engaging a director, actors, and any other collaborator (e.g., dramaturg, designers) they wish.

APPLICATION + SELECTION PROCESS:

Playwrights may submit 10 pages of one play (only) for consideration by a panel of theatre professionals; a 200-word personal statement; a bio; and a resume (production history, if applicable).

The panel will select a group of semi-finalists who will be asked to send an electronic copy of their complete, full-length scripts. Semi-finalists will be notified by Friday, September 20, 2024.

The panel will choose a group of finalists for interviews with the MTP Project Manager and JCAL Leadership. Interviews will take place during the week of September 30, 2024.

The playwrights selected for MTP will be notified during the week of October 7, 2024.

APPLICATION MATERIALS (PDF or Word Only):

Script Sample - Please upload a 10-page sample of the script from a full-length play. The pages don't have to come from the beginning of the play, but they must be 10 consecutive pages (the title page and character breakdown do not count toward the 10 pages).
Letter of Interest - Please answer the question: "How will MTP further the development of your play and advance your goals as a playwright? in more than 250 words.
Bio - Please upload a bio of no more than 250 words. Use the bio to introduce yourself, your goals, writing, accomplishments, and anything else you'd like JCAL to know about you.
Playwriting Resume (Production History, If Applicable) - Please upload your professional resume or production history of your work, if applicable.

All applications and materials MUST be submitted via the 'Submittable.com' link. Applications received by other methods including dropping off or handing to directly to Jamaica Center personnel will not be considered.

CONTACT: Brenda Jones, Curator, MeetThePlaywright@gmail.com

jcal.submittable.com/submit/303017/meet-the-playwright-2024-2025

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VCCA RESIDENCY

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts

DEADLINE: September 15, 2024

APPLICATION FEE: $30

SELECTION PROCESS: VCCA Fellows are selected by peer review on the basis of professional achievement or promise of achievement in their respective fields. Separate review panels are created for each category (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting/screenwriting, children’s literature, performance, film/video, book arts, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation art, music composition, etc.). Panelists undergo periodic review and rotate regularly to ensure VCCA admission decisions are guided by high caliber artists who represent a diversity of styles and tastes.

All VCCA residency and fellowship applications are accepted online via SlideRoom. The standard application fee is $30. If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, artists should reach out to Artists Services at vcca@vcca.com to request an application fee waiver at least five days before the deadline.

FELLOWSHIPS / FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: A variety of fully-funded fellowship opportunities are available at each application deadline. In addition, significant financial assistance is available throughout the year.

vcca.com/apply/residencies-at-vcca/

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2025 Guggenheim Fellowships

John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation

DEADLINE: September 17, 2024 by 11:59pm ET

INFO: Guggenheim Fellowships are intended for mid-career individuals who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts and exhibit great promise for their future endeavors.

Fellowships are awarded through an annual competition open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada. Candidates must apply to the Guggenheim Foundation in order to be considered.

The Foundation receives approximately 3,000 applications each year. No one who applies is guaranteed success in the competition and there is no prescreening; all applications are reviewed. Approximately 175 Fellowships are awarded each year.

During the rigorous selection process, applicants will first be pooled with others working in the same field, and examined by experts in that field. The work of artists will be reviewed by artists, that of scientists by scientists, that of historians by historians, and so on. The Foundation has a network of several hundred advisers, who either meet at the Foundation offices to look at applicants’ work, or receive application materials to read offsite. These advisers, all of whom are Guggenheim Fellows from previous years, then submit reports critiquing and ranking the applications in their respective fields. Their recommendations are then forwarded to and weighed by a Committee of Selection, which then determines the number of awards to be made in each area. Occasionally, no application in a given area is considered strong enough to merit a Fellowship.

We guarantee our advisers and Committee of Selection members, as well as those who submit letters of reference, absolute confidentiality. Therefore, under no circumstances will the reasons for the rejection of an application be provided.

The Committee of Selection then forwards its recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final approval. The successful candidates in the United States and Canada competition are announced in early April.

FAQs:

What are Guggenheim Fellowships?

Guggenheim Fellowships are grants awarded to around 175 selected individuals every year. The purpose of the Guggenheim Fellowship program is to provide Fellows with blocks of time in which they can work with as much creative freedom as possible. As such, grants are made freely, without any special conditions attached to them; Fellows may spend their grant funds in any manner they deem necessary to their work. The United States Internal Revenue Service, however, does require the Foundation to ask for reports from its Fellows at the end of their Fellowship terms.

How does the Foundation define “advanced professional”?

The Foundation understands advanced professionals to be those who as writers, scholars, or scientists have a significant record of publication, or as artists, playwrights, filmmakers, photographers, composers, or the like, have a significant record of exhibition or performance of their work.

How does the Foundation define “performing arts”?

The Foundation understands the performing arts to be those in which an individual interprets work created by others. Accordingly, the Foundation will provide Fellowships to composers but not conductors, singers, or instrumentalists; choreographers but not dancers; filmmakers, playwrights, and performance artists who create their own work but not actors or theater directors.

What is the amount of a grant?

The amounts of grants vary, and the Foundation does not guarantee it will fully fund any project. Working with a fixed annual budget, the Foundation strives to allocate its funds as equitably as possible, taking into consideration the Fellows’ other resources and the purpose and scope of their plans. Members of the teaching profession receiving sabbatical leave on full or part salary are eligible for appointment, as are those holding other fellowships and appointments at research centers.

gf.org/how-to-apply/

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2025–2026 CULLMAN CENTER FELLOWSHIP

The New York Public Library.

DEADLINE: September 27, 2024 at 5 p.m. EDT

INFO: The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers offers Fellowships to people whose work will benefit directly from access to the research collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Renowned for the extraordinary comprehensiveness of its collections, the Library is one of the world’s preeminent resources for study in anthropology, art, geography, history, languages and literature, philosophy, politics, popular culture, psychology, religion, sociology, sports, and urban studies.

The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards fifteen Fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets), translators, and visual artists. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Candidates for the Fellowship will need to work primarily at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building rather than at other divisions of the Library. People seeking funding for research leading directly to a degree are not eligible.

The Cullman Center looks for top-quality writing. It aims to promote dynamic communication about literature and scholarship at the very highest level—within the Center, in public forums throughout the Library, and in the Fellows’ published work.

BENEFITS: A Cullman Center Fellow receives a stipend of $85,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. Fellows work at the Center for the duration of the Fellowship term, which runs from September through May. Each Fellow gives a talk over lunch on his or her current work-in-progress to the other Fellows and to a wide range of invited guests, and may be asked to take part in other programs at The New York Public Library.

nypl.org/help/about-nypl/fellowships-institutes/center-for-scholars-and-writers/fellowships-at-the-cullman-center

THEATER — AUGUST 2024

July 29, 2024

"MY TIME" FELLOWSHIP

Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow

DEADLINE: August 5, 2024 by midnight CST

APPLICATION FEE: $35

INFO: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow is pleased to announce the 2024 "My Time" fellowship funded by James Dean. Writers who are parents of dependent children under the age of 18 are invited to apply. Work may be any literary genre: poetry, fiction, plays, memoirs, screenplays, or nonfiction. The successful application will demonstrate literary merit and the likelihood of publication. Prior publication is not a requirement.

PRIZE: Four fellowship winners will receive a one-week residency to allow the recipient to focus completely on their work. A $500 stipend will be provided to cover childcare and/or travel costs to each recipient.

Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week, and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for other meals.

Fellowship applications must be accompanied by a writing sample and a non-refundable $35 application fee. There is a limit of one submission per application. The winner will be announced no later than September 9, 2024.

Residencies may be completed anytime before December 2025.

writerscolony.org/fellowships

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STORYKNIFE WRITERS RETREAT

Storyknife

DEADLINE: August 31, 2024 by midnight

APPLICATION FEE: $40.00

INFO: Women’s stories are vital and important. Currently, those stories whether expressed in poems, plays, novels, essays, or memoirs are not published, reviewed, or promoted as often as the work of men. Storyknife provides women with the time and space to explore their craft without distraction. Every aspect of a residency at Storyknife is steeped in a profound generosity of spirit so that each writer knows she and her work are valuable. Storyknife residents carry away both this affirmation and a living community of women writers to assist their valuable work wherever they go.

Residencies at Storyknife in Homer, Alaska, are either for two or four weeks. Resident’s food and lodging is covered during the period of their residency, but travel to and from Homer, Alaska, is the responsibility of the resident. Residents stay in individual cabins & dine at the main house. An on-staff chef is responsible for food preparation.

Four week residencies begin on the 1st of each month and end on the 28th. Two week residencies begin on the 1st of each month and end on the 14th OR begin on the 15th and end on the 28th. Residencies are available April through October.

Applications for 2025 season is currently open and will close on August 31, 2024 at midnight. Please make sure that you subscribe to our newsletter below or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must:

Be woman-identified
Be 21 years of age or older
Apply as an individual artist, not a collaborative group or team
Writers who have been in residency for a minimum of two-weeks at Storyknife must wait five years before they can re-apply for another residency.
Please note that for the 2025 residency season, the Board of Directors of Storyknife strongly requests that all residents must be vaccinated and appropriately boosted against COVID-19.

You will provide a work sample and answer four questions (each answer 300 words or fewer).

How have you sought to educate yourself as a writer? (Formal education not a prerequisite, but evidence of curiosity and learning in your applicable genre is.)
What is your experience with publishing your work? (Publishing is not a prerequisite but is considered a goal for writers who attend Storyknife.)
What project will you pursue while in residency? (Please note that you will be free to work on whatever writing you wish during residency. We simply are interested in what you think you’ll be pursuing.)
Why would a writing residency benefit you at this time especially?

WRITING SAMPLE REQUIREMENTS:

Writing samples should reflect work completed within the last two years. All writing samples must be uploaded through Submittable. Written work samples will be uploaded directly within the application.
Applicants can submit published or unpublished writing samples.
All writing samples must be combined into one PDF file.
A writing sample not to exceed 10 pages (prose: double-spaced 12 point font, poetry: single-spaced 12 point font acceptable). Prose includes screenplays and stage plays which also must conform to the 10 page limit.
This is an anonymous jurying process. Any writing samples with identifying material will be disqualified (including in the file name). Do not include your full name, last name, address, or publication credits in your writing sample (including the file name). This only refers to the writing sample, not the answers to the questions.

DIVERSITY: Storyknife is committed to diversity and elevating voices of historically excluded communities. We value all aspects of diversity and seek to make each resident’s time at Storyknife as productive and pleasant as possible.

Please contact executive director, Erin Hollowell, at ehollowell@storyknife.org to ask about accommodation or to speak further about your needs. Storyknife is welcoming to all and will work with you to meet your needs.

TRAVEL FUNDS: In 2025, there will be multiple opportunities for travel cost stipends. Those that want to be considered for travel funds will indicate so on their applications.

storyknife.org/how-to-apply/

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Willapa Bay AiR residency

DEADLINE: August 31, 2024

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: Willapa Bay AiR, situated on 20 acres in coastal southwest Washington state, launched its residency program in March 2014. The Residency has been specifically designed, from the site selection to the architecturally specific building concepts, layouts, and materials, to combine the opportunity for solitude with the opportunity for daily community that fosters creative endeavor.

We offer month-long, self-directed residencies to emerging and established artists, filmmakers, writers, playwrights, scholars, singer/songwriters, and musical composers. The Residency provides lodging, meals, and work space, at no cost, to six residents each month from April 1 through October 28 of the year. Applications are evaluated by selection committees comprised of working artists and professionals in the applicants' respective fields of discipline.

SELECTION PROCESS: Applications are evaluated by selection committees comprised of working artists and professionals in the applicants' respective fields of discipline. Invitation to a Willapa Bay AiR residency is based on the merit of past work and the potential for creative evolution through the exploration and experimentation offered in the residency environment.

willapabayair.org/apply

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Yale Drama Series

Yale University Press

DEADLINE: September 8, 2024 at midnight EST

ENTRY FEE: $0

INFO: The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2025 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a celebratory event. The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement.

GUIDELINES:

Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:

This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered.
Translations, adaptations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.
The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.
Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.
Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.
Plays must be typed/word-processed and page numbered. Plays with images are not accepted.
The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.
The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS:

The Yale Drama Series Competition strongly urges electronic submission. By electronically submitting your script, you will receive immediate confirmation of your successful submission and the ability to check the status of your entry.

Electronic submissions for the 2025 competition must be submitted no earlier than June 15, 2024, and no later than September 8, 2024. The submission window closes at midnight EST.

If you are submitting your play electronically, please omit your name and contact information from your manuscript and submission file name. The manuscript must begin with a title page that shows the play’s title, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes. Please enter the title of your play, your name and contact information (including address, phone number, and email address), and a brief biography where indicated in the electronic submission form.

If you would like to submit an electronic copy of your manuscript please go to: https://yup.submittable.com/submit.

HARDCOPY SUBMISSIONS:

The Yale Drama Series Competition strongly urges applicants to submit their scripts electronically, but if that is impossible, we will accept hardcopies.

Submissions for the 2025 competition must be postmarked no earlier than June 15, 2024, and no later than September 8, 2024.

If you are submitting a hard copy of your play, the manuscript must begin with a title page that shows the play’s title and your name, address, telephone number, email address (if you have one), and page count; and, a second title page that lists the title of the play only, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, a list of characters, and a list of acts and scenes. Please include a brief biography at the end of the manuscript, on a separate page.

Do not bind or staple the manuscript.

Do not send the only copy of your work. Manuscripts cannot be returned after the competition. If you wish receipt of your manuscript to be acknowledged, please include an email address on the title page or a stamped, self-addressed postcard.

Send the manuscript to Yale Drama Series, P.O. Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040.

CONTACT US:

For more information regarding the Yale Drama Series please write to us at:

Yale Drama Series
P.O. Box 209040
New Haven, CT
06520-9040

Or email us at yaledramaseries@yale.edu

yalebooks.yale.edu/yale-drama-series-rules-and-submission-guidelines/

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MacDowell Fellowship

MacDowell

DEADLINE: September 10, 2024

macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

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PRINCETON ARTS FELLOWSHIPS

Lewis Center for the Arts

DEADLINE: September 10, 2024 at 11:59pm ET

Applicants can only apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship twice in a lifetime.

arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/princeton-arts-fellowship/