New to the Neighborhood 2026 Cohort
What Will the Neighbors Say? | đź“ŤBrooklyn, NY
DEADLINE: September 7, 2026 at 12pm ET (or when they receive 50 qualifying applications, whichever comes first)
INFO: Now in its second cycle, “New to the Neighborhood” was created by What Will the Neighbors Say? and is intended to be an incubator for Brooklyn-based early-career artists who are members of underrepresented communities. While all can apply, we are specifically seeking residents who are female, trans, or non-binary writers of the Global Majority living in Brooklyn. We selected these specific groups as they have historically been underserved by the American theater industry, and this residency aims to help redress that imbalance.
We are seeking two early-career residents for our 2026 cohort, which will take place from November 30th to December 5th, 2026.
BENEFIT:
Each resident will receive:
$1,500 unrestricted stipend
$1,750 to pay a director, actors, stage manager, or other additional creatives as needed for the resident's time with the Neighbors
$250 printing and miscellaneous production materials
29 hours of rehearsal space in Brooklyn
A final work in progress presentation in Brooklyn
Mentorship from the Neighbors in whatever way best serves the resident
APPLICATION PROCESS:
The application process will consist of two rounds:
Round One - This application!
Round Two - Submission of a script (ideally a working draft of your proposed project or, if you are still in process, a full draft of another completed work) for review, as well as an interview with our Board of Directors
If you are invited to the second round, you will be informed by Monday, October 5th, and your full-length script will be due Wednesday, October 7th. Following this, potential residents will be interviewed via Zoom by the Neighbors’ Co-Artistic Directors and Board Members the week of October 12th.
We anticipate moving five applicants to Round Two.
If you are selected for a residency, you will be notified on October 19th with pre-production starting no later than November 1st.
We have answered some FAQS here. If you have any questions at all, large or small, please email neighbors@wwtns.org - and truly mean any questions!
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Quality of the work samples and artist statement answers
Scope of previous artistic experience - you don’t need to have “reputable” venues/grantors on your resume, but we are looking for sustained creative work
Qualification within the priorities of the program (women, transgender, or non-binary artists of the global majority who live and work in Brooklyn) as outlined by the self-determination section of the application
Is your work in line with the mission of WWTNS? to provoke questions through untold stories through the creation of source based theatre?
TIMELINE:
August 3rd: Round One Applications Open
September 7th: Round One Applications Close
October 5th: Round Two Notifications
Week of October 12th: Round Two Interviews
October 19th: Residents Notified
November 1st: Pre-Production Begins
November 30th - 5th: Residency Period
As noted above - if you have any questions or need additional support please email neighbors@wwtns.org.
docs.google.com/document/d/1FQ6rujmAMQWm3_x8WT3eDFNsHrQW3-LgwFdKniGsQwE/edit?tab=t.0
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2027 National Playwrights Conference
Eugene O’neill Theater Center |📍Waterford, CT
DEADLINE: September 10, 2026
APPLICATION FEE: $15
INFO: Founded in 1964, the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center is the country’s premier program for new play development. Every summer, a select number of unproduced works are curated from a pool of 1,000+ script submissions for a workshop on the O’Neill’s campus in beautiful Waterford, CT. Each play is matched with a team of industry-leading directors, dramaturgs, and actors for an intensive week-long rehearsal period, culminating in two public, script-in-hand readings. The O’Neill strives to foster an inclusive, collaborative environment in which artistic exploration and experimentation are encouraged at every step in the process.
SELECTION: The National Playwrights Conference is proudly committed to an open, blind submission process. We welcome all playwrights, regardless of location or agent representation, to share their work with us. Our offices typically receive between 1,200 and 1,700 scripts annually, and a corps of 200+ industry professionals—directors and dramaturgs, actors and designers, critics, and administrators—read every submission in its entirety. Each script is considered with care and appreciation, undergoing a rigorous evaluation process in which form, content, and developmental goals are reviewed and discussed. At the end of this reading process, a select number of outstanding plays are chosen for their artistic excellence, originality of voice, singularity of perspective, and developmental potential.
WORKSHOP WEEK: The National Playwrights Conference offers each selected play a week-long workshop, culminating in two script-in-hand public readings. These workshops are wholly playwright-driven and staffed with industry-leading directors, dramaturgs, actors, and designers. Playwrights are welcome to revise, rework, and rewrite as much or as little as they like while in residence with us. As always, experimentation and risk-taking are encouraged.
PUBLIC READINGS: Within their week-long developmental workshop, each play receives two public, script-in-hand staged readings. We believe that these readings are a crucial step in the O'Neill’s developmental process, serving as an invaluable opportunity to hear a fresh audience’s real-time response to the play in a welcoming environment.
​RESIDENCY: In addition to developmental workshops, the National Playwrights Conference offers participating writers a multi-week residency at the O’Neill’s ninety-acre seaside property—including full room and board in dormitory-style accommodations, as well as a stipend. Multiple O’Neill programs run concurrently each summer (NPC, NMTC, NCI, NTI…), and we welcome writers to use this time in community with us however they see fit. Many playwrights continue to reflect and revise their play while others begin new projects, and others still use this time to retreat and recharge. Playwrights in residence are welcome to attend the rehearsals, readings, and presentations of their peers' work, as well as their own: one of the most valuable elements of an O’Neill summer is its strong community of fellow writers, artists, and theater-makers—which endures long after the summer conferences have drawn to a close.
DREAM DESIGN: The O’Neill also offers playwrights the opportunity to confer with a team of designers about the visual, aural, and spatial world of their play. To this end, each workshop includes an hour-long public conversation between the playwright and a cohort of industry-leading designers. The purpose of these conversations is to further inspire the playwright to consider the ways their play might be represented on stage, as well as how design might influence the play's writing.
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SPRING SUMMER 2027 RESIDENCIES
MacDowell |đź“ŤPeterborough, NH
DEADLINE: September 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST
INFO: About 300 artists in seven disciplines are awarded MacDowell Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence. 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.
MacDowell encourages applications from artists of all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video, 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.
QUESTIONS? Please contact admissions@macdowell.org.
macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship
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fall 2026 guest residency
Woodward Residency |đź“ŤRidgewood, Queen, NY
DEADLINE: September 13, 2026
INFO: Applications are now open for the Fall ’26 Guest Residency in Ridgewood, Queens.
Established and emerging creatives working in literary arts, design, film, and multidisciplinary arts are encouraged to apply for this free four-month workspace residency. They also have a silent player piano in the space for musicians and composers.
RESIDENCY DATES: October 5, 2026 — Jan 26, 2027
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.
woodwardresidency.co/guestresidency
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winter 2027 residency
Monson Arts |đź“ŤMonson, ME
DEADLINE: September 15, 2026
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.
WINTER RESIDENCY SCHEDULE:
1/11 – 1/21 – 2 Week Residency
1/25 – 2/18 – Residency (With Abbott Watts Resident)
2/22 – 3/18 – Residency
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Up to 5 images / 5 minutes of media OR 5 pages of writing examples
A letter of intent for your time at the residency (3000 Characters)
C.V. or Resume (limited to 6000 characters)
Two reference names
monsonarts.org/residencies/overview/
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Guggenheim Fellowship
DEADLINE: September 15, 2026 at 11:59 EST.
INFO: The Guggenheim Fellowship is a mid-career award supporting the work of individuals who have made notable contributions to more than fifty fields across the arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary areas.
Each year, roughly 200 Fellows are selected through a rigorous competition that assesses both past accomplishments and future plans. Recent success rates have averaged around 5%.
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must:
Be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada
Be mid-career professionals who have made notable contributions to their field
Propose a significant project and demonstrate that they are prepared to complete it at the highest level of excellence
Apply as individuals or in pairs (i.e., two individuals working on the same project)
The following are not eligible to apply:
Individuals who have already received a Guggenheim Fellowship
Students currently enrolled in secondary, undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate programs
Organizations, institutions, or other established groups
To learn more about the individuals we support, we recommend consulting the list of recent Guggenheim Fellows here.
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Ladder Commission
The Movement x The Black List
DEADLINE: September 18, 2026
INFO: The Movement nourishes, develops and produces herculean ideas, events and new works by artists of color. We’re a haven for artistic experimentation and community building. Our work is big, bold, and vibrant.
The Black List is a platform dedicated to nurturing written storytelling and empowering writers to maximize their professional potential. First established in 2005 as an annual survey of Hollywood's most-liked unproduced screenplays, the Black List has since grown into a comprehensive resource for the creative industries.
The partnership between The Movement and The Black List began in 2023 with their inaugural theater commission program. Together, we collaboratively select and commission an artist to create a new herculean work.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: Proposals for new work by generative BIPOC artists (i.e. artists from any discipline that create new works for the stage) exploring herculean ideas, exploding the theatrical form and who are unafraid to re-imagine what theater can be and who it is for. Proposals/ideas must be brand new (i.e. not written, workshopped or produced) and center complex stories about communities of color that are bold, risky and unapologetic.
The selected artist will receive a $10,000 commissioning award as well as funding and development support for a year through The Movement’s Ladder Series (new work development program). Support includes monthly meetings with The Movement’s artistic team, a workshop and public staged reading.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS:
Artistic Statement (750 words) about how you work and the impact of receiving this commission opportunity - don’t overthink it, we want to see what makes you tick and what makes you you!
A short proposal (750 words) of an ambitious, herculean new work you'd like to create. What’s that big play or theatrical offering you’ve always wanted to create but have never been able to?
Work Sample: Please submit 1-2 work sample(s), either in the form of a 10-page script excerpt, a video example of work 3-5 minutes in length, up to 10 photographs with 1 sentence descriptions for each photograph, and/or audio sample 3-5 minutes in length with time stamps included. If you identify as a playwright/writer at least one of your work samples must be a 10-page excerpt
Resume (1-2 pages)
Anything else you’d like to share? (150 words)
QUESTIONS: Email us at info@themovementtheatrecompany.org
form.jotform.com/261874594769075
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CULLMAN CENTER FELLOWSHIP
New York Public Library
DEADLINE: September 25, 2026 at 5pm ET
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.
SCOPE: 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.
CRITERIA + TERMS: 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.
A Cullman Center Fellow receives a stipend of $90,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. The Library expects Fellows to work at the Cullman Center five days a week, Monday through Friday, 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/about/fellowships-institutes/cullman-center-scholars-writers
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Murmuration Playwriting Cohort 2026/2027
Murmuration Theatre Company |đź“ŤNew York, NY
DEADLINE: September 27, 2026 at 11:59pm ET (or until they receive 200 playwright submissions - which ever comes first)
INFO: The Murmuration Playwriting Cohort is an eight-month program dedicated to developing new work by early and mid-career NYC playwrights. A cohort of six selected playwrights will meet bi-weekly (1 in-person & 1 virtual) on Monday evenings from November 2026 to June 2027 to share work, brainstorm ideas, and receive feedback from fellow writers.
Selected playwrights will have the opportunity to workshop their projects and grow in community, with access to resources and support from the Murmuration Theatre Leadership team. The program culminates in a public staged reading series in June 2027.
Because community building requires significant time and energy - we ask you to be honest with yourself and with us about your ability to commit to the program. If you already feel spread thin in terms of artistic homes/projects/etc, please make space for another artist to have this opportunity.
All applicants will be notified on their application status on or around October 19th.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecXhf9pFajol18_blpV_LcZvcHaAQPLYI-vzmxmenDrNk2Mg/viewform
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JANUARY - MARCH 2027 RESIDENCIES
Elf School of the Arts |đź“ŤHayesville, NC
DEADLINE: September 30, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
APPLICATION FEE: $10
INFO: Applications for January-March residencies at Elf School of the Arts are open September 1-30!
Accepted mediums are book arts, drawing, forging, jewelry/casting/lapidary, mixed media, music, painting, papermaking, photography, printmaking, textiles, weaving, welding, woodworking, and writing.
Residencies range from 1-12 weeks, hosting 4 artists at a time, at no charge. Each resident receives a private bedroom and studio, with a shared kitchen and living space - creating an intimate, focused environment for deep creative work and meaningful exchange.
pci.jotform.com/form/262368100253146
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2027 Fellowship
Lighthouse Works |đź“ŤFishers Island, NY
DEADLINE: October 1, 2026
APPLICATION FEE: $25
INFO: Lighthouse Works is seeking applications for our 2027 fellowship season.
Our Fellowship Program supports cultural practitioners working at the vanguard of their creative fields. We welcome applications from artists working across a wide range of disciplines and are best equipped to accommodate visual artists, writers, choreographers, and composers.
Fellowships are six weeks in length and take place on Fishers Island, New York. Fellows receive room and board, private studio space, and a $1,750 stipend. Artistic excellence is the primary criterion for selection.
Fellows live together in our residence, where each has a private bedroom and shares the kitchen, bathrooms, and common spaces. The house is kept stocked with food, with dietary needs accommodated, and on most evenings, our team prepares dinner for the Fellows and joins them at the table.
Our studios sit beside Silver Eel Cove, where the ferry arrives and departs Fishers Island. Each Fellow has a private studio with abundant natural light and views of the water.
While in residence, Fellows’ primary responsibility is the pursuit of their work. We ask only that each Fellow participate in an Artist Talk during the opening weekend of the fellowship and an Open Studio at the session’s conclusion.
HOW TO APPLY:
Artists at any stage of their careers are encouraged to apply through our online application system.
Applicants are asked to complete an application form, submit work samples, and provide a CV and work sample statement.
Lighthouse Works staff reviews applications for completeness before they are evaluated by independent juries of artists, writers, and other experts in the relevant fields. The juries identify a group of finalists, who are invited to interview before final selections are made. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by the notification date listed for the application period.
Artistic excellence is the primary criterion for acceptance into the Fellowship Program.
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2027 fellowship
Amplify Arts |đź“ŤOmaha, NE
DEADLINE: October 4, 2026
INFO: Amplify’s Fellowship program champions artists working outside conventional art spaces to investigate the layered civic histories, cultural traditions, and living ecologies that shape our region. Designed to support site-responsive installations, book and publishing projects, films, performances, and other publicly engaged project-based work, the Fellowship provides $10,000 in project support, individualized project mentorship, and feedback in a small cohort-based learning environment.
For the 2027 Fellowship, preference will be given to projects that engage with the theme of Migration by exploring how movement shapes our communities, environments, and collective futures. We welcome project-based work that examines migration not only as the movement of people, but also as the circulation of ideas, languages, labor, waterways, seeds, species, capital, and culture.
We especially encourage projects that invite public participation or engagement. This may take the form of site-responsive installations, performances, workshops, or other shared experiences, as well as the circulation of books, printed matter, films, digital media, archives, or other forms of knowledge. We value projects that create opportunities for people to encounter, contribute to, or engage with ideas in ways that foster dialogue, learning, and reflection outside conventional art spaces.
FELLOWSHIP: The Fellowship is one year beginning in January of 2027 and ending in January of 2028. Fellows are expected to actively participate in all regularly scheduled cohort meetings and contribute to a culture of generosity, curiosity, and shared learning. Prospective applicants should approach this program willing to expand their practice with curiosity and critical feedback from other Fellows and mentors.
Fellows will be paired with mentors from outside the Omaha area early in the program in a matchmaking process that responds to each artist’s questions, methods, and ambitions. Mentors will be selected from a pool of curators, artists, and arts professionals with substantial experience in developing project-based work.
ELIGIBILITY: Any artist, artist collective, or collaborative group maintaining a residence within the Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro Area, including Washington, Douglas, Cass, Sarpy, and Saunders counties in Nebraska, and Pottawattamie, Mills, and Harrison counties in Iowa, is eligible to apply.
Applicants must be at least 19 years old and submit a complete application, including an Artist Statement, Project Description, Project Budget, Work Sample, and Works Cited page to be considered. A formal education is not required to apply.
Collectives and collaborative groups with a significant history of working together are also eligible.
TIMELINE:
September 8, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Virtual Application Information Session
September 15, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Virtual Application Office Hours
September 17, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Virtual Application Office Hours
October 4, 11:59 pm: Application Closes
October 5 - October 18: Application Review
October 19 - October 23: Applicant Interviews
October 30: Application Status Updates Delivered