Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Sanders or Clinton? Two Options Learning from the Past

 I could vote for Hillary Clinton. I could vote for Bernie Sanders. Both are reasonably sane Dems. I agree with both on most issues. I think Hillary would be the most ready on the first day and able to deal with the broken system. I think Bernie would try to change the broken system. The idealist in me knows that a fundamental shift is necessary in how we frame our debates. That is what Obama's campaign had as an underlying plan. What ended up happening was the 'change politics' dream was buried in favor of a 'get stuff done now' utility. Not great, not what most young people were voting for, but President Obama completed almost all the concrete promises that candidate Obama made while not quite fulfilling the need for shifting the debate. And so the pragmatist in me fears that Dems should just go for the politician who can squeeze things by the rubble of incompetence and partisan hatred that's blocking the path of normal progress...aka Hillary, who has been described as Soviet-like with her lists and bullet points, and very unflashy, un-inspiring, but able to get some stuff done. Whoever wins the Dem nomination has my vote. And seeing Bernie and Hillary debate on stage has been such a stark contrast to the fiery clown car of GOP politics.

Both candidates also have a chance to learn from Obama's mistakes. Although his presidency has seen many triumphs, it's hard to ignore the initial stumbles that squandered good will. I know the buck stops with the prez...but the chief of staff has a lot of power. Obama's chief was Rahm Emmanuel at the start of his presidency and first term was an endless stream of capitulation to a hardening right-wing factor that felt emboldened to become even more radical and nonsensical against a reasonable leader who over-compromised.

 The reason why the young base didn't show up in the midterms is because Obama made a key tactical error in his 1st 100 days in trusting the GOP and trying to pull over conservatives rather than shoring up his base. Rather than pushing through a massive spending bill for infrastructure which would have employed millions more and been an even bigger jolt to the economy, he squandered half of the recovery plan on a pointless tax cut to please Republicans. It neither helped the economy nor did it engender love with the GOP, and it soured many young ppl on him early. He misread the situation. You always want to shore up your base 1st before you go fishing for outsiders. Obama bought in a bit too much into being a transformational leader complex and thought through his generosity and compromise cooler heads would prevail. I don't think Sanders or Clinton would make that same mistake. It's now become clear that the GOP is a shrinking and enraged cancerous viscera in the gut of America. There is no compromise with cancers who want to poison water, destroy the middle class, and exacerbate global warming. There is no compromise when you're all on the same ship and one faction wants to burn the sails. What Obama did was say 'okay, maybe burn half the sails' and his followers (myself included) got pissed. So the GOP burned half the boat and then clamored for the other half. And that is why we study history, so we don't have to repeat that mistake again if another Dem gets in office. There is no intent of real compromise in the House GOP. They must be voted out and beaten down hard on every point.

The new misstep was relying on the old Clinton guard.  Obama was new and he depended on the old centrists who are now just lobbyists for Wall Street and board members. This was not the best plan of action but at least Dems corrupt insiders are somewhat competent at actually fixing an immediate threat and putting out the emergency fire of 2008. They're not out and out war profiteers selling faulty parts that will kill people in battle or poisoning kids to make profit. There's no 'heckuva job Brownie' in Obama's bunch of fat cats. They know what they're doing, even though I might not agree with their approach...same with Leon Panetta. The Clintonites who stuck around DC are guns for hire, but they can still do what is necessary to prevent us from dying in a ditch...today. Most of those 90s Clintonistas are out of politics. Hillary is one of the last, so both candidates would be forced to rely on a younger and hungrier pool of talent. 

Friday, January 1, 2016

GET WHAT YOU WANT: January 2016

1.
Yale Institute for Music Theatre
Deadline: January 8
The Yale Institute for Music Theatre accepts applications for projects at various stages of development but focuses on work that is ready to be explored musically and dramatically with performers and directors. Submissions cannot have had a professional production. Book musicals and other imaginative music theatre projects are welcome. Only composers, book writers, or lyricists who are current graduate students; or who have graduated from an accredited degree-granting institution (undergraduate or graduate) no earlier than May 2010; or who are current Yale students (undergraduate or graduate) are eligible to apply. Applicants may only submit one work for consideration. At least one collaborator must meet the above requirements for the submission to be eligible. Past Institute participants are welcome to apply, provided they still meet the program's eligibility requirements. Participants must be available for the full duration of the lab. Each member of the writing team will receive an honorarium of $1,200, as well as round-trip transportation and accommodation.


2.
Ashland New Plays Festival
Deadline: January 15
International playwright festival that will culminate in the reading of 4 new plays. Seeking full-length dramas or comedies (2 acts, total 90-120 minutes running time) that are previously unproduced. Award: $1,000 and staged reading. Fee: $15.


3.
The Robert Chesley/Victor Bumbalo Contest
Deadline: January 16

The Robert Chesley/Victor Bumbalo Playwriting Grant is an annual competition for playwrights of LGBTQ theatre. The grant seeks to encourage LGBTQ themed work that makes a substantial contribution to the theatrical repertoire and community. The Foundation underwrites a three-month residency at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. In addition awardees receive a $1,000 stipend for personal expenses. The Wurlitzer Foundation is located on eighteen acres in the heart of Taos. Past recipients include Maria Irene Fornes, Lisa Kron, Robert Patrick, Christopher Shinn, Paula Vogel and Doric Wilson. Submissions for the 2016 competition must be postmarked no later than January 16, 2016. There is no entry fee. Submissions must consist of the full manuscript and be clearly marked "Chesley/Bumbalo Competition" on the application form and script. Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Awards will be announced by June 1, 2016. To apply for the award, playwrights are asked to go to www.wurlitzerfoundation.org. There they can download and submit a fully executed application form along with their script to the following address:

The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of NM
Attn: Chesley/Bumbalo Playwrighting Competition
P.O. Box 1891
Taos, NM 87571

Manuscripts cannot be returned. No bound or stapled scripts

4.
INKtank Lab
Deadline: January 16th

The INKtank Lab seeks to select 3-4 writers of color who are invested in the revision process of their own work as well of their peers in an artistic community environment with a shared intention of honest feedback and earnest conviviality.  The lab cycle will be facilitated by INKtank alums, Mariana CarreƱo King (Miss 0744890) and Raquel Almazan (La Esperanza, or The Hopefulness). INKtank is a collaborative process where Rising Circle will provide structure and resources while playwrights create what happens week-to-week based on the needs of each writer.
Applicants must submit the following by January 16, 2016:
• One full-length script that you would like to work on during the lab. The play must be in line with Rising Circle’s mission statement to expand the scope of storytelling on the American stage by giving voice to unheard stories of people of color. Please note: we are not accepting one-character plays or musicals at this time.
• Resume
• A one-page Artistic Statement explaining your personal rewrite goals, what you feel are the strengths of the script, and what you would like to focus on for the piece during the developmental process. Please include any developmental history of this piece, if it has had readings in the past, or if there are any upcoming readings of your work.

*Please read all lab requirements and guidelines prior to applying.
*Applicants MUST live in the tri-state area to be considered.
*Finalists will be contacted for an interview in late February/early March.


5.
Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest
Deadline Rolling

Award: $1,000 + publication. Fee: N/A. Restrictions: running time between 20 and 90 minutes; submissions must be family friendly in both subject and language; NO explicitly adult content; We prefer casts that are either balanced or favoring females. The more gender neutral roles, the better.
To encourage the development of quality theatrical materials for the educational, community and children's theatre markets, Pioneer Drama Service is proud to sponsor the annual Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest. This is an ongoing contest, with a winner selected by June 1 each year from all eligible submissions received the previous year. All eligible plays accepted for publication will be considered contest finalists, from which the winner will be selected. The contest winner will receive a $1,000 royalty advance in addition to publication.


6.
Urban Stages - Emerging Playwright Award
Deadline: Rolling
 
Urban Stages' EMERGING PLAYWRIGHT AWARD is presented to innovative playwrights whose works speak to the whole of society. Special attention is given to plays that touch on social issues. Submissions are accepted throughout the year (there is not a deadline) from around the United States and internationally. However, special attention is given to those who live in or near New York.   

Submit plays to:
Urban Stages
555 Eighth Avenue, RM 1800
New York, NY 10018


7.
Macdowell Artist Colony
Deadline: Jan 15th (for summer residency)

The MacDowell Colony is an artist residency program located in Southern New Hampshire. MacDowell awards Fellowships to artists of exceptional talent, providing time, space, and an inspiring environment in which to do creative work. A Fellowship consists of exclusive use of a private studio, accommodations, and three prepared meals a day for two weeks to two months. There is no cost for a Fellowship; travel funds and stipends are available to artists-in residence based on need.

There is a $30 application fee, but Macdowell is a well-established and prestigious residency for any artist.

For more information: http://www.macdowellcolony.org/


8.
Kitchen Dog New Works Festival
Deadline: January 15th
Each year, Kitchen Dog selects six new plays from hundreds of submissions to be part of our New Works Festival. Selected scripts receive 15-20 hours of rehearsal, one public reading in May or June, and a $100 honorarium for the playwright. As Founding Members of the National New Play Network, it is our goal to showcase an exciting, diverse, and inclusive slate of plays that reflect the next phase of new work coming to the fore in the American theater and beyond. This year marks our 18th annual festival of new plays.
We invite playwrights to submit full-length scripts that have had no more than one production. This is more of a showcase opportunity than a developmental one, so scripts should be close to production-ready, especially since we are unable to provide travel funds. Plays that call for five or fewer actors are ideal, but not mandatory. While there are no limitations on genre or style, we ask that all scripts speak to Kitchen Dog’s mission. Only one submission per playwright will be accepted.
This year, in a concerted effort to go green, we are accepting submissions through the New Play Exchange. The web-based NPX is the most efficient way to get your work in front of hundreds of new play professionals across the country. This platform allows us to easily receive your plays, and to recommend them to our colleagues in the field. While we are only able to present six plays as part of our Festival, we are committed to writing recommendations in NPX for our top 25 finalists.
Only electronic submissions will be considered – no hard copies, please. The deadline to submit your play is January 15, 2016.

9.
Premiere Stages Play Festival
Deadline: January 3rd

From October 1, 2015 through January 3, 2016, Premiere Stages will accept submissions of unproduced plays (previous readings, workshops, and showcases are acceptable) written by playwrights born or currently residing in the greater metropolitan area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania). All plays submitted to the festival are evaluated by a professional panel of theatre producers, dramaturgs, playwrights, scholars and publishers. Our panel selects four finalists who will be given public readings with Equity casts in March 2016. Following the March readings, the panel selects the festival winner, who will receive a full Equity production in the Premiere Stages 2016 Mainstage Season and an award of $2000. The runner-up receives a 29-hour staged reading and $750. Our two other finalists will be awarded $500. We also strive to facilitate relationships between writers and theater professionals who we think will respond to their work, in hopes that plays developed at Premiere will go on to subsequent productions throughout the country. All of the plays we produce retain the coveted “World Premiere” brand on their plays. Additionally, Premiere’s productions are consistently reviewed by the New York Times and scouted by major publishing houses, and multiple Festival plays have been honored by the American Theatre Critics Association. Our 2015 Play Festival winner was also featured in American Theatre Magazine and on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”


10.
Mcknight Advancement Grant
Deadline: January 7
The McKnight Advancement Fellowships recognize playwrights whose work demonstrates exceptional artistic merit and excellence in the field, and whose primary residence is in the state of Minnesota. The fellowship includes:
●     A $25,000 stipend
●     $2,500 to support a play development workshop and other professional expenses
●     $1,400 in travel funds
11.
Leah Ryan Fund for Emerging Women Writers
Deadline: January 11

All women who consider themselves emerging playwrights (as distinct from fledgling or mid-career playwrights) are eligible to apply for the FEWW Prize. Playwrights from all over the world are encouraged to apply, but the play must be written in English. Eligibility does not require that a submitted work adhere to the traditional three-act structure. One-acts, two-acts (even four-, five-, six- acts), monologues, adaptations, and any other wild (or deceptively tame) format will be considered with equal seriousness. The only absolute requirement is that the submitted text be a completed full-length work for theater.
The 2016 winner will be chosen by a committee selected by the board members of Leah Ryan's FEWW, and will be presented her award as part of the 2016 Lily Awards, which honors the work of women in American theater.

The winner will also receive a cash award of $2,500 as well as a staged reading of her play hosted by FEWW at a theater in New York City. In addition, a stipend of up to $700 for travel and accommodation may be provided by FEWW if necessary.

We will begin accepting applications for this year’s prize on November 15, 2016.
The deadline for submissions for the 2016 FEWW Prize is Monday, January 11th, 2016 at 5pm EST.

Applications must include the following:
1. Ten pages excerpted from a fully developed, completed script. Please note: finalists will be required to submit the complete script to the FEWW;
2. A cover letter of no more than 300 words describing yourself and your work.
3. Your resume or a bio;
4. The name, address, email and phone number of one reference. This person should know you well and be able to speak about your work if called to do so.
Finalists will be contacted in early March and will have one week within which to submit their full play.

12.
Bogliasco Foundation
Deadline: Jan. 15th

Spend a month in Italy working on your craft. The Bogliasco Foundation's Study Center provides residential fellowships for qualified persons working on advanced creative or scholarly projects in the arts and humanities. The Study Center is one of the few residential institutions in the world dedicated exclusively to all of the humanistic disciplines: Archaeology, Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Classics, Dance, Film/Video, History, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Theater, and the Visual Arts.

During their month long stay at the Center, Bogliasco Fellows are provided with living quarters, full board, and a separate private studio.


13.
Wildacres Residency Program
Deadline: January 15

The Wildacres Residency Program began in 1999 and over the past sixteen years has hosted nearly 500 writers, artists, musicians and others. Participants stay in one of three comfortable cabins located 1/4 mile from the conference center. Past residents have found the setting conducive to their work and have had a great "Wildacres experience."

With the use of three cabins, the program will have about 70 one- and two-week residencies available from April through October. Sessions begin each Monday afternoon and conclude on Sunday or early Monday morning. The program allows individuals the solitude and inspiration needed to begin or continue work on a project in their particular field.

Residents may eat in the dining room, which allows for interaction with other residents, guests, and staff. Or residents may prepare their own meals in the cabins.

There is no charge for the residency but there is a $20 application fee and participants are responsible for their own transportation to Wildacres. This is a working retreat, and we ask that no spouses, family or pets accompany the visiting resident.

You may apply using the application form below and submitting it online. Please let us know who you are and what you hope to accomplish while you are here. We do not ask for examples of your work but you are welcome to include a link to your website. We have assembled a small committee comprised of writers, scholars, artists, and former participants to select the residents.

The program is open to anyone, with a limit of two residencies in any four year period.
We allow two people collaborating on a project to come together and stay in Azalea cabin, which has a loft to accommodate the second person. When applying, fill out one application stating the nature of your project and information about both participants. The Laurel cabin is fully ADA compliant.

In 2016, we will again include several two week residencies. Those people who wish to apply for a two week residency should fill out the application specifically for that program. Those that apply for two week residencies will not be considered for the one week program.
Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2016.
Applications for the 2016 program can be submitted using the links below. The $20 application fee is submitted when applying and is payable using PayPal.


14.
Orchard Project
Deadline: January 18

Resident Artists are provided with rehearsal space (five rehearsal rooms and various writing spaces), company management, accommodation and communal dining and acres and acres of magnificent upstate scenery. The Orchard Project also has a world-class apprentice program, and companies are encouraged to take advantage of the great support our younger artists can provide. Transportation and honoraria/per diems are the responsibility of the sponsoring theatre company (or artist). One of the many reason for such is that it allows the Orchard Project to host companies of very different levels.

We have created this simple application process to free up our resources to devote to the actual residencies. APPLICATIONS WILL BE LOOKED AT ON A ROLLING BASIS. After receiving applications, we will ask some applicants for more info and possibly work samples. We usually hope to respond to applications by the beginning of March.
We often are asked how competitive the application process for the Orchard Project is. Selection is highly competitive, with an approximate 7-10% acceptance rate. Furthermore, we try to be as transparent as possible about our application process and how open it is. There are indeed a few companies and artists who are invited to apply to the Orchard Project by our staff and our advisory board. However, over 80% of our residents last year were from unsolicited applications.
If you have ANY problems with your application, please email us at info@exchangenyc.org.
Unlike other programs, we judge people, not projects. What that means is that the Orchard Project team and other artists who we have supported in past years assess whether the applicants are likely to create amazing work, and whether we think they will benefit from our program.
Please be sure to read the Orchard Project FAQ before applying. The FAQ includes details about the structure of the program and application process.


15.
Elsewhere Residency
Deadline: February 13

Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this is an eclectic residency for a wide variety of artists. Elsewhere invites creative individuals across disciplines to join us in building a living museum from a former thrift store that contains a 58-year collection of surplus. Residencies invite creatives working across media, fields, disciplines, and administrations to create projects that activate Elsewhere’s ‘living’ museum. Residents live and work within the space for 2-4 weeks creating site-specific, responsive work that explores the museum environment, surplus inventories, cultural histories, social systems, neighborhood communities, and past artworks.
Residents have access to the enormous collection of textiles, toys, books, consumer technologies, clothes, brik-a-brac and general thrift for transformation. A curatorial team stewards the creative process and collection use, provides critical feedback, supports artist events and facilitates connections with Greensboro neighbors and Elsewhere’s national artist network.
Makers, thinkers and tinkerers with an interest in the intersection of participation, play, process, reuse, public practice, thing theory, social engagement, urban intervention, experimental living and organizing are an excellent fit for this program. Artists working across media (sound, video, installation, performance, conceptual art, painting, social engagement) and fields(researchers, curators, scholars, activist, designers, writers, musicians, puppeteers, gardeners, homesteaders, system-thinkers, game-makers) are encouraged to apply.
Residencies hosts up to six artists for any given session. Residencies have a subsidized program + living fee. A small number of fellowships are available for special residency sessions. Collectives and collaborative groups are welcome to apply.


16.
Arctic Circle 2016
Deadline: January 16th

In 2016, The Arctic Circle program embarks on two high Arctic expeditions aboard an ice-class expedition sailing vessel. International artists of all disciplines, architects, scientists and educators alike are invited to apply.

The Arctic Circle 2016 programming takes place in the international territory of Svalbard, a mountainous Arctic archipelago just 10 degrees from the North Pole. Each expedition provides the opportunity for artists and innovators to pursue their personal projects on board while exploring collaborations with the expedition’s fellow participants. Our vessel and home during our time in the remote Arctic, a traditionally rigged Barquentine, is equipped with workspace, common areas, and ample room for privacy and creativity.

The Arctic Circle 2016, Summer Solstice Expedition:
June 11 th – June 29th, 2016.
The Arctic Circle 2016, Autumn Art & Science Expedition:
Oct 1st - Oct 19th , 2016

Included are:
• Hotel accommodation pre and post sailing, Longyearbyen, Svalbard
• Transfers from airport to hotel, and hotel to ship, Longyearbyen, Svalbard
• Accommodation on board from our point of departure to return
• All meals on board
• All shore excursions
• Access to on board facilities Selected participants are responsible for transportation to/ from Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Selected participants are provided with a list of required items and appropriate dress to bring, and in-depth, comprehensive assistance in all areas of expedition preparation.

Application Guidelines for Individuals, The Arctic Circle 2016 Program costs are subsidized in part by The Farm, Inc. and our partners, and in part by participant fees.

The participant fee for The Arctic Circle 2016 is $ 6300 USD. Applications are vetted by jury based on artistic/ scientific merit and project description (where applicable). We assist all selected participants with funding efforts. The applicant’s ability to work with funders to realize a project should be reflected in the application. To apply: We ask applicants to submit all materials by email only to: apply@thearcticcircle.org. There are no application fees. Application Deadline is 11:59pm (EST) January 15, 2016.


17.
Anderson Center Residency Program
Deadline: February 1

RESIDENCIES
The Anderson Center offers residencies of two weeks or one month from May-October to artists, writers, and scholars. Through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Anderson Center will devote the entire month of June, 2016, to five Deaf American artists whose native or adoptive language is American Sign Language.  Through a grant from the Jerome Foundation of St. Paul, the Center will also devote the month of August, 2016 to encourage the work of emerging artists from New York City and Minnesota.) The Anderson Center is located 45 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.

Each resident is provided room, board, and workspace for the length of the residency period. Each resident is asked to serve the community of Red Wing or its surrounding area by giving a talk, lecture, reading, performance, or classroom activity as specified by the Executive Director.

Visual artists are provided a 15' x 26' studio. Other workspaces on site include a natural down-draft kiln, a printmaking studio, and an open-air metalsmith facility. Practice space is also available for dancers and choreographers.

RESIDENCY PERIODS
Anderson Center residencies begin on the 1st or 16th of each month and end on the 15th or last day of each month for periods of 2-4 weeks. Your residency period must be selected within these guidelines. Please plan your requested residency dates carefully. Preference is given to those applying for month-long stays. If you have been a prior resident to the Anderson Center, you must wait three years from the time of your residency to apply again.

APPLICATIONS
Each completed application must include: a completed application form, resume, work plan, work sample, and a self-addressed stamped #10 envelope for notification. We are sorry, but due to our limited staff we are unable to return work samples. Provide five stapled packets of all printed application materials. Please collate your application material into 5 complete packets. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the panel. Work samples should be of recent work and should include:

1. scholars: five copies of 1 published article
2. composers: 1 CD of recorded music
3. visual artists: 1 CD with at least 5 images of work
4. nonfiction and fiction writers: five copies of 10 pages of prose
5. poets: five copies of 10 pages of poetry
6. performance artists: 1 CD or DVD of performance


DEADLINES
For residencies during the months May and July, apply by February 1. For June, apply by February 15. For residencies during the months of August-October, apply by March 1. Completed applications must arrive on or before these deadlines in order to be considered in the judging period.
SELECTION
Decisions are made by a panel of professional peers and are announced 30 - 45 days after the application deadline.


18.
Miami Theater Center Sandbox Series
Deadline: February 12
website: MTC Sandbox

The SandBox Series, a program of MTCperformance, nurtures innovative performing artists by inviting them into an environment that prioritizes quality, rigor, and ample time to engage in a challenging and rewarding artistic process. Who is eligible? Artists from all performance disciplines are welcome to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the United States.

What's expected of the artists? Artists chosen for the series are expected to create a new performance lasting 50 – 120 minutes, which they will perform 6-9 times over the course of 3 consecutive weekends. In addition, each artist must teach a minimum of 6 classes, open to the public, during their residency period. Selection Process Applications will be reviewed by a panel of theater professionals, and finalists will be invited to present their project proposals in person at Miami Theater Center. The three artists selected for the 2016-17 series will be notified in March 2016, and the SandBox Series residencies will take place between October 2016 and June 2017.

Artist Package Artists chosen for the series receive:
• Commissioning fee of up to $5,000.00
• 75 hours of rehearsal in the SandBox during the 21-day period prior to the premier of the commissioned work
• 25 hours of load-in and rehearsal with technical director, stage manager, and stage hands supplied by MTC during the week leading up to the premier
• Marketing, publicity, production, and professional development support from MTC staff
• 60% of revenue from box office • 60% of revenue from classes
• 10 comps for the run of the performance

About MTC

Under the Artistic leadership of Stephanie Ansin, Miami Theater Center (MTC) produces classical and contemporary works that entertain and educate audiences and artists of all ages and abilities. MTC programs include MTCperformance, innovative theater, dance, and music; MTCeducation, which offers camps and workshops for children and learning opportunities for performers, theater technicians, arts administrators, and members of the general public; and MTCfilm, independent, foreign, family, and art films presented in partnership with O Cinema.


19.
The 41st Annual Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival (or OOB)
Deadline: February 12th

They will be accepting submissions from December 22nd until February, 12th 2016 at 11:59PM. The OOB Festival is a playwriting competition offering a prize of publication and licensing for 6 short plays in the notable OFF OFF BROADWAY FESTIVAL PLAYS series. In addition, the 30 semi-finalists each receive a full production in one of New York City’s leading Off Broadway theatres.


20.
New America’s Fellowship Program
Deadline: February 16th

New America’s Fellows Program invests in thinkers — academics, journalists, independent scholars, and public policy analysts — who offer fresh and often unconventional perspectives on the major challenges facing our society.

Fellows advance big ideas through research, reporting, analysis, and/or storytelling. The big idea can be a sweeping reframing of a familiar subject through new research or a new combination of existing research; a masterful presentation of a case study that advances our understanding of a timeless American theme or stress fracture; an innovative new media or academic project to disseminate knowledge about a shared challenge; or a bold policy prescription for moving domestic and international issues forward. Our goal in the Fellows Program is to find bold, iconoclastic thinkers and to fund them for one to two years, long enough so that they can write a book, develop a series of articles, make a documentary, or work on another project that would be accessible to a broad audience and long enough to be able to build a real community among the fellows.

Fellows benefit from a financial stipend, engagement with each other and with New America’s various policy programs, and the expanded audience and exposure from New America and its media partners. Precise terms and stipend levels of fellowships vary widely, as some fellows work full-time at New America in pursuit of their research, while many others have other professional commitments during the term of their fellowship.

We will be hosting information sessions about the Fellows Program and the application process in New York City and Washington, D.C. in early January. If you wish to attend, please follow this link to RSVP.

How to Apply to the Fellows Program:
The application process is highly competitive. To be considered for the 2017 Class of New America Fellows, which runs from September 2016 to August 2017, you must submit your application by February 15, 2016.


21.
BAU at Camargo Fellowship
Deadline: March 15th

The fellowship provides artists with live-work apartments at no cost.
The Camargo Foundation campus is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea with breathtaking views of the harbor and Cap Canaille, the highest maritime cliff in Europe. It is a short walk to the village of Cassis with regional open markets, restaurants and stores where necessities may be found. There is abundant food shopping. A short walk along the coast brings you to the National Park of the Calanques with spectacular limestone cliffs. The lively city of Marseille is 30 minutes away by train, bus or car. From Marseille it is an easy transfer to either the airport or the express train system for travel within France and other European cities. The Camargo Foundation is a seven minute drive to the train station in Cassis.

All Fellows will receive a private bedroom in either a one or two bedroom apartment.
The apartments are all furnished and have fully equipped kitchens. Linens and towels are provided. A washer and dryer are available for personal laundry. There are no telephones in the apartments, but there is WiFi throughout most of the campus. There is on-campus parking however, a car is not necessary. Driving within Cassis pedestrian center and harbor is restricted. The grounds of the Camargo Foundation contain a large reference library, an outdoor Greek Theater, gardens and large terraces with sea views for the use of the residents. There is a private music studio with a Steinway piano for a composer. Visual artists work in their apartments or in additional spaces on the property.

The language of the residency is English. There is no French language requirement for the fellowship. Transportation and meals are the responsibility of the residents. BAU Institute will host a Welcome and a Farewell Dinner. Fellows are encouraged to organize pot lucks and picnics. There is a no overnight guest policy and no children or pets may visit the Foundation. A refundable $250.00 USD security deposit is due upon acceptance.

The BAU Institute Residency Director will be on site and available for assistance.
Additional support from the Camargo Foundation staff during business hours is also available.Fellows receive extensive information packets before arrival to facilitate their travel plans and prepare for life in Cassis.

Please email questions to: info@bauinstitute.org

APPLICATION:



22.
DJERASSI RESIDENT ARTISTS PROGRAM
Deadline: February 15

In 1997, a friend of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston purchased the former residence of Dora Maar. In a five-year effort, the owner rehabilitated and updated this spacious eighteenth-century, four-story stone residence in the village of MĆ©nerbes. Her goal was to make it a retreat for scholars, artists, and writers, where they could work undisturbed on their research, art, or writing, for one to three months.


In 2006 the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was asked to direct this project, which is now known as The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House. Here outstanding midcareer professionals are offered fellowships that enable them to reside in the Dora Maar House and focus on the creative aspects of their work.
The Brown Foundation Fellowship provides
• one to three months in residence at the Dora Maar House
• a private bedroom and bath and a study or studio in which to work
• expenses paid for round-trip travel from a fellow’s home to the
Dora Maar House
• a grant based upon the length of stay at the Dora Maar House
The Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House is located in one of the most beautiful regions of Southern France, about 40 km southeast of Avignon, the Dora Maar House in MĆ©nerbes is an 18th century residence. In 1944 Pablo Picasso purchased the four-story mansion for Dora Maar, an artist and surrealist photographer who was his companion and muse in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Dora Maar owned the house until her death in 1997. http://www.mfah.org/fellowships/doramaarhouse/residence/

Biden's "Ok Boomer" Moment

  Disclaimer: I am NOT thrilled about a 2020 election rematch. However, having said that ("Curb Your Enthusiasm" reference) Republ...