Monday, February 7, 2022

Purpose of 'Bad Art' for Artists

 I watched a lot of awful movies in film school. Some of the professors would even spoil the movie endings by telling us the entire plot before viewing it. They were trying to break our normal viewing habit of watching movies as escapist entertainment. It was cinematic bootcamp: shove more and more difficult and experimental films down our throats to either break us or to remake us as thinkers. We were there to improve our craft, not eat popcorn and laugh. I learned just as much from 'bad' or 'unenjoyable' films that taught me a technique in world building, time-shifting, character arc than from pleasing works that comforted me. 

I think the same rules apply in theatre... if you're working in this field. Of course I prefer plays that I think are 'good' or 'well done' but I don't shy away from messy, unconventional, difficult works. When I first arrived in nyc there were two plays closing on the same day: one work was a naturalistic two-hander about an oddball boy-meets-girl love affair. The other play was a recently translated experimental movement piece by a Jewish writer from the Weimar Republic that had a title like 'Great Exterminating Machine." I could see merits in both, but I've watched a lot more 'oddball boy meets girl' stories than an experimental German work that hinted at the rise of Nazism. Most of my friends went to the rom com. I ended up in some dirty underground theatre in the East Village watching people covered in chocolate syrup writhing around 'giant machine' made out of cardboard boxes. It wasn't 'good.' I would probably say it was terrible. But I processed the work, how I would do it differently, and what it has to do about my life right now.  Later on that year, I wrote "The Great Black Sambo Machine" about dehumanization box that processes Black identity through archetypes. The play got some attention and a workshop at Ars Nova and the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. It was totally influenced by the German Exterminating Death Machine-y thing. I can't tell you how I was influenced. All I was left with were the visceral sounds and feelings, the themes, and the dream-like images that stuck with me long after the plot had faded. I allowed myself to view the piece as a puzzle, meditation, a drug trip, a hallucination, and to see what stuck to the walls of my mind. Our craft is more influenced by the unconscious and subconscious delusions than plot points. 

Now in TV it's all about plot. TV is a story machine. It's important to know how to take apart and reassemble the plot engine. But I still let the hallucinations work their way in. I still let the illogical and absurd and sticky weird things be a speed bump on the road to strong storytelling. Often it's those speed bumps that the audience will remember long after they've gotten to the finish line of the plot. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Get What You Want: February 2022

 *NEW ADD*

BLACK MOTHERHOOD AND PARENTING PLAY FESTIVAL

Deadline: March 1st

website: https://bit.ly/bmpfest22submit

Blackboard Plays and Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) partner to uplift the experiences of Black Parenthood. The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival was established to tell stories from and about Black artists with families. 

SEEKING

The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival (#BMPFest) is seeking new plays by Black Parent and caregiver playwrights for its upcoming theatre festival in the Fall of 2022.

#BMPFest is open to those that identify as Black parents and caregivers.  

#BMPFest is seeking stories centering the Black parenting and caregiving experience.

This includes, but is not limited to stories from artists with family responsibilities.

PAAL and Blackboard are transgender and non-binary affirming spaces. All language referencing "mother," "parent," "dad," "caregiver," and their derivatives include and refer to any individual who identifies with them.


SUBMISSION DEADLINE

March 1st, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST 

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Please submit up to 10 pages MAX of a play that you would develop into a One-Act (30 - 45 minutes.)

Ten (10) Semi-Finalists will have a feature digital (zoom) reading as part of Blackboard Plays’  ‘21-22 Season.  

Four (4) Finalists will develop their One-Act centering on the Black parenting and caregiving experience to premiere digitally during the Fall of 2022.

If you are chosen as one of our ten (10) semi-finalists, we will request the full script for review.

Although we ask for a sample of 10-pages, this is not a 10-minute play festival. . Video Submissions will not be accepted.

COMPENSATION

Each of the four (4) Finalists will be paid a stipend of $1,000. USD, as well as a $500. USD Caregiver Reimbursement Stipend per artist.  

FAQ

Question: What if my play has already had a reading or what if it has been produced somewhere else.  Can I still submit it?

While we encourage new work we also support the developmental process.  If your piece is in development, has had a reading, or been produced at smaller theatres then send it along. 

Submission Link: https://bit.ly/bmpfest22submit


1. THE MIRANDA FAMILY FOUNDATION VOCES LATINX NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

DEADLINE: February 1st

WEBSITE: www.repertorio.nyc/opportunities


The Miranda Family Foundation Voces Latinx National Playwriting Competition is to discover, develop, promote and amplify Latinx plays and playwrights. Repertorio EspaƱol is now in its 53rd season and 2nd decade of championing new works through playwriting initiatives. To that end, this competition and our theatre will prepare the way for an American Theatre that is reflective and representative of the Pan Latinx Community. An endeavor that becomes increasingly more important.


QUALIFICATIONS

  • Latinx culture, history, ideals and characters must be central to the play submitted. The community must be accurately depicted and the focus of the work.

  • No screenplays, one act plays, adaptations or translations will be accepted.

  • New and un-produced plays preferred. Plays that have had readings or a workshop production are acceptable.

  • All plays must be original and full-length (minimum running time: 75 minutes) and can be written in Spanish and/or English.

  • The competition is inclusive of all playwrights who are at least 18 years of age and residents of the United States or Puerto Rico. 


2. WALKING ON WATER’S NEW ORIGINAL WORKS

DEADLINE: February 1st

WEBSITE: https://www.walkingonwaterproductions.org/wows-now.html


The purpose of WoW's NoW is to discover, explore, and celebrate new musicals for multigenerational audiences from writers across New York State with Tompkins County artists and audiences.


Although WoW's NoW is a new program launching in 2022, Walking on Water has been producing musical theatre since it's formation in 2017. Please review WoW’s mission and vision and consider if your work might be a good fit for our community.


Criteria: Should you choose to submit your musical for consideration, note that initially you will only be submitting your 20 strongest consecutive pages from the book of your musical. You will submit this along with a synopsis of the complete piece and a detailed cast/character breakdown; you should also include the corresponding sheet music from this excerpt, along with an mp3 demo of one of the songs from this excerpt.


3. JANE CHAMBERS 2022 PLAYWRITING AWARD

DEADLINE: February 1st

WEBSITE: https://www.jchambersprize.org/2022-submissions/

Jane Chambers Playwrighting Award recognizes new feminist plays and performance texts created by women and genderqueer writers for the stage that present a feminist perspective and contain significant opportunities for female performers. We welcome plays that experiment with form and/or that feature non-binary characters. This annual award is given in memory of lesbian playwright Jane Chambers who, through her plays A Late Snow, Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, My Blue Heaven, Kudzu, and The Quintessential Image, became a major feminist voice in American theatre.


Criteria: Authors and nominators need not be ATHE members. Self-nominations are welcome. In order to be considered plays should have been written recently but do not need to have premiered. However, to qualify as “new” for this contest, any premiere or publication needs to have occurred no more than 18 months prior to the submission deadline. Playwrights may submit only one play per year.


Compensation: $1,000 plus travel stipend


4. NEW CIRCLE THEATRE COMPANY’S BIPOC WRITERS 10 MIN PLAY CONTEST

DEADLINE: February 1st

WEBSITE: www.newcircletheatrecompany.org


New Circle Theatre Company is a NYC company devoted to the development of new plays. In furthering the company’s commitment to foster diversity, we announce our second annual playwriting contest for new, ten minute plays by playwrights of color, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, etc. This contest is different from many out there, in that we are seeking, not so much new plays, but potential new members of our company, who wish to work with us continuously in the future to develop their new plays.


Our development process includes a reading of new plays at company meetings on Monday nights, followed by a 10-hour developmental workshop with a director and cast, and finally, an Equity Showcase production of the play in our intimate theatre space on West 44th St in New York City, upon approval of the Artistic Leadership team. The goal and focus is to allow the playwright to achieve the best possible version of their script. 


Plays should be sent via email as a PDF only to nctcsubmissions@gmail.com, with the writer’s last name and BIPOC Contest in the subject line. (Ex: “Smith BIPOC Contest”) 

Winners will be announced in the spring of 2022. Workshops and productions will take place in the fall of 2022.  For this particular contest, the following rules apply: 


1. Plays should run no longer than 10-minutes when read aloud. 

2. Writers must be available to physically participate in person in the developmental workshop and rehearsal process. 

3. Plays may be on any theme and in any style, but should not rely on complicated production values to make them work. 

4. No musicals, children’s shows, or adaptations accepted. 

5. New work only that has not been produced (staged-readings okay).

6. Winning plays selected for production will result in a royalty payment to the writer of $100. Writers maintain full copyright of their work. 

7. Winning plays will follow our development process: a Monday night reading, followed by a 10 hour development workshop with a director and cast, followed by a production. By submitting your play, you agree to participate in this process.




5. O’NEILL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: February 1st 

WEBSITE: https://www.theoneill.org/ypf


Employing the signature “O’Neill process,” the festival provides professional-level support to develop original one-act plays written by middle and high school students. With these methods, the young playwrights hone their work, furthering it from the initial isolation of writing to the collaborative process involved in making their script into a living, breathing play. Students receive a rigorous exploration of their work guided by professional artists as well as a script-in-hand public reading of their new play.


1. You are between the ages of 12-18 and currently enrolled in middle or high school.

2. Your parent or guardian has given you permission to submit your play. 

3. The play you are submitting is between 10 and 15 pages 

(This page limit does not include your title and character description page).

4. You are the only writer of this play (joint submissions will not be considered). 

5. You have included your name and the title of your play on the front page of the script.

6. You have provided a listing of character names and descriptions. 

7. Each page of your script has been numbered.

8. You are only submitting one play for consideration. 



6.THE NEUKOM INSTITUTE LITERARY ARTS AWARD FOR PLAYWRITING

DEADLINE: February 2nd

WEBSITE: https://sites.dartmouth.edu/neukominstitutelitawards/how-to-enter/


The arts have always had strong creative connections to the sciences, including computational science. Acting as a gadfly for the good, provocateur and satirist when the sciences overreach, but also far-seeing prophets of scientific potential. The arts are among the areas that computational sciences has transformed, not only through its impact on modes of production of artwork, but also as a formative influence on its themes and motivations, notably in the fields of speculative fiction as well as the dramatic arts. To that end, the Neukom Institute is proud to announce three prizes for creative work in the arts. Questions? Email Emma Orme at vox@voxtheater.org. Playwrights can submit using this form.


7. MCDOWELL FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: February. 5th

WEBSITE: https://www.macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship


MacDowell provides time, space, and an inspiring 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 six weeks. There are no residency fees. 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. Need-based travel grants and stipends are available to open the residency experience to the broadest possible community of artists. Artists with professional standing in their fields, as well as emerging artists, are eligible to apply. MacDowell encourages artists from 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.


8. NEW VICTORY LABWORKS

DEADLINE: February 7th

WEBSITE: https://newvictory.org/about/labworks/labworks-application/


New Victory LabWorks is a residency for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) creating original work for kids and families. We welcome and uplift all BIPOC artists, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and who identify as disabled. As an artistic home for artists of all disciplines, New Victory LabWorks explores, devises and reimagines what theater for families can be.


New Victory LabWorks artists each receive $15,000 as well as professional development, networking and community building. Artists also have the opportunity to hold invited rehearsals for industry professionals, fellow artists and kid and family audiences with facilitated feedback sessions.


By connecting artists with New Victory families and education partners to garner invaluable responses and feedback from kids, New Victory LabWorks invites artists to hone their craft, expand their skills, make contacts in the field, take artistic risks and make bold choices with their work. Once all applications are reviewed, a select group of applicants will be contacted to participate in an interview with members of the New Victory Artistic Programming staff. From there, final applicants will be notified of their acceptance. All applicants will receive notification of final decisions. No phone calls, please.


Program Requirements:

  • Artist(s) must have a primary residence in NYC and be available to participate between August 2022 and July 2023.

  • Artist(s) must identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color.

  • Artist(s) must be 18 years of age or older.

  • Artist’s work must be intended for family audiences (Artist does not need prior experience in creating work suitable for families).

  • Artist’s project(s) must be in development, but may be at any point during development, including initial concept.

  • Pending the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, Artist(s) must be able to attend monthly meetings in Manhattan.

  • Artist(s) must be interested in actively participating in all aspects of the New Victory LabWorks program, including professional development, monthly meetings with the 2022-23 LabWorks cohort, peer-based exchange and peer and/or audience feedback.


If you are interested, you can review the application questions and required materials before applying.


Please complete the application and include support materials via a Dropbox link.


 If you have physical materials to submit, please let us know by emailing LabWorks@New42.org.



9. LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE’S NYC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL PLAYWRITING FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: February 7th

WEBSITE: https://www.lortel.org/hspf


The Lucille Lortel Theatre's NYC Public High School Playwriting Fellowship will support 

diverse young writers and create an awareness of playwriting as a career. The opportunities provided by this program will encourage NYC public high school students to become the next generation of playwrights.


The Fellowship is open to any high school student who is currently enrolled in and attending public high school in one of the five boroughs of New York City at the time of entry. Seven Fellows will be selected: one from each of the five New York City boroughs, one from a District 75 school and one from a District 79 school.


The seven Fellows will each receive

  • A professional staged reading or an online presentation of the Fellow’s play.

  • Individual mentoring from theatre professionals.

  • Publication of the Fellow’s play.

  • A certificate of recognition.


REQUIREMENTS:

  • An original one-act play.

  • Approximately 10 minutes in length.

  • No more than:

    • Ten total pages of dialogue (Times New Roman or Arial font, double spaced)

    • Two scenes

    • Two locations

    • Four characters


Submissions accepted via website here. Applicants must register an account to submit. No submission fee required.



10. DRAMA LEAGUE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS

DEADLINE: February 11th

WEBSITE: https://dramaleague.submittable.com/submit/ed47c474-9ccc-470a-9f5e-29af1f3fc473/2022-2023-beatrice-terry-directing-residency-application


The Drama League Directing Residencies are designed to support the interrogative process of a director creating theater or other work that includes live performance.  The residencies offer financial support for a developmental process, rehearsal and administrative space, dramaturgical/mentor support from The Drama League artistic staff, and the opportunity to present the findings of the process publicly.  The Drama League is not and will not be the producer of the project, nor of any public or private event in conjunction with this residency; the recipient is responsible for all production, contracting/hiring, or other needs in this regard.

The Drama League recently altered and expanded its Directors Project programming, and each has its own application and area of focus.  We strongly encourage you to read about them in depth before beginning any of the six applications. by visiting the following pages:


  • The Drama League Stage Directing Fellowships 

  • The Drama League FutureNow Stage Directing Fellowships

  • The Drama League Film and Television Directing Fellowships

  • The Beatrice Terry Directing Residency* (this application)

  • The Next Stage Directing Residency

  • The Drama League Directing Assistantships*


*The Beatrice Terry Directing Residency is intended to support female-identifying directors and/or directors who identify as transgender or non-binary. More information can be found at the above links.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants are NOT required to have a university degree.

  • Applicants must have directed at least three non-collegiate productions.

  • Applicants cannot be enrolled in any university undergraduate or graduate degree program during the program's period of support.

  • Please make sure that you are fully committed to participating in the program as your personal priority BEFORE applying.  Applicants must be available for all program components during the program period without exception. This means that applicants cannot participate in other career development programs, fellowships, residencies, or other opportunities during this time window.  Conflicts with the program components will result in the cancellation of those components, without being rescheduled, and a reduction in the program.

  • Please review the program schedule to ensure that program components do not conflict with your planned directing work.  Applicants may have directing commitments during the program period, which The Drama League supports.  Conflicts with the program component timeline, however, will result in the cancelation of those components and a reduction in the program, without being rescheduled.


Please see our Eligibility F.A.Q. page for details to determine your eligibility for this program.  We understand that every individual comes to directing on their own individual path; to speak with Drama League staff about your specific experience and its appropriateness for this opportunity, please email artistic@dramaleague.org with your questions.

If a candidate feels they fall outside the bounds of these guidelines and chooses to apply, it is hoped they will note this in the application and address the reasons they've applied in their answers to the narrative questions.


11. HILLMAN GRAD MENTORSHIP LAB

DEADLINE: February 11th

WEBSITE: https://www.hillmangrad.com/mentorship-labs


The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides opportunities for marginalized storytellers to connect, grow, and accelerate their career in television. Committed to infusing new narratives and perspectives in front of and behind the camera, the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides a robust slate of workshops, educational resources, and professional development and networking opportunities for a cohort of diverse writers, actors, and aspiring creative executives.


The tuition-free, 8-month program grants fellows the unique opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating additional pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into the entertainment industry.The writing track will help prepare mentees to be ready for their first staff position in a writer’s room. Writing mentees will engage in a comprehensive writing experience, developing an original pilot from concept ideation to a fully polished and packaged script. Mentees will learn how to plan and write a pilot, participate in a simulated writers room–undergoing a series of rewrites from notes by the instructor, peers, and creative executives–capped off by a table read featuring professional actors. Mentees will be instructed and mentored by Michael Svoboda.

12. THE PLAYWRIGHTS REALM SCRATCHPAD SERIES AND FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: February 13th

WEBSITE: https://playwrightsrealm.org/submit


At the heart of The Playwrights Realm’s work supporting early-career playwrights are our two open submission programs: the Writing Fellowship, open to early-career writers living within commuting distance of New York City; and Scratchpad Series, which is open to early-career writers (also musical theatre teams) living anywhere throughout the US!  

 

The Playwrights Realm’s Writing Fellowship is awarded annually to four promising writers living within commuting distance of NYC. The Fellowship comes with a full season of meetings to work on a script-in-progress, collaborative rehearsal processes with a director and designer as part of two developmental readings, career development opportunities and discussions with industry professionals, and a $3,000 stipend.

 

Our Scratchpad Series is a chance for The Realm to engage with an entirely new group of playwrights each year, erasing limitations of geography or access by identifying and inviting applications from playwrights anywhere in the country. Scratchpad participants will receive a developmental workshop of up to one week, working with top-notch professional collaborators—director, cast, and The Realm’s artistic staff.  With regards to Scratchpad, preference will be given to projects that can’t be otherwise served by the Writing Fellowship (ie musical projects, playwrights who do not live in the greater NYC area etc).



13. THE THEATRE OF OTHERS AUDIO NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: February 13th

WEBSITE: https://www.theatreofothers.com/audio-new-play-festival


The Theatre of Others is seeking submissions of 20-30 minute plays for its second annual Audio New Play Festival, which will be produced in September and October 2022. This year’s prompt is “FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW.” You may interpret the prompt broadly - your play exploring whatever themes it generates for you. Plays will be released on a weekly basis via The Theatre of Others Podcast, which can be found on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and all your favorite podcast platforms. If your play is chosen, you will be responsible for your own rehearsals and production. 


The Theatre of Others will provide assistance with casting, dramaturgy, and/or technical design, and will help connect you with the artists you need to round out your team, be that a director, designer, or actors. You are welcome to assemble your own cast and crew; or, we are ready to assist you in this process as much or as little as you require.


REQUIREMENTS

The play must be crafted specifically for the audio play medium. Its sound design must be integral to the storytelling. The piece must either be a brand new play or an existing play you’d like to significantly adapt to meet the needs of the audio play medium. The play should still be under construction. That is, it should still be at a stage when the dramaturgical assistance The Theatre of Others has to offer can still be of help. While we encourage broad interpretation, the play’s relationship to this year’s prompt, “FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW,” should be recognizable.  Each playwright may submit only one proposal. Playwrights who submit more than one proposal or script will be disqualified.


How to apply

Email your submission to podcast@theatreofothers.com.


Submission should include the following:

  • Name of playwright and the working title of the play.

  • Name of director (if you have one at this time).

  • Names of any other artists currently attached to the project. 

  • A 100-250 word synopsis of the play, including how it relates to the theme of FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW.

  • 100-250 words on why this play is suited for the audio play format.

  • Resume for the playwright and director (if applicable).

  • A maximum 10-page writing sample. Playwrights who submit more than 10 pages will be disqualified. The sample can be either taken from a previous play or from the current proposed project. If the sample is from a previous play, please provide a 2-3 sentence synopsis of that play for context.



14. CINCINNATI LAB THEATRE NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: February 14th

WEBSITE: https://cincylabtheatre.wixsite.com/cincylab/submissions


 Cincinnati LAB Theatre is now planning its ninth producing season and accepting submissions to fill three original play readings and two fully staged workshop productions for its 2022 New Works Festival.  Cincinnati LAB Theatre will be producing these scripts over two weekends in a rotating festival format.  The workshop/rehearsal process for productions will begin on June 11, 2022.  Performance dates run July 21-30.

 

To be considered for a staged reading a playwright must submit an original, unpublished, fully realized script of at least 30 minutes in length. To be considered for a fully staged workshop production a playwright must submit an original, unpublished, fully realized script of at least 45min in length that has previously had at least one verifiable staged reading. Only plays allowing for 6 actors or less will be accepted. Erotica and pornography will not be considered. Playwrights must be available in person and/or by video conference for the entirety of the rehearsal/workshop process.  All playwrights must be present for at least one performance.  Plays previously produced as staged readings by Cincinnati LAB Theatre will be given special consideration for fully staged workshop productions.  Once scripts are chosen playwrights will be paired with a director and cast to fulfill the rehearsal/workshop process.  Directors and cast will be chosen by Cincinnati LAB Theatre.

Submissions for the two summer festival readings and the two summer festival productions will be accepted between November 26, 2021 and February 14, 2022. Submissions will be accepted by emailing a script to cincylabsubmit@gmail.com. Please attach the script to the email as a portable document file (.pdf). In the body of the email please include the playwright’s full contact information. Furthermore, if the play has been previously workshopped and/or had a staged reading, please provide all the pertinent details of the workshop and/or reading. Include in the subject line of your submission email: Submission-Playwright’s Name-Play Title. There is a $5 submission fee. This fee covers the cost to pay readers. Please submit your fee through Venmo to @CincyLAB. Kindly use the subject line from your submission email for the “What’s it for?” Please feel free to contact one of the artistic directors directly by emailing us at cincinnatilabtheatre@gmail.com  if you have any questions for concerns. 

 


15. GOOD HART ARTIST IN RESIDENCY PROGRAM

DEADLINE: February 16th

WEBSITE: https://goodhartartistresidency.org/program-details/

Residency includes:

  • A one- week, or two-week ,or three-week residency stay depending on the program selected.  Most residency time slots are two weeks long.

  • Use of the 1,150 sqft residence and a 24×14 detached studio(for visual artists).  Housekeeping services are not provided.

  • Food is provided.  The residence has a fully stocked and well equipped kitchen for the resident to prepare meals.  We provide homemade baked goods and jams,  locally sourced ingredients, and seasonal vegetables from the host’s garden when available.

  • $500.00 stipend

  • Must be over 21

  • Need to have completed an undergraduate degree in a related field and pursuing art, writing, or composing as a professional career or if self-taught have pursued art, writing, or composing as a professional career

  • Collaborating artists may apply and be accepted as collaborating artists who share studio space and housing.  Each must submit an application.

  • Artist’s and writer’s and composer’s applications will be considered based on their work submitted, their interest in the program, and the proposed collaboration with a partnering organization. 


16 SUSTAINABLE ARTS FOUNDATION

DEADLINE: Feb. 25th 

WEBSITE: https://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org


The mission of the Sustainable Arts Foundation is to provide financial awards to parents pursuing creative work. To that end, the foundation is inviting applications for its individual artist program. Through the program, unrestricted cash grants of $5,000 will be awarded to up to twenty artists and writers with children under the age of 18. Awards are based on demonstrated excellence within the discipline, and the foundation recommends that artists or writers who are beginning their creative careers not apply to this program.


Criteria: Writers may apply in one of the following categories: creative nonfiction; early and middle grade readers; fiction; graphic novel/graphic memoir; illustrated children's books; illustrated children's books (text only); long form journalism; playwriting; poetry; and young adult fiction. The foundation does not accept portfolios of academic writing, blog posts, cookbooks, film/video/tv, motivational writing, music/composition, newspaper articles, performing arts, plays/screenplays, reviews (of art exhibitions, films, books, etc.), self-help books, or travel or other kinds of guidebooks.


All submitted work must have been created since becoming a parent, and within the last five years.


Compensation: $5,000


17. THE VETERANS WRITING PROJECT

DEADLINE: February 28th

WEBSITE: https://wgfoundation.submittable.com/submit/a1583991-e9ed-4eb0-a43b-7c472c265748/veterans-writing-project-2022-23-application


The mission of the Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Project is to identify emerging writers from United States military backgrounds and provide them with the tools and insights to nurture their passion for writing and successfully navigate the entertainment industry.


We do this in three phases over a yearlong program: A weekend-long retreat, weekly Basic Course, and monthly follow-up workshops and special events. Each military veteran is matched with WGA members. Our writer-mentors represent some of the most beloved movies and television series of the past and present, and are committed to guiding the voices of the future.


Upon completion of the program, qualified participants will have the opportunity to pitch their finished screenplay to leading industry executives, managers, agents, and showrunners. 



18. KC MELTING POT THEATRE 

DEADLINE: Feb. 28th

WEBSITE: http://www.kcmeltingpot.com


Seeking full length plays by African-American playwrights. Three finalists will receive a staged reading during our new play festival in the summer of 2022 and judges will select one of those to receive a full production summer 2023 and $500 stipend. 


Plays can be about anything but we are not accepting musicals, children’s shows, or one-character shows. 

  • Please email submissions to newplays.kcmpt@gmail.com

  • Only one submission per playwright.

  • No plays that have been previously produced (previous readings are acceptable)

  • Finalists will be notified by email on or before May 1st, 2022.


19. THE BAU INSTITUTE ARTS RESIDENCY

DEADLINE: Feb.28th

WEBSITE: http://www.bauinstitute.org/


The BAU Institute welcomes multicultural and multidisciplinary artists to its 2022 summer residency. Hosted at the Camargo Foundation and located in the Mediterranean village of Cassis, France, it offers fellowship awards in visual arts, writing, performance and film. Apartments and workplaces at no cost, travel subsidies available.



20. NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB

DEADLINE: March 1st

WEBSITE: https://nama.media/7th-annual-virtual-native-american-tv-writers-lab-call-for-applications/


The 7th Annual NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB call for applications is now open. The lab is sponsored by Amazon Studios and Kung Fu Monkey Productions. The lab  is an online five-week intensive script writers program that prepares Native Americans for writing careers at major television networks. The lab takes place mid – April through late May of 2022 and offers 7 Native American writers an opportunity to participate. Each participant will complete an original pilot during the five-week program and receive feedback from peers and an experienced writing instructor.

During the virtual lab, fellows meet with executives and literary representation from several of our industry partners. Scripts from the lab are read by several of our network and studio partners as well as being included in the Native Writes database. The Native American TV Writers lab will culminate in a pitch workshop during the 16th Annual LA SKINS FEST in November, 2022.  Each Native writer will pitch their scripts to creative executives from numerous production entities. Past executives have come from Bad Robot, Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros. and United Talent Agency.

The Native American TV Writers Lab was created in accordance with the Barcid Goundation’s mission to improve media portrayals of native americans and to increase the number of native americans employed in all facets of the media industry. The lab is designed to familiarize participants with the format, characters and storyline structure of television. The five-week, total immersion workshop will be mentored and guided by an experienced writer with industry credits. The lab will be conducted virtually with a maximum of 7 writers accepted and will consist of group discussions, one on one meetings and workshops. One of the main components to be introduced is the writers room. This is an opportunity to have each participant’s script offered up in a professional capacity as a new television script. All of the writers will participate in offering ideas, suggestions, and thoughts on making each script a strong piece. The goal is that the writers garner the skills necessary to obtain employment in the industry.


21. THE CREATIVE CAPITAL AWARD

DEADLINE: Open March 1st-April 1st

WEBSITE: https://creative-capital.org/about-the-creative-capital-award-open/


Creative Capital provides grants to support the creation of groundbreaking art by innovative and adventurous artists across the country through our national, open call process. Grants are awarded through an annual competition open to citizens, permanent residents, and O-1 visa holders of the United States. We are committed to funding and supporting conceptually and formally challenging, risk-taking, never-before-seen projects. Innovation is our primary selection criterion, and our focus on championing groundbreaking projects and ideas distinguishes Creative Capital from other granting organizations. While selecting projects that are genre-stretching and adventurous is at the core of our mission, we welcome multidisciplinary projects as well as projects that push boundaries within a single genre. 


Awardees receive direct project funding in varying amounts up to $50,000, advisory services, and a community of fellow awardees and other professionals who may provide additional support for the project. Creative Capital is fiercely committed to groundbreaking ideas that challenge what art can be. As countless visionary projects selected for the Creative Capital Awards have demonstrated, socially impactful ideas are embedded in the work of forward-thinking artists in a myriad of forms, often with the goal of imagining new forms of living. 


  • Performing Arts: including dance, theatre, music, jazz, sound, non-traditional opera, multimedia performance, and socially engaged and/or sustainable performance-based practices

  • Technology: including digital art, gaming, interdisciplinary arts, AR, VR, or XR, bio art, AI, data visualization, net art, new genres, and socially engaged and/or sustainable technology-based practices

  • Literature: including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, genre-defying literary work, and socially engaged and/or sustainable text-based practices


Along with your project title, one line project description (25 words max), project description (250 words max), resume, and artist website (if applicable), please answer the following questions:


  1. How does your project take an original and imaginative approach to content and form? Please be as specific as possible. (150 words)

  2. Please place your work in context so we may better evaluate it. What are the main influences upon your work as an artist? How does your past work inform your current project? Please use concrete examples, which may include other artists’ work, art movements, cultural heritage, science, philosophy, research/work from outside the arts field, etc. (150 words)

  3. What kind of impact—artistic, intellectual, communal, civic, social, political, environmental, etc.—do you hope your project will have? What strategies will you employ to achieve the desired impact? (100 words)

  4. Who are the specific audiences/communities that you hope to engage through this project? Please think beyond the broader art community where possible. How are you hoping to reach them? (100 words)

  5. How might your proposed project act as a catalyst for your artistic and professional growth? In what ways is it a pivotal moment in your practice? (100 words)

  6. In addition to funding, Creative Capital also provides scaffolding and support services for awardees (such as expert consultations, gatherings/retreat, alumni network, workshops). How would our non-monetary services help you to realize your goals for this project and/or your long-term artistic and professional growth? (100 words)


22. THE PLAYWRIGHTS' CENTER'S CORE APPRENTICE PROGRAM

DEADLINE: March 4th

WEBSITE: https://pwcenter.org/programs/core-apprentice?mc_cid=6a31d4bc7b&mc_eid=7ef197c927


The Playwrights' Center's Core Apprentice program is offered in partnership with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Each year the Playwrights' Center will offer fully funded play development workshops for three student playwrights combined with a nine-month mentorship with a professional playwright. 


Eligibility:


  1. Any current student (graduate or undergraduate) or recent grad from a New Plays on Campus (NPOC) Member School may apply for the Core Apprentice program. Schools will no longer be limited to three students, and there is no need for a faculty nomination, only a letter of recommendation from someone chosen by the applicant. 

  2. Recent grads are eligible to apply for the Core Apprentice program up to one year after they graduate. This means that anyone who graduated in 2021 from a New Plays on Campus school is eligible to apply for the 2022-23 Core Apprentice program.


The three writers selected for the Core Apprentice development experience will receive: a professional mentorship with an established playwright who will read the student's work, provide career advice, and serve as a connection to the field; recognition on the Playwrights' Center website and consulting opportunities with Playwrights' Center artistic staff; Playwrights' Center Membership for two years; professional development and educational opportunities; an intensive workshop with professional actors, a dramaturg, and a director; a $500 stipend for the workshop in March 2023. Applicants do not need to be residents of Minnesota.


Each application will contain the following pieces:

-Application Form (including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information)

-Professional Resume

Include a professional resume that details work, education, and life experiences that are relevant to this opportunity.

-One-page Artistic Statement

This is a one-page artistic statement written by you describing how the Core Apprenticeship (which includes a nine-month mentorship, career development and educational opportunities, and a professional workshop) would be transformative for you as an artist. What goals would you hope to achieve by the end of this apprenticeship?

-Script Sample

Please submit a 15- to 25-page sample of the script that you are proposing to workshop. Please include a brief play synopsis and casting description at the beginning of the sample. Be sure your name and the play title are on the cover page. All script submissions must be written only by the applicant—no co-written submissions will be accepted. Scripts for musicals may be submitted by the book writer only. If you advance to the finalist round, you will be asked for the full script, but please only submit a play for which you have a complete, full-length draft. Full-length plays are defined as those that run at least one hour in performance.

-One Letter of Recommendation


Questions may be addressed to University Programs and Partnerships Assistant Shalee Mae Cole MauleĆ³n at shaleec@pwcenter.org.



23. THE STOCHASTIC LABS

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: https://stochasticlabs.org/residencies/


The Stochastic Labs offers fully-sponsored residencies to engineers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Residencies include a private apartment at the mansion, co-working and/or dedicated work space, shop access, a $1,000 monthly stipend and a budget for materials.


24. THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants/


Created in 1993 to further FCA's mission to encourage, sponsor, and promote work of a contemporary, experimental nature, Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists who:


  • Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding

  • Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates


Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad.VEach month FCA receives an average of 95 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 12-15 grants. Grants range in amount from $500 to $3,000, and the average grant is now $1,700. We recommend that artists review all of our eligibility guidelines and FAQs before applying. You may also complete our Eligibility Questionnaire, but please note that the questionnaire is not a substitute for a thorough review of program guidelines.


25. THEATRE ARIEL OPEN SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: Open

WEBSITE: http://www.theatreariel.org/opportunities


Theatre Ariel is always seeking the next great Jewish play to present to our audiences. Theatre Ariel is looking for plays that engage with the rich world of Jewish life, thought and practice; plays where Judaism, Jewish identity or Jewish perspectives are significant or driving factors in the story (In other words, not plays where the characters ‘happen’ to be Jewish or that have a few yiddishisms or “Jewish jokes” in them, but plays where Jewish life/thought/history is integral or particularly relevant to the story.). Theatre Ariel seeks plays with casts of five actors or less.


You do not have to be Jewish to have your work considered by Theatre Ariel. 


All our performances are presented as salon-style theatre readings in people’s homes, following a long tradition of Jewish theatre. For the foreseeable future, we will be presenting in a hybrid model of both in-person and virtual performances. To have your script considered, please email the following to submissions@theatreariel.org


Brief cover letter introducing yourself and your play, as well as a short plot summary and character breakdown (indicating doubling, if any)


Ten minute excerpt from the script (if these are not the first ten pages, then please supply a brief explanation of where we are in the story when your sample picks up)


Theatre Ariel is committed to reading and responding to every submission we receive. Please allow three to six months for a response. Please forward any questions you may have to the same email address listed above.



26. DRAMATISTS GUILD FOUNDATION EMERGENCY GRANTS

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE: https://dgf.org/programs/grants/grants-for-writers/


It is vital to support writers in times of need so that they can get back to doing what they do best. DGF provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.

If you are a writer in need, we can help.

 

 

27. THE DOROTHY ROSS FRIEDMAN RESIDENCE

DEADLINE: Rolling 

WEBSITE:  https://actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/housing-resource-center?mc_cid=1266183bf9&mc_eid=7436d341a2

and

https://actorsfund.org/sites/default/files/Friedman-Application-Revision-7-21-20.pdf?mc_cid=1266183bf9&mc_eid=7436d341a2


If you think you are eligible, now is a fabulous time to apply to The Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence. The Friedman is a shared housing (roommates) residence that offers affordable housing for working professionals in performing arts and entertainment, persons with HIV/AIDS, and senior citizens (60 years of age or older). Most of the apartments are 2-bedrooms, where you would have one roommate and there are a few 3-bedrooms, where you would have two roommates.  All tenants have a rent stabilized lease. All apartments are complete with dishwasher, washer/dryer, central heating, and AC. Many apartments have terraces with spectacular Manhattan views, and everyone has access to the Colleen Dewhurst Community Room and the newly renovated Bette Midler Rooftop and Garden. On-site social services include a range of community programs and the Waldman Living Room for seniors. The Friedman Residence also features 24-hour security.

 Criteria: Income Eligibility: 1-person household: $28,500 - $47,760


 

28. WILD CULTURE PROGRAM @ WILD PROJECT

DEADLINE: Rolling

WEBSITE:  http://thewildproject.com/wild-culture-submit-page/


Wild Project is currently accepting artist submissions for its WILD CULTURE curation program. WILD CULTURE will produce the work of 15-20 artists, prioritizing projects by female, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists, across theatre, performance art, music, visual art, and dance later this spring and summer. This program embraces the work of independent performance artists and productions to give these performers free access to valuable resources like wild project’s 89-seat theater and more. Curated artists will also have the option to live stream and/or film their work with our film production equipment and digital distribution platform. Wild Culture is primarily suited for work that is already more developed or previously workshopped. Wild Culture, launched in 2018, gives artists much-needed production support at an important time in their development. It strongly encourages artists whose projects address important issues like social justice, gender identity, equality, mental health, and climate change to submit their work.  


29. LONG WHARF THEATRE LITERARY PROGRAM & NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT

DEADLINE: Year round

WEBSITE: https://longwharf.org/casting-and-literary


Long Wharf Theatre has a proud and rich history of forming meaningful relationships with artists, supporting the development of their work, and moving their projects towards production. We are particularly interested in incubating new pieces that center BIPOC voices, push form, and feature innovative dramaturgy. We are also eager to support projects that originate with artists other than playwrights, such as designers, directors, dramaturgs, and activists. Many of these works have become part of the modern American canon with more than thirty Long Wharf Theatre productions transferred to Broadway or Off-Broadway runs.


We are revitalizing our commitment to playwrights at all stages in their careers, and are now welcoming scripts from unrepresented playwrights as well as agents.


Email scripts to: literary@longwharf.org


Type of Materials: Full-length, One act, 10-minute scripts, musicals, adaptations, translations, virtual/Zoom plays.


JOB OPPS:


Hedgerow seeks a strategic and collaborative Director of Development to lead all fundraising and engagement efforts on behalf of the organization. Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Artistic Director this position serves as a key member of the senior management team. The Director of Development creates and implements the annual development plan and will lead the theatre’s 100th anniversary fundraising campaign. The 100th season spans September 2022 – August 2023.


Joining a modest-but-mighty staff, the Director of Development will provide strategic leadership for all Hedgerow fundraising activities, including: individual and institutional giving; the 100th Anniversary campaign; major gift initiatives; and institutional grantwriting and reporting. A passion for the performing arts, especially theatre, is critical to success, as is the fundamental belief that the arts are for all members of society.



We are looking for someone who enjoys the puzzle of campaign planning, the challenge of pursuing and achieving ambitious fundraising goals, the opportunity to establish institutional systems all in collaboration with a team of proactive partners, including staff and Board.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer with a highly organized work style, including very strong attention to detail (they are the person catching the punctuation errors in this posting!). This individual possesses a level of ease engaging in meaningful conversations in support of the mission of the organization, a proven track record of success securing contributions, and has a meaningful connection to this region.

The Director of Development is a full-time, temporary position (with the possibility to become a permanent position) and includes a combination of in person and remote working with a flexible schedule. Salary range is $45,000 – 50,000, with two weeks of paid vacation.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, two writing samples and three references to company@hedgerowtheatre.org.



School for Participation / Aaron Landsman

Al11@princeton.edu

Apply here: https://start.princeton.edu


We are seeking a candidate for a new fellowship in entrepreneurship at Princeton called Start.

The fellow will learn, do research and help build a new startup business – either for- or non-

profit - that offers transformative civic education to schools. The ideal candidate will have a

master’s degree (in any field), will be curious about new business models, and will be early in a career as an entrepreneur.


The way it works is: the fellow receives a year of mentorship and training on campus, and is

paid $65,000 plus benefits for that time. At the end of that phase, Princeton puts in significant

startup capital to launch the new organization. While the main thrust of the Start program is

science-based, Princeton has asked playwright Aaron Landsman, also a lecturer at Princeton,

to nominate a Start candidate who could work with him on School for Participation.

School for Participation. This work began as a theater piece Aaron and director Mallory Catlett presented in five US cities. That piece – literally called City Council Meeting - invited audience members to perform excerpts of local government meetings from across the country. It modeled ways to engage creatively with bureaucracy and put young people in dialogue with elected officials. We are now developing a dynamic, flexible curriculum based on City Council Meeting for middle, high school and college students, through which students use our structure to create localized performances of power. The central proposition of our work mirrors that of democracy itself: each of us is as qualified to lead as anyone else.





Get What You Want: April 2024

  1. PAC NYC- THE DEMOCRACY CYCLE DEADLINE: April 1, 2024 WEBSITE: www.pacnyc.org/the-democracy-cycle-submission-guidelines/ Over a 5-year p...