The 2013-2014 Many Voices Fellowships/ Mentorships for Playwrights of Color (up to $6,900 stipend | US)

Deadline: 7 February 2013 (applications open in early September 2012)

The Playwrights' Center is proud to announce a dramatic expansion of the Many Voices Fellowship.

The 2013-14 Fellowship will offer a doubled award and, for the first time in the history of the Many Voices program, will be open to writers of color residing outside of Minnesota.

Supported by a grant from The Jerome Foundation, the Playwrights' Center's Many Voices program is designed to increase cultural diversity in the contemporary theater, both locally and nationally, through cash grants, education, and opportunities to develop new work with theater professionals.

MANY VOICES FELLOWSHIPS

The Many Voices Fellowship is designed to significantly benefit early-career writers of color with previous playwriting experience and/or training.

Many Voices Fellowships are awarded annually to two artists of color with previous playwriting experience and/or training. In response to a national field study commissioned by the Playwrights' Center and the Jerome Foundation in 2011, the Many Voices Fellowships will be significantly expanded in the upcoming 2013-14 fellowship year, offering a doubled award and opening to writers of color residing outside of Minnesota.

BENEFITS

• Current (2012-13) Fellowship Year: In the current fellowship year, two Minnesota-based playwrights of color received a $5,650 stipend and an additional $1,250 to be applied toward the cost of developing new work.
• Upcoming (2013-14) Fellowship Year: Following an extensive national field study seeking feedback from playwrights, theater leaders and program alumni, the Playwrights' Center and Jerome Foundation dramatically re-envisioned the Many Voices Fellowship. The 2013-14 Fellowship will differ from the current iteration in a number of significant ways.
• One fellowship will be awarded to a Minnesota playwright, and one fellowship will be awarded to either a Minnesota or national playwright. Both Many Voices Fellowships will provide a $10,000 stipend, an additional $2,500 for living expenses, and $1,500 in play development funds. The Fellowship will also focus more heavily on building connections with theater leaders and companies in the Twin Cities and nationwide.

Many Voices Fellows participate in monthly meetings facilitated by Many Voices Program Coordinator Christina Ham to share works-in-progress and receive feedback in preparation for a developmental workshop. Fellows have many opportunities to build connections with local theater artists toward future development and production. Fellows also receive a free two-year Playwrights' Center membership and access to other services and opportunities through the Playwrights' Center.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants for the Many Voices Fellowship may not have had more than one play produced by professional theaters at the time of application. These productions are defined as such where the author and/or primary artists (actors, directors, creative collaborators) were compensated, and received at least ten public performances. Ten-minute or one-act plays and university, college, secondary school, amateur, and Equity showcase/waiver productions are not considered full productions.
• Previous Many Voices participants (including multi-year participants) are eligible to apply.
• Current or past Playwrights' Center Core Writers, Jerome fellows, or any McKnight playwriting fellows are not eligible to apply.
• If desired, a Many Voices fellow may reapply for a second year, though the Fellowship may only be repeated once.
• Many Voices Fellowships are available to artists of color, 21 years of age or older, who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
• Students in K-12 educational programs or enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs are not eligible.

CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Recipients must maintain residency in Minnesota and within 75 miles of the Twin Cities during the grant year (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014).
• Fellowship recipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships or grants during the grant year.
• Recipients are required to participate actively in Playwrights' Center programs during the grant year; including possible teaching and community engagement.
• Fellowship period begins July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014. All fellowship requirements must be met during that time.

Application forms will be available in early September. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Administrator Laura Leffler-McCabe.

MANY VOICES MENTORSHIPS

Two Many Voices Mentorships are awarded annually to Minnesota-based beginning playwrights of color. Many Voices Mentorship focus on the nuts and bolts of playwriting through a curated package of writing and development services intended to aid the participant toward the completion of a play script. Mentorships provide a $1,000 stipend and other benefits.

Many Voices Mentorships are awarded annually to two Minnesota-based artists of color with little or no previous playwriting experience. Mentorships focus on the nuts and bolts of playwriting through a curated package of services intended to aid the participant toward the completion of a play script.

BENEFITS

Mentorships provide a $1,000 stipend as well as free access to a number of services designed to introduce beginning playwrights to the craft of playwriting. These services include two six-week classes taught by leading playwriting professionals, an array of one-night seminars, a One-on-One with a Dramaturg session, a Member Stage Reading, and a two-year Playwrights' Center membership. Mentorship recipients attend quarterly meetings with Many Voices Program Coordinator Christina Ham as well as scheduled consultations with other Playwrights' Center artistic staff.

ELIGIBILITY

• Current or past Playwrights' Center Core Writers or recipients of other Playwrights' Center Fellowships are not eligible to apply.
• Participants may apply to repeat the Mentorship for a second year if desired. Artists may not receive this award more than twice.
• Many Voices Mentorships are available to artists of color who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
• Students in K-12 educational programs are ineligible. Students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs are eligible, provided the artist maintains a current and active professional practice of creating and presenting work to the public.

CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Recipients must maintain residency in Minnesota and within 75 miles of the Twin Cities during the grant year (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014).
• Fellowship recipients may not receive any other Playwrights' Center fellowships or grants during the grant year.
• Recipients are encouraged to participate actively in Playwrights' Center programs during the grant year; including community engagement.
• Fellowship period begins July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014. All fellowship requirements must be met during that time.

Application forms will be available in early September. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Administrator Laura Leffler-McCabe.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: laural@pwcenter.org

For submissions: check this page in September for the application forms and submission instructions

Website: http://www.pwcenter.org/