Playwrights’ Center
/OVERVIEW: The Playwrights’ Center supports playwrights in all stages of their careers. The state of Minnesota is an area of grantmaking priority.
IP TAKE: The Playwrights’ Center focuses on “inclusive theater-making” and envisions “an equitable, empathetic, and boundlessly imaginative world.” Its grantmaking programs generally support playwrights, although they do provide some limited funding for other types of theater artists. This funder takes a strong interest in BIPOC writers, developing new talent and supporting the production of plays that are bold and innovative.
This is a great source of funding and mentoring for playwrights at any stage of their careers, but several programs require Minnesota residency. The center generally accepts applications, but requires nominations in a few cases. Reach out with questions at any time; this is an approachable organization with a great deal to offer theater professionals in Minnesota and beyond.
PROFILE: Created in 1971, the Playwrights’ Center is based in Minneapolis and provides artistic and professional support to playwrights at all stages of their careers. According to its mission statement, the Center “sustains, develops, and advocates for playwrights and their work to realize their full artistic potential.” It has helped to promote and champion playwrights and theater artists, including: August Wilson, Lee Blessing, Suzan-Lori Parks, Jordan Harrison, Carlyle Brown, Craig Lucas, Jeffrey Hatcher, Melanie Marnich and Kira Obolensky.
Its grantmaking programs generally prioritize playwrights, although they do provide some funding for other kinds of theater artists. In addition to grants, fellowships and residencies, this funder supports playwrights and other theater professionals and students through several membership programs, including seminars, workshops and mentoring groups.
Grants for Theater and Writing
The Playwright’s Center runs the following grant and fellowship programs:
The Core Writer program supports diverse established playwrights “who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence.” These grants are for three years, but grantees are allowed to reapply for additional terms. The program includes development workshops and collaborations with directors, actors, dramaturgs, and designers.
The Jerome Fellowship supports early career playwrights with extraordinary potential. Fellows receive an $25,000 stipend and $3,000 in development funds. The fellowship includes a year residency in Minnesota and workshops with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors. It also includes collaborations with the center’s artistic staff, “some of the most experienced and connected theater professionals in the country.” To be eligible, applicants may not have had more than two works professionally produced.
The Many Voices program supports early-career Black playwrights, playwrights of color, and/or Indigenous playwrights. It consists of fellowships and mentorships. The fellowships support two early-career playwrights of color with a $25,000 stipend and $3,000 in development funds. The mentorship supports one Minnesota-based playwright of color with a $2,000 stipend, $700 toward work development and access to over $1,500 in Center services for early-career playwrights.
The McKnight Fellowships in Playwrighting support mid-career playwrights based in Minnesota. Fellows receive a $25,000 stipend, $2,500 for professional development, and $1,400 in travel funds. Applicants must have had at least one work produced by a professional theater. Students are ineligible; professional playwrights only.
The McKnight National Residency and Commission programs supports an established playwright from outside Minnesota with a year-long residency. Recipients receive a $15,000 commission, at lest two round-trip plane tickets within the US, housing during the residency, up to $5,750 in workshop funds, and a public reading of the commissioned work. Students are ineligible; professional playwrights only.
The Core Apprentice program supports three students from schools with the New Plays on Campus program. Recipients receive a nine-month mentorship with a professional playwright and a workshop to help develop their new play. This program is conducted in collaboration with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and reserves one of the three apprenticeships is reserved for a Kennedy Center program awardee.
The McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships support non-playwright theater artists with a $25,000 grant. Recipients must be Minnesota-based, mid-career theater professionals. The center encourages applicants to reach out and review application tips before applying.
The center’s newest program is its Venturous Playwright Fellowship. Funded by the Tides Foundation, the fellowship aims to help “writers achieve the freedom to write plays they fear would otherwise go unproduced.” The center describes venturous plays as those that are “formally adventurous,” “epic in scope” and “full of bold ideas.” Fellows receive stipends o $25,000 a year for two years, plus “over $15,000 in developmental and holistic support,” including costs associated with attending the annual Playlabs Festival. Additionally, theaters that choose to produce venturous plays are eligible for subsidies of up to $75,000. Applicants must be nominated for this program.
Important Grant Details
The Playwrights’ Center makes grants totaling around $400,000 each year. Grant and fellowships are paid in set amounts per program.
Each program has its own deadlines and application requirements, so grant seekers should read over the expectations for each program individually. The center generally runs open applications, but some opportunities require residency in the state of Minnesota, while other require nomination prior to application. Applicants may apply for multiple fellowships and mentorships in a given year. Contact artistic programs administrator Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org with questions. Apply here.
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