The ECD Residency Grant

The formerly known Residency Grant now has a focus on Early Career Dramaturgs: This is now an opportunity for an artist or dramaturg, who self-identifies as being early in their career, to assist a mentor dramaturg in a professional setting. The applicant is expected to partner with an organization of their choice to serve on a theatrical production. The Early Career Dramaturgical Residency Grant opens itself to anyone regardless of age, education, social location, experience, background, and career goals. This opportunity values the applicant’s aspirations to grow and their dreams to give back. 

There is no application fee. Candidates will be evaluated through an anonymous application process. Applications will be accepted from November 2, 2026, 12:00 AM through November 30, 2026, 11:59 PM PST. All applicants will be notified of the panel decision, and the winner will be notified by December 21, 2026.

Grant Amount: $1,500 to support your time, transportation, and service to the production 

Proposal Prompts:

  • Why this organization (up to 200 words)?
  • Why this play and/or why this dramaturg (up to 200 words)? 
  • Describe the time frame for your collaboration, including pre-production, rehearsal, and post-production (up to 200 words). 
  • How do you identify yourself as early in your career (up to 200 words)?
  • What are your larger career goals (up to 200 words)? 
  • Please attach a signed Letter of Intent from a representative of the partnering organization to demonstrate how they’ll welcome you in and illustrate their expectations (one page).

Application Guidelines 

  1. For the purposes of this application, if you self-identify as a dramaturg, you are a dramaturg. If you come from a culture that does not view dramaturgy as separate from other parts of the creative process, or does not have a word for dramaturgy, feel free to contact us at awards@lmda.org to have a conversation about how you and everyone around you commits acts of dramaturgy.
  2. Only one application per person.
  3. You have up to 200 words to answer each question. There will be equal consideration for what and how you write, therefore feel free to be yourself. Within the previously stated boundaries, say as much or as little as you need to be clear.
  4. At this time, we do not have the capability to review secondary materials such as videos or slideshows. Although their inclusion will not disqualify an application, they will not be reviewed. No letters of reference are needed – nor will they be read if sent. 
  5. Please be honest in your identification as early-career. We hold an inclusive space for individuals who present themselves as such, and trust each applicant to sincerely share their history. 
  6. Send in two files in PDF form to awards@lmda.org, one with your anonymous grant proposal and another with your contact information. You may reference the partnering organization and your identities freely, only please keep your name hidden in your proposal. Please name the files “ECD RG Proposal” and “ECD Contact”. 
  7. Your proposal must be for the residency to take place between January 1 and December 31, 2027. However, if your partnership begins slightly before or after those dates, we can accommodate.
  8. We’ll hope to see a bi-weekly page report during your production’s rehearsal process on how you’re growing.
  9. The grant recipient is required to sit on the next year’s adjudication panel.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Marjan Moosavi, VP of Grants and Awards, at awards@lmda.org

If you don’t receive an acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact admin@lmda.org.

We look forward to your application!

 

Contact Information Form:

Organization Information

Name of Organization:

Mailing Address:

Phone: ______________ Web Site:  _______________

Representative Contact & Title 

______________________________

Contact Phone: ___________ Email: ____________________

Organization’s Mission Statement:

Dramaturg Information

Please also attach a current bio or résumé. We will not discriminate based on experience or lack thereof.

Name of Dramaturg: ___________

Phone: ______________ Email: __________________

LMDA Member Status: ___________

Previous Recipients

2023

Dalyla McGee

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