Gotthold Ephraim LESSING
"Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases, think for yourself."---Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Born: January 22, 1729
Died: February 15, 1781
More than just a week! Lessing Travel Grant Fundraiser will be Sunday, January 14th - Saturday, January 20th, 2024. Our goal is to raise funds to be used for Early Career Dramaturg travel grants!
On January 22, 2024, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing – the world’s first dramaturg -- would have turned 295!
Every year, to celebrate his birthday, LMDA holds a fundraiser to fund our annual Early Career Dramaturg travel grants. These grants promote the future of our, and Lessing's, field by providing travel grants for emerging dramaturgs to participate in our annual Conference and other activities with the hopes that they will blossom, thrive, and be at the forefront of our evolving field.
To be eligible to receive the Lessing travel grants, dramaturgs must be LMDA members, less than 2 years out from undergrad or graduate school, and not be employees of an organization that could otherwise fund their travel. Though the amount varies based on the conference location and distance the applicant would travel, these grants designed to fund the recipient’s travel, housing, and registration.
Why is Lessing Week Important?
"As someone early in my dramaturgy career, attending the LMDA conference was particularly useful for meeting new colleagues and potential mentors as I forge my professional identity and investigate what really interests me in my field. Without the ECD Travel Grant from the LMDA, I would have missed out on a valuable opportunity to create the time and space to discuss my present interests and long-term career as a dramaturg with a group of invested and supportive collaborators." -Jolenne Noelle, Grant Recipient
Please join us in supporting both individual dramaturgs and the future of our field by donating today!