Introducing the Mid-Career Dramaturg Travel Grants

Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of America is excited to announce a new grant opportunity geared toward mid-career dramaturgs. 

This is a new opportunity in 2026 for an artist or dramaturg, who self-identifies as being mid-career, to apply for funding to support travel to attend the 2026 LMDA Conference retreat in New Haven, Connecticut (June 12 - 14, 2026), hosted by the David Geffen Yale School of Drama.

The MCD Travel Grants are generously supported by funds from Play On! Shakespeare. As a benefit of the award and demonstration of Play On! Shakespeare’s commitment to furthering professional development for mid-career dramaturgs, all MCD Travel grantees will participate in Play On! workshops in the fall. LMDA is incredibly grateful to partner with Play On! Shakespeare to support Mid-Career Dramaturgs and to fill a gap in the field by providing much-needed resources for these dramaturgs.

For the purposes of this award, Mid-Career Dramaturgs are defined as having several years of sustained practice and a growing body of work, including workshops or professional productions. They may have regional or national recognition and are actively expanding their artistic networks and opportunities, though they may still be developing visibility or access in certain areas. This is a dramaturg who has also had significant success in certain areas (established) while pursuing growth in others (emerging).. MCDs have been consistently active in the field following their initial dramaturgy training and have contributed to the health of the field, whether that be in new play development, curation, academia, or a combination of these based on skill set and interest. 

Mid-career is not a metric of “success.” The following are some examples, but by no means an exhaustive list, of what an MCD’s career path may have included:

• received a significant national or regional prize or fellowship
• worked on a Broadway script
• worked on a primary production at a League of Resident Theatres (LORT)* C or above, or 
• led a new works festival/program at a national or regional incubator. 

If you are unsure whether you are Mid-Career or have questions about how LMDA is defining this career stage, we welcome you to contact us at president@lmda.org and awards@lmda.org for a conversation about how and why you may be an MCD. 

The Mid-Career Dramaturg Travel Grant awards are meant to help offset the costs associated with traveling to the LMDA Conference; it is not intended to cover the costs associated with accommodations and meals. Mid-Career Dramaturgs from anywhere in the world are encouraged to apply – there is no geographic criteria for how far or by what means a person must travel to attend the conference. While we will likely receive more applications than we are able to fund, we hope that these grants will allow a few MCDs the opportunity to attend the conference at a pivotal or meaningful point in their careers. 

The grant opens itself to all LMDA members regardless of age, education, social location, experience, and background (if membership cost is a barrier, please reach out to the LMDA President at president@lmda.org).

There is no application fee. Applications will be accepted from March 6, 2026, 12:00 AM through March 25, 2026, 11:59 PM PST. All applicants will be notified of their status by mid-April, 2026. 

Application Guidelines

1. For 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, still feel free to apply. At LMDA, we believe that dramaturgy is inherently collaborative and intersectional and contact us at president@lmda.org to have a conversation about how you and everyone around you commits acts of dramaturgy.
2. Only one application per person.
3. Although we welcome applicants from anywhere in the world, we can only process applications in English and Spanish currently.
4. You have up to 250-500 words to answer each question. There will be equal consideration for what and how you write; therefore, feel free to be yourself. Say as much or as little as you need to be clear within the previously stated boundaries.
5. At this time, we cannot 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.
6. Please be honest in your identification as mid-career. We hold an inclusive space for individuals who present themselves as such and trust each applicant to share their history sincerely. 
7. Please submit your information through this form.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Alexandra Juckno, VP of Grants & Awards, at awards@lmda.org. If you don't receive an acknowledgment of your application within 48 hours, please contact admin@lmda.org.

We look forward to your application!