Out of all the fellowships I have been lucky enough to receive, the McKnight felt most like a call to action. It was the one that indicated a shift from emerging to mid, from theory and dreaming to full blown practice. It demanded I not only envision where I wanted to take my career but do that work with every resource the McKnight provided for me.
McKnight Fellowships in Playwriting
The McKnight Foundation, a family foundation based in Minnesota, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive.
The McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting recognizes and supports mid-career playwrights living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained body of work, commitment to their craft, and distinct artistic vision.
The fellowship which runs July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 includes: a $25,000 stipend, an additional $2,500 to support a play development workshop and other professional expenses, and $1,400 in travel funds. At the end of the fellowship term, all fellows will become Affiliated Writers of Playwrights’ Center.
Playwrights’ Center IS NOT currently accepting applications for the McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting.
Eligibility
Applicants must be over the age of 18 and must reside in and have the legal right to work in the U.S. during the fellowship term (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). Applicants must have been continuous residents of Minnesota since at least January 8, 2025 and must maintain residency in Minnesota during the fellowship year. Applicants must have had a minimum of one work fully produced by a professional theater at the time of application. Productions that open after the application deadline do not count. Recipients of 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships in any discipline are not eligible. Full-time students are not eligible. Staff and board members of the McKnight Foundation and Playwrights’ Center and their immediate family members are not eligible. Fellowship recipients may not receive any other Playwrights’ Center fellowships, grants, or Core Writer program benefits during the grant year. If a recipient is a Core Writer, the Core term will be extended by one year. Applicants may only apply for one McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowship each year in any of the disciplines listed below.
The McKnight Fellowship disciplines include: Printmaking (Highpoint Center), Book Arts (MCBA), Fiber Arts (Textile Center), Choreographers and Dancers (Springboard for the Arts), Media Artists (FilmNorth), Visual Artists (MCAD), Ceramics (NCC), Composers (ACF), Musicians (MacPhail Center), Writers (the Loft), Playwrights (Playwrights’ Center), Theater Artists (Playwrights’ Center), Culture Bearers (Indigenous Roots), and Community-Engaged Artists (Pillsbury House).
Past recipients include: Martha Boesing, Carlyle Brown, Laurie Carlos, Ping Chong, Migdalia Cruz, Christopher Durang, Marvin González De León, Amlin Gray, Christina Ham, Gethsemane Herron, Kim Hines, Sherry Kramer, Basil Kreimendahl, Carson Kreitzer, Cristina Luzárraga, Jose Rivera, Harrison David Rivers, Tori Sampson, Deborah Stein, Katie Ka Vang, Paula Vogel, Mac Wellman, and Rhiana Yazzie.
McKnight Foundation Community Values
The McKnight Foundation and the administering partners for the McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships are committed to creating and supporting an artistic community in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. The community of the McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships includes people who engage with the fellowships program whether as applicants, fellows, panelists, contractors, collaborators, fellowships administrators, and staff of the McKnight Foundation and partnering organizations. As a community, we commit to creating and maintaining relationships that are free from harm, prejudice, and harassment. Community members agree to communicate directly and transparently regarding issues of conduct that could negatively impact the well-being of participating members and organizations. In the case of an accusation, legal action, or conviction, the McKnight Foundation and its fellowship program partners may gather and assess relevant information. If deemed necessary, the McKnight Foundation and its fellowship program partners may take administrative action up to and including the recommendation of participation in reconciliation or restorative justice processes; disqualification of an application; the termination of a contract; and the recall and/or termination of a fellowship. This community will be what we make it and our aim is to collectively create an experience in which all artists and members of the McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships community thrive.
Application Materials
NOTE: The primary language used by evaluators during the selection process is English. If a text intentionally does not include an English translation, a line of context may be helpful to an evaluator but is not necessary. Playwrights’ Center acknowledges this is an ethnocentric practice. While most Fellowship activities and engagements are conducted in English, Playwrights’ Center staff are available to discuss additional support and resources as necessary.
01
Application form
Including contact details, eligibility, and demographic information
02
Playwriting resumé
Please note clearly which productions listed on your resumé (if any) meet the criteria for being “fully produced by a professional theater.” Professional productions are defined as full length productions—running at least 45 minutes in performance— for which the author and primary artists (actors, directors, and creative collaborators) were reasonably compensated and that received at least three public performances each. Ten-minute or one-act plays and university, college, secondary school, and amateur productions are not considered full professional productions. Productions that open after January 8, 2026 do not count, opera librettos do not count, and co-written or ensemble-created works do not count.
03
Artistic statement
One page
Use this one-page statement to describe your artistic goals and vision as a theater maker. This is also an opportunity to provide context for the play you submitted and discuss how it fits into your larger body of work and how you envision your work developing. Please also discuss how you hope to take advantage of the fellowship resources.
04
Full-length play script
Please be sure that your name and the play title appear on the cover page. A full-length play generally runs at least 45 minutes. If you are hoping to submit a script that is shorter than 45 minutes in length, please contact Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org to discuss. All script submissions must be written only by the applicant—no co-written submissions will be accepted. Scripts for musicals may be submitted by the book writer only. If you have previously received a McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowship in any discipline, this script must have been completed after that fellowship year. For example, if you received a McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting in 2009-10, the script you submit must have been completed after 2010.
NOTE: If you are planning to apply with a musical, please be aware that only text submissions are allowed. We do not accept any audio files or links to external websites, and evaluators will be instructed to not seek out any demos or audio tracks related to submitted scripts. We recommend that you consider the strength of just the text of your piece—separate from any music or other elements—as you select which piece to submit.
05
References
Please list two individuals who are familiar with your work as a playwright and whom we may contact during the evaluation process. You will not be requesting a letter of recommendation from these people. References may not be current Playwrights’ Center staff or board members.
Note: You will need to make a SlideRoom account in order to apply. If you are a Playwrights’ Center member, your PWC login will not automatically log you in to SlideRoom—they are two different systems. If you already have a SlideRoom account, you should be able to access the application using your existing login. For a video tutorial on using SlideRoom, please click here.
An information session about the McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting was held on Wednesday December 10, 2025. The recording of that session is available to watch on the right. Click here to read the full transcript.
Click here to read advice from previous successful applicants.
We are offering a free Working Session in partnership with Springboard for the Arts on the topic of creating artist statements on Monday, January 12 at 6:00pm CT to help prepare for your application. Click here to register for the session. If you are unable to attend but would like to receive materials after the class, please email juliab@pwcenter.org.
Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown will be joining the Professional Resources and Education team for open office hours from 12:00–3:00 p.m. on the following dates to answer your application questions: November 19, December 3, December 17, January 14, March 18.
Questions may be addressed to Artistic Programs Manager Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org or 612-332-7481 ext. 1115.
DEADLINE: Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT
Click here to access the application in SlideRoom.
APPLY
