I am inspired and energized by the learning and experience of my Theater Artist Fellowship year. My new tools directly impact and elevate my primary discipline of visual storytelling through costume technology and design. And as my collaboration efforts expand across new disciplines my mentees and students also benefit.
McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships
The McKnight Foundation, a family foundation based in Minnesota, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive.
The McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships at Playwrights’ Center recognize theater artists other than playwrights. The intent of the program is to support mid-career artists living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and attributes of artistic merit.
The $25,000 fellowships are intended to significantly advance recipients’ art and careers. Selection is based on a commitment to theater arts, evidence of professional achievement, and a sustained body of work over multiple years.
Playwrights’ Center IS NOT currently accepting applications for McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships.
NOTE: Advance notification of intent to apply is strongly encouraged, but not required. Local panelists attend performances to help familiarize themselves with applicants’ work, so it is very important to declare your intent to apply and inform Playwrights’ Center where and when your performances take place. You may notify the Center of intent to apply any time before the final application deadline. (You may submit a final application without notifying the Center in advance; however, by providing no notice of your intent to apply, you are limiting panelists’ ability to view your work in a live setting.)
Please note that although live performances are helpful to the panelists in getting to know your work, they are not the only factor. Two of the five panelists are specifically invited from outside of Minnesota, and therefore will likely not have the opportunity to see applicants’ live performances. If you do not have any performances during the application cycle, you are still welcome to apply and may be as competitive as any other applicant. You will submit a work sample and supporting materials which will be evaluated by the entire panel, and there are previous fellows who successfully applied without having any live work to share during the process.
We plan to provide two information sessions focused on writing artistic statements and one information session focused on creating a digital work sample, in partnership with Springboard for the Arts. We will let you know when these special sessions are scheduled. This is another reason to submit an intent to apply—everyone on that list will be notified about all working and information sessions.
Previous recipients include: Sonya Berlovitz (costume designer), Bart Buch (puppet designer), Sun Mee Chomet (actor), Marcus Dilliard (lighting designer), D J Gramman II (costume artisan), Paul Herwig (scenic designer), Katherine Horowitz (sound designer), Sam Houkom (stage manager), Masanari Kawahara (puppet designer), Wendy Knox (director), Kurt Kwan (actor), Mathew LeFebvre (scenic/costume designer), Elizabeth MacNally (stage manager), Peter Morrow (sound designer), Darrick Mosley (actor), Greta Oglesby (actor), Karin Olson (lighting designer), Sonja Parks (actor), Denise Prosek (music director), Mikell Sapp (actor), Joel Sass (director/scenic designer), Austene Van (actor/director/theater choreographer), Michael Wangen (lighting designer), Abbee Warmboe (props designer), Wendy Weckwerth (dramaturg), Regina Marie Williams (actor), Stephen Yoakam (actor), and Victor Zupanc (theater composer).
Important Links
Eligibility
- Professional artists who have been continuous residents of Minnesota since March 26, 2025 are eligible to apply. Fellows must be over the age of 18 and must maintain residence in Minnesota during the fellowship year (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). Fellows must have the legal right to work in the United States.
- The Theater Artist Fellowship is open to actors, directors, dramaturgs, stage managers, and theatrical designers (including puppetry). Artists working in other disciplines of live theater may be eligible to apply—contact Julia Brown at juliab@pwcenter.org to discuss your specific situation. It is also open to those choreographers and composers whose main body of work is in live theater. Playwrights are not eligible for this award. (Playwrights are encouraged to apply for the McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting.) Composers, choreographers, visual artists, and other artists whose work is not primarily in theater are encouraged to apply for the McKnight Fellowship in their field.)
- Full time students at any level are not eligible.
- 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.
- Previous recipients of the Fellowship must submit a work sample consisting only of work that occurred after their last fellowship term (for example, if you were a fellow in 2009-10, then your work sample must only include work from 2010 or later).
- Only individual artists are eligible; applications from collaborative groups are not accepted.
- Staff and board members of the McKnight Foundation or Playwrights’ Center and their immediate families are not eligible.
- 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).
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 or other work sample 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, demographic information, and theatrical medium. You will be able to choose more than one theatrical medium, but please keep in mind that each medium you choose will be given equal weight during the selection panel.
02
Artistic statement
One page
This statement is an opportunity for the panel to get to know you as an artist beyond the work sample(s) that you submit. This statement should articulate your development as an artist, your approach to your work, and how you collaborate with other artists.
03
Resumé or bio
Any legible format, maximum two pages
04
Two Statements of Working Process
These are letters written by two people familiar with your work as an artist. These statements should focus on your process, working relationships with collaborators and co-workers, and other aspects of your work that are not apparent through the work sample(s). You may request statements through the application system before finishing your final application, so we recommend that you click on the link below and begin your application sooner rather than later to give your colleagues time to complete their statements. Statements of working process from previous applications cannot be re-used for this program, and statements are due at the same time as the full application: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Statements of working process may not be written by current Playwrights’ Center staff or board members.
05
Work sample information sheet
Maximum two pages, any legible format
Please indicate the work sample format, length of each piece, title of the work, date of the performance or recording, and your participation in the work (are you one of the actors, the lighting designer, director, etc). Include any information pertinent to the samples including any special viewing instructions and other information that would help the panel evaluate the sample. We recommend using this document to provide context for your work sample(s), including why you chose the specific piece and where you would like the panel to focus their attention.
06
Work sample(s)
It is helpful to display the breadth of your work through your sample. Do not submit scripts, reviews, essays, or other text formats.
You may submit samples in no more than two of the following formats:
- Video—up to 4 total minutes of video, either directly uploaded or linked from YouTube/Vimeo/etc. This footage can be from one or multiple performances. We recommend including your strongest samples in the first 1-2 minutes. Panelists will view your entire video, but as they revisit your application and refresh their memory about your work, they will end up viewing the first minute or two more frequently.
- Audio—up to 4 total minutes of audio, either directly uploaded or linked from another site. This footage can be from one or multiple performances. We recommend including your strongest samples in the first 1-2 minutes, for the reason outlined above.
- Images—up to 10 images. This may include production or rehearsal photos, sketches, blueprints, collages, etc.
For designers: Consider providing detailed information about your design process and choices along with your work samples.
Previous recipients of the Fellowship must submit a work sample consisting only of work that occurred after their last fellowship term (for example, if you were a fellow in 2009-10, then your work sample must only include work from 2010 or later).
We strongly recommend that you declare your intent to apply and add performances to the performance calendar beginning in September 2025.
Note: You will need to make a SlideRoom account in order to apply. If you are a Playwrights’ Center member, your 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.
Click here to read advice from previous successful applicants.
We are offered a free Working Session in partnership with Springboard for the Arts on the topic of creating artist statements on Monday, January 12 to help prepare for your application. If you were unable to attend but would like to receive materials after the class, please email juliab@pwcenter.org.
In addition, Springboard and Playwright’s Center offered a free session on the topic of creating digital work samples to assist you with putting together image, audio, and video samples for this application on Monday, February 2. If you were unable to attend but would like to receive materials after the class, please email juliab@pwcenter.org. This session included a preview of the McKnight Theater Artist Fellowship application. A recording of that preview is available to watch on the right. Read the full transcript here.
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, March 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT
