Born out of The Shed’s commitment to supporting early-career artists and a diverse range of voices and experiences, our Open Call program selects, fosters, and presents new work across all forms and media from NYC-based artists who have not yet received major support.

The Shed commissions original works of art, across all disciplines, for all audiences. We bring together established and emerging artists in fields ranging from hip hop to classical music, painting to digital media, theater to literature, and sculpture to dance. Our home, The Bloomberg Building—designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect, and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect—is an unprecedented movable structure that adapts to support ambition and invention in all creative fields. By minimizing social and economic barriers to entry we’ll make a warm, welcoming space for...

#ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence is a new campaign of theatre activism on a mission to provide middle and high school students with the platform to spark critical conversations about gun violence across the country. The project enables teens to express themselves through storytelling, foster open dialogue in their communities, take on leadership roles, and inspire creative action. To all the young writers out there - or those with a voice who don’t know that they are writers, yet -we need you in this moment. We need you to channel your fear and frustration, your anxiety and anger, and,...

Scratchpad Series opens The Realm’s doors to early-career playwrights from around the country. Participants will spend a week in New York City for a developmental reading of their play with top-notch professional collaborators—director, cast, and The Realm’s artistic staff. If the playwright is based outside of New York, The Realm will provide travel and housing or per diem.

Irons in the Fire is Fault Line Theatre's year-round reading series of new plays in development. We believe that every play and every playwright requires something a little different, and we want to give our artists the right sandbox to play freely within. So the format for both process and presentation is intentionally malleable. Each public presentation of these works in progress is the culmination of a few hours, a few weeks, or even a few months of rehearsal, depending on what each project requires. These readings are hosted in an environment that appropriately celebrate that particular...

New York Stage and Film is a non-profit company dedicated to both emerging and established artists in the development and production of theater and film. Since 1985, we’ve been a vital incubator for artists and their work, a catalyst for stories that start with us and continue across the country and around the world. The Founders' Award Recipient receives a one-month residency during the Powerhouse Theater Season, where they work with the rich community of artists, and New York Stage and Film's artistic staff. They receive a professional reading of their latest play at the end of the...

The Playwrights Realm is devoted to supporting early-career playwrights along the journey of playwriting, helping them to hone their craft, fully realize their vision, and build meaningful artistic careers. The International Theatermakers Award recognizes the critical contribution of theatermakers from around the world to the American theater in spite of the barriers they face to work in the United States, and seeks to expand the participation of international theatermakers who are underrepresented in the American theater industry.

Our $500 Emerging Playwright Award (coupled with press coverage) is given to playwrights who show excellence and dedication throughout this process from development to the stage.

The Castillo Theatre sponsors the Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Play Contest and reading series bi-annually. The contest is intended to encourage the writing of progressive plays that engage the political/social/cultural questions affecting the world today and/or historical events and issues that impact on our communities. See website for details.

Founded in 1970, OPERA America has an international membership that includes nearly 150 Professional Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and over 16,000 subscribers to its electronic news service. The Campbell Opera Librettist Prize is awarded annually to an American librettist who demonstrates exceptional talent and the potential to make a substantial contribution to the opera literature. Conceived and funded by acclaimed librettist and lyricist Mark Campbell, the Prize is the first award in the history of American opera that specifically...

Founded in 1970, OPERA America has an international membership that includes nearly 150 Professional Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and over 16,000 subscribers to its electronic news service. The Campbell Opera Librettist Prize is awarded annually to an American librettist who demonstrates exceptional talent and the potential to make a substantial contribution to the opera literature. Conceived and funded by acclaimed librettist and lyricist Mark Campbell, the Prize is the first award in the history of American opera that specifically...