Research

THE MICROFUND FOR ARTISTS:

is a grant program for projects that aim to permanently disrupt our current understanding and practices in the theater field.  A project can take any form and can include any number of participants.

Grant amounts will vary based on the scope of the project and will be dependent on current funding generated by HowlRound.  Decisions and timelines are on a rolling basis. If you’d like to pitch a project, contact microfund (at) howlround.com with an email summarizing the project idea and we will respond with further details or a meeting.

Grantee Project List:

January 2012: New York Times Critic Watch at NYTCriticWatch.com - A community-sourced research project that aims to evaluate every New York Times review of new theater work for one calendar year.  Findings and analysis will be published on the HowlRound Blog.  Updates are also available via the Twitter hashtag #newplay and @NYTCriticWatch

January 2012: Center for Performance & Civic Practice – Goal: Artists and Civic/Legislative Leaders build partnerships that leverage collaborative skills and imaginative action for better public practice around policy and coalition-building.  Methods: Research, Practice, Convening & Dissemination. Advocacy within non-arts sectors; capacity building among artists. Contact: michael.rohd (at) gmail.com

RESEARCH AGGREGATION:

Gates of Opportunity – David Dower
A sample of David Dower’s findings from eight months of meetings in theater communities across the country. Through discussing issues of isolation and spreading bright spots across the field, Dower captures a snapshot of the new play infrastructure in 2007.

How Do You Develop Plays by Eugenie Chan and Adrien-Alice Hansel
Data collected from applications to NEA’s first New Play Development Program is used to reflect trends in the new play sector. The 191 applications gave insight aesthetics, the development process, the goals of development, and the role of the audience.

2007 New Play Development and Production Summit – Ben Pesner
Ben Pesner reports on a discussion hosted by the Mellon Foundation and moderated by David Dower. The purpose was to highlight bright spots in the infrastructure of the new play sector and analyze the casual relationships that lead to the development of new work.

From Scarcity to Abundance Report
A report on the three-day 100 plus person new play convening hosted by the AVNPI at Arena Stage in January 2010.

Today and Tomorrow: New Play Development Before and After Opening Night – Ben Pesner
Ben Pesner reports on a gathering of industry professionals at the Humana Festival who were presented findings of TDF’s Outrageous Fortune and David Dower’s Gates of Opportunity before the reports were published. Twelve people were designated as responders and their reactions were the basis for conversation after the presentation of the materials.

Defining Diversity White Paper
A report on a convening of various theater artists and leaders in 2009 organized by AVNPI and held at Georgetown University.

Black Playwrights White Paper
A conveningof playwrights and institutional leaders on the state of Black play writing in American theatre, organized by AVNPI and held at Georgetown University.

Devised Work – Convening White Paper
A report on a convening the explore the development of not playwright-centered work and the community that develops it.

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