DREAMing Out Loud Playwrighting Seminar

OVERVIEW
DREAMing Out Loud Program is a paid, tuition-free creative writing workshop series for young immigrant writers in the City University of New York (CUNY) network, primarily those who are undocumented, DACA recipients, and/or DREAMers who came to the United States when they were children. By providing community and professional support to the next generation of immigrant writers, the program seeks to counter anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. and to amplify the voices of many living in this country who are marginalized because of their immigration status.

BENEFITS
In workshops led by established writers from immigrant backgrounds, 40 participants are provided a modest stipend ($200) to develop original fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and plays to perform at public readings and to publish in various print and digital formats, including our annual anthology. The program also helps build a pipeline to publishing and theatre industries in New York City, empowering DREAMers to develop their own unique artistic voice and craft to ensure that any future literary canon will include their stories, perspectives, and lived experiences. Participants receive access to resources tailored for immigrant artists, including at least one author-led talkback about writing and publishing each year. Playwriting Seminar is led by NYTW’s Tow-Playwright-In-Residence Victor I. Cazares.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
In 2022, four workshops will be affiliated with the City University of New York. A fifth workshop will be offered by New York Theatre Workshop and National Queer Theater. This will be a playwriting workshop focused on developing and creating performance texts/scripts from a Queer LGBTQ+ perspective.

All workshops will be virtual. Applicants must identify as an immigrant, have access to a computer with a stable internet connection, reside and/or go to college in New York City, and be 18 years or older to apply. Limited space will be reserved for DREAMing Out Loud alumni. College graduates are welcome to apply.

The official deadline (Friday, February 25, 2022 by 11:59pm EST) is rolling and may close if all slots are filled. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance via email.

QUESTIONS?
Contact the program director (Jared Jackson, jjackson@pen.org).

DREAMing Out Loud is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).