2022 Theater Awards Guidelines

The Gerbode Foundation is pleased to announce a $300,000 fund for the creation and development of new theater projects by California writers, playwrights, spoken word artists, creative writers, and theater-makers. The new work will be commissioned and produced by Bay Area nonprofit arts presenting organizations that can apply for grants of $50,000 each.

1. To highlight the creative excellence of innovative California writers, playwrights, spoken word artists, creative writers, and theater-makers.

2. To recognize and support Bay Area arts presenting organizations, interdisciplinary arts organizations, and community-based arts nonprofits in their commitment to commission, develop, and produce new work by California artists.

3. To encourage and deepen the engagement between the lead artist(s) and the presenting organization.

4. To support projects that represent the Bay Area’s diverse communities and neighborhoods.

5. To support organizations that are deeply rooted in community.

Required by May 16, 2022: All applicants must speak to Olivia Malabuyo Tablante, Program Director at the Gerbode Foundation, before submitting an application. Olivia will also be available to answer any questions about the program. You can schedule a phone call here or send an email to special.awards@gerbode.org. Please make sure to read through the Program Guidelines and FAQs prior to contacting the Foundation.

Deadline to submit application: Application materials must be received by Thursday, May 26th at 4pm (PST). Application materials must be emailed to special.awards@gerbode.org. Late or incomplete submissions will not be eligible. Hardcopy applications will not be accepted.

Individual artists may not apply directly and must be commissioned by an eligible applicant organization.

Eligible applicant organizations

• Theater company or ensemble

• Organizations that produce and present theater work

• Interdisciplinary arts presenter

• Community-based arts organizations

• Organizations with a history of working with theater artists

Please note: Fiscal sponsors are eligible to apply on behalf of a presenting organization on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Gerbode Foundation at 510-915-8048 or special.awards@gerbode.org to ensure eligibility.

The applicant organization must

1. Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been in operation for at least 2 years.

2. Be located in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, or Sonoma County.

3. Have a strong proven track record of producing and/or presenting theater work.

4. Demonstrate a history of working with and paying its artists.

5. Pay a minimum fee of $12,500 to the commissioned lead artist(s) or pay a minimum of $25,000 (50% of the total grant amount) in artist fees.

6. Not be a current recipient of a Hewlett 50 Commissions or a Creative Work Fund award for the same project or lead artist.

7. Submit only one application.

The proposed lead artist(s) must

1. Meet one of the following criteria: (1) be a current California resident or (2) have had California-based artist residencies for the development of their work in the last 5 years. If you have had significant artist residencies in the last 5 years, but live out of state, please contact the Gerbode Foundation to confirm eligibility.

2. Have a demonstrated artistic track record that is rooted in theater.

3. Have creative leadership on or be a key co-creator of the proposed work.

4. Consider a project that will have significant impact on the organization if they are a managing or artistic director of the applicant organization or ensemble.

5. Have experience consistent with the design and goals of the proposed work.

6. Have had at least two works developed and produced (this includes online experiences).

7. Not have received a playwright or theater commissioning grant from the Gerbode Foundation. (Unfortunately, past individual artist recipients of the Special Awards in the Arts program are not eligible.)

8. Be nominated for one commission by only one organization.

Proposed projects must meet the following criteria:

1. Commissioned projects must be original, new theater work that is developed and produced by the presenting organization. Co-produced work is eligible on a case-by-case basis. Please discuss with Gerbode staff.

2. Commissioned work will result in public performances, virtual presentations, or film releases.

3. The presentation or premiere must take place between July 2023 and December 2025.

4. Project budgets must include either:

   1. minimum lead artist commission fee of $12,500; or

   2. a minimum of $25,000 (50% of the total grant amount) in artist fees.

The following projects and final presentations are eligible (this list is suggestive but not exhaustive)

• Interdisciplinary theater work

• Librettos for operas and operettas

• Cabaret style performance

• Musicals and musical theater

• Shadow or puppet theater

• Hip Hop theater

• Full-length plays

• Fully staged readings

• One-acts

• Community theater projects

• Solo work

• Collaborative and company-devised projects

• Participatory theater

• Experimental theater

The following projects are ineligible:

• Translations or adaptations (new work that uses another artist’s work as a source or an inspiration is eligible as long as the work proposed is a new and original vision).

• Work-in-progress that is currently in rehearsal.

• Commissions solely for students and student ensembles.

Download Application Form (Word .doc)

Required by May 16, 2022: All applicants must speak to Olivia Malabuyo Tablante, Program Director at the Gerbode Foundation, before submitting an application. Olivia will also be available to answer any questions about the program. You can schedule a phone call here or send an email to special.awards@gerbode.org. Please make sure to read through the Program Guidelines and FAQs prior to contacting the Foundation.

Deadline to submit application: Application materials must be received by Thursday, May 26th at 4pm (PST). Application materials must be emailed to special.awards@gerbode.org. Late or incomplete submissions will not be eligible. Hardcopy applications will not be accepted.

Email subject line: Please make sure to include the applicant organization name in the email subject line.

Email #1 (required): Submit Application & Attachments:

Attach the following application materials as PDF files (labeled numerically as listed):

1. Application pages 1–6 and, if applicable, a detailed project budget.

2. IRS determination letter establishing the applicant organization’s nonprofit 501c3 status. (If a fiscal sponsor is the applicant, in addition to its IRS letter, please include a short description of the partnership with the fiscal sponsor as it relates to the commissioned work.)

3. Staff list and/or brief bios of the key artistic and administrative team involved in the proposed project.

4. Balance sheet and profit & loss statement for the most recent completed fiscal year.

5. Current fiscal year budget.

Email #2 (required): Include the Lead Artist’s Work Samples:

1. Attach or send links for up to three work samples.

   Example of work samples:

   • Video footage that features the lead artist’s work or showcases the creative process. Provide cue notes when applicable. Up to 5 minutes will be reviewed.

   • Play scripts or librettos, short works, full-length plays, poetry, lyrics, etc. Please submit no more than 20 total pages

2. (Optional) Include links to website, blogs, online reviews, YouTube channels, or other online media that panelists may include in their review. Please be selective.
   
   Please note the following for each work sample submitted (in the body of the email):

   • Name of production, year of production, brief summary of the work, and mention any key collaborators

   • Cue notes, if applicable (up to 5 minutes for video or media)

Email #3 (optional): Include a Presenting Organization Work Sample:

1. (Optional) Provide a link to video samples that are significant to the proposed commission. Please discuss proposed video samples or questions regarding organization video samples with program director.

Important Note: If a single email includes files that exceed 25MB (the maximum file size allowed via email), please email us at special.awards@gerbode.org so we can send you a Dropbox link to upload your application materials. (You will need to sign up for Dropbox with a username and password.) Please request this no later than Thursday, May 26th at 10am (PST).

A national advisory panel of artists and arts leaders will review the applications and work samples in June 2022. The Gerbode Foundation will conduct the final review of applications and make the final selection of grantees. Recipients of the 2022 Theater Awards will be announced in August 2022

To achieve the program goals listed on page 1 of the Guidelines, the advisory panel will be asked to consider the following criteria in their evaluation:

1. Lead Artist’s Artistic Contribution & Creative Process
   The lead artist is a dedicated theater practitioner and their vision for this new work will contribute to the “theater canon” or specific theater aesthetic. The lead artist’s approach, style, and creative process is articulated clearly. The themes presented are original and relevant. Please note that the panelists will use the work samples as a key component of their review for this section.

2. Cultural Perspective and Impact on Community
   The project reflects a community or cultural perspective. The artists involved in the project are deeply rooted in and/or have intimate knowledge of a specific cultural community. The proposed work is relevant to a particular community and is articulated clearly.

3. Partnership
   There is a clear partnership between the presenting organization and the lead artist(s). The proposed work will have a positive impact on both. The partnership may be a new, first-time collaboration or a project involving a founding artistic director of a theater ensemble. The lead artist has creative leadership in the project and their vision and process will be supported by the presenting organization.

4. Project Feasibility
   The applicant organization has the ability to finance, develop, produce, and present the new theater work.

Recipients of the 2022 Theater Awards must produce and present the commissioned piece in one of the eleven San Francisco Bay Area counties for public performances, virtual presentations or film releases.

An interim report specifying production plans must be received by the Gerbode Foundation before all funds can be disbursed. If the production plan or schedule changes from what is proposed at the time of the application, the Gerbode Foundation must be notified, and the changes must be approved in writing.

Recipients must also submit final narrative and financial reports and acknowledge this grant in printed materials and other forms of recognition with the following language:

[Project] was made possible by the Gerbode Foundation’s Special Awards in the Arts program.

This program is administered by the Gerbode Foundation. All applicants are required to contact Olivia Tablante before submitting an application. Olivia will also be available to answer any questions regarding the application:

Olivia Malabuyo Tablante
Special Awards in the Arts Program Director
Gerbode Foundation
1791 Solano Avenue, #F15
Berkeley, CA 94704

Phone: 510-915-8048
Email: omalabuyo@gerbode.org
Schedule phone call: click here

See frequently asked questions here.