Organizations may request support for one Theatre Commission, and/or one Composer Commission per year. Artists who have received support for commissions may not apply for a new project in the following year. In addition, producing, presenting, or performing organizations that received commissioning support for their own organizational activity may not apply in that discipline in the following year.

Theatre Artist Commissions

Registration deadline: February 22, 2011
Application deadline: April 1, 2011

The category offers support of up to $10,000 for companies to commission playwrights, directors, designers, and solo theatre or performance artists to create new work. Individual artists may initiate a request for the development of special ensemble works and collaborations. The project must culminate in either a production or workshop; however, a full-scale production is not required.

Applications may be made by theatre companies or presenting organizations. Unaffiliated artists and unincorporated ensembles must apply under the sponsorship of an eligible New York State nonprofit organization. Funding is directed toward the commissioned artist's creative fee, exclusive of production expenses or other costs related to the project. Requests for artists currently on staff of the applicant organization are a low funding priority.

Composer Commissions

Registration deadline: February 22, 2011
Application deadline: April 1, 2011

The category offers support of up to $10,000 for the creation of new works in a variety of genres. Requests are considered for composition of chamber, orchestral, choral, jazz, electronic, and solo instrumental music, and scores for dance, theatre, film, video, new media, and radio. Funding is directed toward the composer's fee exclusive of copying costs, performance or recording expenses, or fees for a composer to appear in conjunction with the presentation of the work.

Requests may be initiated by musical or presenting organizations and artists, or companies (under the sponsorship of a nonprofit organization) that are commissioning work for dance, theatre, or film, video, or radio scores. Requests for composers on staff of the applicant organization are a low funding priority.

Funding Priorities

Application Instructions
(Composer and Theatre Artist Commissions)

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Project Description
Describe the project for which you are seeking support.

2. Work Sample
Describe the work sample and the relationship between the work sample and the proposed project, noting any stylistic or technical elements that are, in your view, directly related to the proposed project. If the proposed project represents a new direction or departure from your past work as demonstrated in the work sample, this should also be discussed. Please note any awards or special recognition of the work, if applicable.

Managerial/Fiscal and Service to the Public

3. Schedule
List projected performance dates and locations of the commissioned work, if known.

4. Prior Support
Describe any prior support from NYSCA Individual Artists to the artist, company, or ensemble, and the status of the project.

Support Materials

5. Support Materials
Please list all of the support materials and/or work samples you are submitting. These materials are critical to your application's assessment.

Support Material

Support material must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or made available online by the application deadline. Please direct them to your appropriate contact at: NYSCA, 175 Varick Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or to hcash@nysca.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Refer to the Instructions for Work Samples and Support Materials prior to submission.

NYSCA encourages the submission of Web-based Work Samples and Support Material whenever possible.

1. One or two work samples (Note: The work sample is the most critical component of the review process). For specific information about acceptable formats of work samples, click on Instructions for Work Samples & Support Materials found on the cover page of the IND Guidelines.

Work samples for playwrights should include 3 copies of excerpted or completed scripts. Note: The Individual Artists Program requires that theatre commission applicants submit their scripts as a paper copy. Additionally, applicants are invited to submit their scripts as .PDF files or Microsoft Word documents to hcash@nysca.org. Work samples for Composer Commissions should include one or two representative soundtracks of the artist's compositions and/or include scores of representative works as appropriate.

2. Résumé of the artist(s)