McKnight National Residency and Commission
McKnight National Residency and Commission supports an established playwright outside Minnesota to create a new play through workshops and a public reading, fostering dialogue with Minnesota artists.
Funder: Playwrights' Center
Due Dates: January 14, 2027 (Application and recommendation letter, 11:59 p.m. CT)
Funding Amounts: $15,000 commission plus up to $12,250 in workshop funds for July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028
Summary: Supports an established playwright outside Minnesota to create a new play through workshops and a public reading with Playwrights' Center.
Key Information: Applicants need at least two different plays fully produced by professional theaters by the application deadline.
Description
Administered by Playwrights' Center with support from the McKnight Foundation, this residency and commission supports an established playwright outside Minnesota who demonstrates a sustained body of work, commitment, and a distinct artistic vision. The recipient creates a new play, develops it through a series of workshops, and shares it in a public reading. The program prioritizes relevant, compelling, original projects whose first draft can reasonably be completed within the program year.
A central goal is to create dialogue between Minnesota-based artists and artists outside the community. The recipient engages with local artists, Center staff, and fellows without being required to relocate to Minnesota. Workshop support includes travel and housing. After the term, the recipient becomes an Affiliated Writer of Playwrights' Center.
