Current Grant Cycle

General Information

The Puppeteers of America Rufus and Margo Rose New Works Fund (formerly “Endowment Fund”) was established in 1975 to honor fine performers and great friends of puppetry, Rufus and Margo Rose. New Works Fund makes possible financial grants to active puppeteers for projects that will further the growth and development of the art of puppetry.

Contributions to the fund are invested and every other year awards are made from the interest that has accumulated. Awards generally range from $500 to $1000.

For the 2025 cycle, three grants of $750 each will be awarded to Emerging Artists and three grants of $750 each will be awarded to Established Artists (see definitions below*).

Timeline:

• June 30, 2025: submissions/applications closed
• July 2025: applications reviewed by committee
• On/around last week of July 2025: award notifications/offers sent via email
• early August 2025: recipients announced to PofA membership, funds available
• By June 30, 2027: projects completed, final report (with description, photos, publicity, etc.) due to PofA New Works Fund Committee Chair (endowment@puppeteers.org) – report template/form will be emailed to recipients

What kinds of projects or needs are funded, and who is eligible to apply?

The priority of the New Works Fund is the allocation of funds to support the creation and development of NEW PROFESSIONAL PUPPET PRODUCTIONS. These can include the production of new shows, films or videos. After production grants have been awarded and if funds are available, process-oriented puppetry projects (e.g. workshops, residencies) may be considered. This is NOT intended to be a travel grant but, rather, funding to support direct creation of a piece.

Endowment grants will not fund transportation, living expenses, tours or festival/performance bookings. Grants for equipment will be considered only if a specialized need can be demonstrated.

Any North American puppet company or individual puppeteer may apply for a grant from the Endowment Fund. Either the person making the application or one member of the applying company must be a current member of Puppeteers of America.

*Applying puppet artists may apply in Emerging or Established categories.

• An Emerging Artist is defined for these purposes as an artist or company who/that has been working in or with puppetry for 5 years or less (including those who identify as students). NOTE: included in this definition is an artist who has experience in puppetry for greater than 5 years but who is creating solo work for the first time.
• An Established Artist is defined for these purposes as an artist or company who/that has been working in or with puppetry for 5+ years, who/that has received Puppeteers of America recognition via a PofA award or Endowment Fund grant and who/that has a placement at a theater, company, museum or academic institution that allows them to regularly work in puppetry.

Artists who were awarded a grant in one of the two previous cycles are NOT eligible to apply (e.g. if you were awarded a grant in 2021 or 2023 you are next eligible to apply for a grant in 2027).

How will applications be adjudicated?

Proposals and requests for Endowment Fund grants are judged on the following criteria:

• ARTISTIC MERIT: Is the project well developed, unique? Is the message/point of view clearly articulated? Do support materials demonstrate artistry? Does it offer something new?
• FEASIBILITY: Is the project feasible/possible with the resources available? Is the timeline realistic and the budget do-able?
• IMPACT: How will this project impact artist(s) AND audiences? Will it stimulate further activity? How large an audience will it reach? Will it be marketed/shared to reach as many as possible?
• PROFESSIONALISM: is the application on time, complete, accurate and professionally presented? Incomplete and/or late applications or support materials will not be eligible for consideration.
• MISC.: Are there broader puppetry community connections past this project? Does this applicant or project connect with Puppeteers of America’s efforts to support equity, diversity and inclusion (for involved artists and/or audience)? Does this project support Puppeteers of America’s mission to support puppeteers and advance the art of puppetry by presenting knowledge, providing inspiration and promoting preservation? Is there anything that makes this project or application stand out?

What is expected from me if I am awarded a grant?

• The grant must be used for purposes stated in the application. There is a time limit of two years (two years from written notification of award) for the completion of the project.
• A credit line must be included in any printed publicity or program stating that “This project has been partially funded by a grant from The Puppeteers of America Endowment Fund.”
• A final report or information announcing the completion of the funded project must be sent to the Endowment Fund Committee Chairperson by the end of the two-year-from-awarding timeline. A description, photos and publicity concerning the project are required. These materials may be used in the PofA Puppetry Journal and/or on the PofA website, social media or member emails. It is understood that these are reproduced with the permission of the grantee.

APPLICATION BASICS:

Application for a Puppeteers of America Endowment Fund Grant may include the following (this is NOT an application but rather examples of what might be requested based on past-cycle applications):

1. Name. The name of the individual who will sign the application form.
2. Organization or Company. Name of performing company or other organization.
3. Title of Project. Name of project, or any one or two word phrase by which your project can be quickly identified.
4. Contact Information. Where correspondence should be sent (email), mailing address of home studio/office, phone number(s). Also website and social media.
5. Category: Emerging or Established Artist? Past New Works/Endowment Fund Grant recipient (and year/years of award if so)?
6. Budget information. Complete budget breakdown required; this should give a detailed picture of how the grant will be used.
7. Project completion date. What is the projected scheduled performance or presentation--when and where will the piece make its debut?
8. Impact. Share how your show will impact community, audiences, puppetry.
9. Marketing/publicity plan.
10. Description of project. Make your case for funding. Include information on your target audience, the style of puppets to be used and the style of your production. Include a synopsis of the plot. What makes your project unique and/or how does it move you and/or puppetry forward?
11. Membership in Puppeteers of America. What is the expiration date of your current membership?
12. Enclosures. This could include photographs, drawings, puppet designs, resumes, newspaper clippings, reviews, marketing plan, letters of recommendation, etc. Can of course be from/about previous work (reviews, clippings) but make sure the priority is THIS new work for which you are asking support. We will accept a maximum of 6 documents and 5 images of your choice. You are also welcome to email a link to an online video of your work in addition to the documents and images.