Description
Background
For four decades, The New Harmony Project has acted on the belief that writers need more than deadlines and deliverables: they need time, space, community, and care. In a small town founded on the pursuit of a better world, writers are invited to step away from the pressures of everyday life, renew their creative practice, and devote themselves fully to the stories only they can tell.
Our Mission
The New Harmony Project is a national arts organization whose mission is to nurture writers in the development of scripts and new works that interrogate the complexity of hope. Through artist-centered programming, we care for writers so they can change the world.
The 2027 Writers' Residency
Through our open selection process, we're seeking storytellers who are interested in an artist-centered residency that will provide a creative and nurturing environment, supportive artistic community, and dramaturgical resources in a bucolic setting. Building on the discoveries of the 2026 Residency, the 2027 program brings together writers working in theatre, film, and television, embracing the rich conversation that happens when storytellers across disciplines share ideas, questions, and craft. While NHP has always welcomed writers from all three mediums, this intentional focus marks a return to the organization’s founding vision and acknowledges the reality that today's writers often move fluidly between forms in pursuit of the stories that matter most.
At the heart of the Residency is NHP's enduring commitment to community. Writers are offered one-on-one consultations with theatrical dramaturgs and film/TV script advisors; participate in workshops with accomplished professionals from all three disciplines, both in person and virtually; and find opportunities to connect with others in an atmosphere of generosity and connection. Alongside creative support, participants become part of a community of care that values belonging, well-being, and the relationships that sustain artists long after the residency concludes.
The Residency provides the freedom to imagine, experiment, and write without the distractions of daily life. Writers are encouraged to shape their own creative path, whether diving deeply into a single project or exploring several ideas, while drawing inspiration from the quiet beauty of New Harmony and the extraordinary cohort of fellow artists gathered there. It is a place to listen, to risk, to dream, and to remember that stories have the power not only to reflect the world as it is, but to imagine the world as it can become.
At the 2027 Writers' Residency, we will also be supporting Productions in Residence selected in collaboration with partner organizations outside of the open selection process. These projects will be receiving a full developmental workshop with actors and a creative team, but will be shorter in duration.
Note: This application is for the Artist in Residence and Parent Residency programs only.
When is the 2027 Residency?
May 19-30, 2027
What is The Project looking for in a Company Member?
We are looking for artists who will be active participants in creating a welcoming, supportive and engaged artistic community over the course of the residency.
We nurture writers whose work interrogates the complexity of hope.
We believe that nurturing writers, especially those whose voices have been systemically marginalized or erased, creates a cultural shift, and we are actively trying to build a new, anti-oppressive arts landscape. But culture change requires work from all of us, and we are looking for a community that wants to lean into this work with us.
If you’ve read our mission statement and you’re still not sure you're a good fit for the residency, you can gain a fuller sense of our aesthetic and philosophical interests by perusing our roster of writers and scripts that have recently found an artistic home at NHP.
What does The Project provide?
There is no out of pocket expense to apply or attend, and we pay a modest honorarium to each participant.
Additionally, we provide:
- A creative community and an unparalleled level of artistic support, including dramaturgical meetings, collaborators willing to read pages, time and space to work and dream
- Roundtrip air and ground transportation to/from Southern Indiana
- Three meals daily, as well as snacks and refreshments throughout the residency
- A private room with a full bathroom at the New Harmony Inn
- For parent artists, childcare support is available in a myriad of ways based on your artistic needs
Once you complete your application your status will change to "Ready" and you will see a date and time in the "Submit Time" field on your My Submisions page. You should also receive a confirmation email (please check your spam!). If you have any questions, please email applications@newharmonyproject.org (please, no phone calls). We look forward to reviewing your work, and thank you for taking the time to apply!