PLAYWRIGHTS PROJECT

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Grant Year

2026-27

Grant Program

Arts and Youth

Award Amount

$17,500.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, Playwrights Project will deliver 14 in school playwriting residencies for youth in San Diego at four middle and high schools located in, or supporting students from, low income neighborhoods and three Juvenile Court and Community Schools. These residencies use playwriting as a tool for social emotional learning, helping students build confidence, strengthen community connection, and develop empathy through creative expression. CAC funds will cover direct program expenses such as classroom materials, including script copies, templates, and instructional materials, artist preparation time, program supplies, and ensure that teaching artists and staff are compensated at rates reflective of their professional expertise. This investment enables consistent, high quality arts programming for youth who are often overlooked and underrepresented in arts education.

Organization Summary

Playwrights Project provides playwriting workshops in schools, communities, and correctional facilities, conducts the annual California Young Playwrights Contest for writers under the age of 19, and professionally produces community readings and full productions of Plays by Young Writers and The Mosaic Festival. Playwrights Project’s programs engage underserved populations in dramatizing stories drawn from imagination and life experiences, including reflections on the impact of poverty, incarceration, addiction, foster care, and military service. Recognizing that life presents difficult situations, forces beyond our control, and challenging decisions, the programs guide individuals to reflect on past experiences with compassion, create fictional plays that examine hardships, explore positive non-violent solutions, look forward to brighter futures, and celebrate the resilience gained by triumphing over difficulties.

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