Fertile Ground Festival

GROW Grants are “micro-grants” – small amounts of funding meant to add to a project’s existing resources and reduce financial pressure. They also provide additional marketing support to selected projects, boosting Grant recipients visibility in the Festival, and hopefully encouraging broader audience reach. Find more information below, or click the button to begin your 2024 GROW Grant application.

About GROW Grants

First introduced for the 2021 Fertile Ground Festival (presented digitally), the GROW Grant program seeks to broaden the range of artists and work in the Festival by providing direct support to Festival participants producing underrepresented voices, stories, and perspectives.

All GROW Grant recipients will have their Festival registration either waived or reimbursed, and may receive additional funding up to $500. Grant recipients will be identified in Festival marketing materials and social media. 

GROW Grants are adjudicated by a diverse panel of independent artists from a variety of disciplines. This year’s panel includes: Samson Syharath (chair), James Dixon, Ki Logan Starnes, Tess Raunig, Tracy Cameron Francis, Michael Cavazos, Jane Comer, Heath Hyun Houghton, Tyharra Cozier, and Sarah Andrews

Preview the GROW Application here.

Key dates

Grant Applications Due: 11:59 pm, Friday, January 12, 2024

Fertile Ground Registration Deadline: 11:59pm, January 14, 2024

GROW Grants Announced: Monday, January 29, 2024

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be registered and prepared to present their project in the 2024 Fertile Ground Festival.
• The work presented must adhere to the Festival guidelines by being a new work/world premiere, and be locally created and produced.
• The work must be presented within the Portland Metro or surrounding areas.
• Applicants can be either independent producers or companies. Non-profit status is not required.

Assessment Criteria

 GROW Grant submissions are scored in FOUR different areas:

• Representation – The voices, perspectives, and participants the project centers are under-represented in both local and mainstream forms of media (theatre, dance, tv, movies, etc). Audiences are rarely exposed to similar stories, or work by artists with similar experiences/perspectives.

• GROWness – Presenting this work in the Festival represents a meaningful step in the lifespan of this project. The project has never been presented in this format before (reading, workshop, world premiere) locally or elsewhere. Participation in the Festival will help either the work itself, or the producer and/or participants to grow. 

• Newness/Originality – The project is innovative and possesses a unique voice and approach in content and form. 

• Grant Impact/Feasibility – The grant funding will make a meaningful difference in the Producer’s ability to achieve their goals, and is important to the project’s success. The applicant demonstrates they possess the knowledge, experience, and resources to execute the project at a high standard of quality.

FAQ

Do I have to be registered for the Festival to apply for a GROW Grant?

You do not need to have completed your registration before submitting your GROW Grant application, however only projects that have registered by the deadline (January 14th, 2024) will be eligible to receive a GROW Grant.

What if I can only present in the Festival if I receive a GROW Grant because I need the grant to help cover the cost of registration?

Email FGRegistration@portlandtheatre.com to discuss options. 

I have something to present in the Festival, but I haven’t finalized all the details (venue, dates/times, etc) – can I still apply for a GROW Grant?

You can, but you will only be eligible if those details are finalized by the time registration closes (Jan 14th). If you’d like help finding a venue or need any other sort of production support, please reach out to the Festival Director, Tamara Carroll, at FertileGround@portlandtheatre.com

Wouldn’t it make more sense for GROW Grants to be decided BEFORE registration so people have more time to plan and budget?

Yes! This timeline is not ideal – the 2025 grant cycle will happen much earlier in the life cycle of the Festival. We apologize for the inconvenience and we are here to help in any way we can.

Questions about the Festival? Contact FertileGround@portlandtheatre.com

Questions about GROW Grants? Contact Samson Syharath, GROW Panel Chair at samsonsyharath@gmail.com