Application Info & FAQ

Anyone who is indigenous to the American continent and/or the territories of the United States qualifies, regardless of tribal enrollment or federal recognition status. We use “American Indian and Alaska Native” as a recognizable and broad term that aligns with other organizational opportunities nationally, but we recognize that no term can encompass the diversity and myriad of experiences with Native identity. In the application, we ask you to share your tribal affiliation in any way that you would like. As a regional theater, we additionally prioritize centering local communities and the tribes of Washington state.

The selection committee consists of members of the Arts Engagement and Artistic departments at Seattle Rep, along with paid local Native consultants / artists.

The program can be a blend of in-person and virtual, depending on the access needs of the person selected. The intent is for the public or invited showcase to be an in-person event. We are monitoring the guidance of King County and the CDC regarding safety protocol for the COVID-19 pandemic and adjust our health and safety guidelines accordingly.

The $10,000 budget for the program encompasses the artistic project, as well as meetings, events, and professional development associated with the project. The Artist can choose exactly how they would like the money to be allocated – whether the full amount would go to their personal compensation, or whether an amount would go to materials, events, compensation for other collaborators, or specific professional development opportunities. The Artist will be paid as an independent contractor. 

Yes! You will have access to our meeting and rehearsal spaces as available, the PONCHO Forum (at Seattle Rep) for performances, and the lobby spaces for exhibition. If the spaces you need are not available when you need them, we will work with you to find space for your project, and space rentals can be included in your project budget.

The way that the public interacts with the Artist-in-Residence will be informed by the desires and preferences of the Artist-in-Residence. You may want to have several public appearances or events, or no direct interaction with the public. It is also possible that you may prefer a curated and invited audience for the showcase event. Native people have been historically exploited and tokenized in the name of performative inclusivity, so we seek to avoid that by allowing the Artist-in-Residence to decide if, when, and how they want to interact with the public during their residency. Instead of focusing on public offerings, the program centers relationship-building and professional and artistic development.

We offer free tickets for Native individuals to see our productions; we provide our PONCHO Forum space for free for one-day public events or non-public group use; we provide space on our lobby resource table for Native organizations; and we work to feature Native visual artists in our lobby Art Walk each season. Learn more here.

Please contact Deanna Martinez.