LabWorks FAQ

Each season, a group of individual artists is selected (via an application process) to be New Victory LabWorks Artists. New Victory LabWorks is for NYC-based artists of color creating original work for kids and families. We welcome and uplift all artists of color, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and who identify as disabled. New Victory LabWorks supports adventurous performing arts for family audiences. As an artistic home for artists of all disciplines, New Victory LabWorks explores, devises and reimagines what theater for families can be.

LabWorks artists and alumni include New York City-based arts professionals, including artists, practitioners, educators, presenters and producers from a broad range of experience, who are invited to participate in professional development and networking events throughout the year.

Four artists are selected each year to participate in New Victory LabWorks.

At this time, space is not a guaranteed element of the program.

The space provided will depend on the nature of the work, the artist’s needs, timing and availability. Space will be located in New 42 Studios or the New Victory Theater unless the New Victory otherwise specifies another similar venue. Most spaces have tables, chairs, and a piano or keyboard. Other modest amenities may be available upon request. Please note that the New Victory does not have an in-house scene or costume shop or resident actors, designers, etc. Rehearsal spaces have limited lighting and sound capabilities and cannot support rigging for aerial work.

LabWorks Artists receive a $15,000 stipend. This is not a commissioning or producing fee, and there are no separate travel or housing stipends.

No. The program is solely for artists based in New York City. Housing, travel or relocation assistance will not be provided. The stipend is not sufficient for living expenses.

Yes. Please let us know if you have any specific requests or needs, and we will do our best to accommodate.

LabWorks is a process-oriented developmental platform. There will be an opportunity for an Invited Rehearsal (for purposes of project feedback), but participation in the LabWorks program does not guarantee presentation in a future New Victory season.

LabWorks Artists must attend monthly meetings with other cohort artists, individual meetings, professional development events and networking opportunities over the year.

NYC-based artists of color of all experience levels, working in all genres of live performing arts with interest and excitement around making work for kids and families.

New Victory LabWorks is designed to support individual artists. Payment can be made to an individual or a company, but an individual artist will be accepted into the program.

No, all applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

When available, you can submit your application online. Supporting materials should be submitted via your personal Dropbox link or Google Drive folder when prompted in the application. All supporting application materials should be included in one Dropbox folder. Please make a folder specific to your LabWorks application, and wait to remove any materials from the folder until six months after the application deadline.

If you have physical materials such as paper copies, CDs, DVDs, etc., please email LabWorks@New42.org.

Absolutely! Artists do not need to have prior experience creating work for young audiences. However, you must demonstrate an enthusiasm for work for kids and family audiences, and the work you would focus on developing during your time in LabWorks must be specifically with kids and families in mind.

You can apply multiple times, but significant changes should be made to your application from season to season.

Your work and any projects you focus on may be in any development phase (initial concept to workshop). Do you have an idea you’ve wanted to explore but lack the time or resources? Apply! We’d love to hear about it. If your projects have received a full production or premiere, but you would like to continue their development, please indicate this in your application and describe the next phases of development.

Our application review panels will review all applications. Panels comprise New Victory staff members, Youth Corps members, industry professionals and previous LabWorks Artists. All applicants will receive a notification of final decisions. No phone calls, please.

After all applications are reviewed, a select group of applicants will be contacted to interview with members of the New Victory Artistic Programming staff. All applicants will receive notification of final decisions. Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications we receive, we cannot offer individualized feedback at this time.