How It Works

The Fertile Ground Festival of New Works will be held January 27 - February 6, 2022.

2022 Application Process 

Step 1  

Click this link to pay the $100 Registration Fee  

Step 2 

Click this link to Download the Application 

Fill out and sign all required pages and return it in word.doc format  to fertileground@portlandtheatre.com by  10/15/21 at 5:00pm. 

Once these two items are completed in their entirety, you are accepted into the festival! 

GROW Award Application 

If you are applying for a GROW AWARD, Complete Steps 1 and 2 above.  Also, complete Part 3 of the application and email everything to fertileground@portlandtheatre.com by 10/15/21.  Read more details below!

NO LATE APPLICATIONS will be accepted.

More information on the GROW Awards

Fertile Ground is pleased to continue our GROW Awards, intended to formalize and expand our ongoing initiatives to address equity and access barriers to participation in the Festival. We created the GROW Award program that allows Fertile Ground to distribute funds to a number of artist/producers. 

A panel that is comprised of artists whose identities encompass a spectrum of underrepresented voices will distribute funds to 5 artists/producers. 

This decision-making body will review all GROW Award applications with attention to the inclusion of underrepresented communities, artistically interesting and culturally relevant “acts of creation,” and projects with an innovative concept for a recorded piece intended for a digital media platform. 

In addition to the GROW Awards, the panel will also identify GROW Panel selected projects for festival goers to recognize projects that represent participants and stories from underrepresented communities. 

To apply for a GROW Award, please follow steps 1 and 2 above, and then make sure to complete part 3 of the application. Your application will be reviewed by the GROW Panel after registration closes. Winners of the $500 award will be notified the week of 10/27/21. If you are not awarded funds, we encourage you to present your project in the festival, and it may be designated GROW Panel selected project!  If the registration fee is a barrier to applying for the GROW Award, please email dre@portlandtheatre.com

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    Next Steps

Once registration is complete, the following information outlines upcoming dates and benchmarks in the Fertile Ground journey.  We will be in communication about each of these steps once registration is complete. 

Marketing Materials Deadline 11/15/21

1)     Submit an image or photo to represent your project.

2)     Submit a donation link. This will be a part of your listing and will be shared for direct donations to your project. 

3)     Finalized Project Description: Update and finalize the 200 word (or less) project description you completed on your application. This description is for marketing on the Fertile Ground Website, social media, and source material for other marketing efforts. 

Press Photos 11/15/21 - ongoing

Submit press photos as soon as you have strong images – these are supplementary photos, not the same as project image to represent your project.  Photos are critical to marketing your project. The earlier the better! 

Official Lineup Announcement 12/5/21

This is the public announcement of the festival. Once this is announced, you can start advertising your Fertile Ground appearance!

Link Submission 12/15-1/15/22

You will submit your project links to fertileground@portlandtheatre.com for us to promote your show.

                     FAQs