Middle East America Initiative

The Program

The Middle East America Initiative (MEA) awards a $10,000 prize and developmental support for the creation of new plays by and about the people of the Middle Eastern diaspora. MEA is a collaboration of Golden Thread Productions, Silk Road Rising, and The Lark. During the play’s development and production arc, the playwright and artistic leaders of the partner organizations will travel to each city—Chicago, New York, and San Francisco—to observe the process and to engage in public conversations and panel events about Middle Eastern voices.

The Impact

This program identifies promising writers of Middle Eastern backgrounds and helps to develop an ongoing pipeline of new plays that challenge stereotypes of the Middle East. This program offers writers development support, advocacy for productions, and expands mainstream awareness of unheard voices in America.

The Selection Process

In partnership with Golden Thread Productions and Silk Road Rising, The Lark reaches out to members of the Middle East American artistic community for submissions. Playwrights of Middle Eastern descent are eligible to apply. Fellows are selected by a committee, including artistic leaders from Golden Thread Productions, Silk Road Rising, and The Lark.  

The Fellows

This program is currently on hiatus.