$50,000 award with presentation support in Maine.
The Ellis-Beauregard Choreographer Award is a national funding opportunity offering $50,000 to a contemporary choreographer. The Ellis-Beauregard Choreographer Award supports the staging of an evening of work in Maine in partnership with Portland Ovations through its Raising the Barre initiative. The award combines financial support with a structured presentation context and production assistance.
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What: Ellis-Beauregard Choreographer Award
Who: Permanent residents of the United States, age 18+
Where: Maine, United States
Award / Support: $50,000 award; presentation with Portland Ovations; presentation tech, lodging, local transportation, marketing; artist retains remaining funds beyond expenses
Residency Duration: Program determined based on venue and production scale
Application Opens: May 1
Deadline: June 1, 2026, or when the 300 submission cap is reached, whichever comes first
Official Link: https://www.ellis-beauregardfoundation.org/choreographer-award/
How To: https://www.patreon.com/posts/strategy-notes-157180862
Want the Strategy Behind This Application
This call is structured around collaboration, technical clarity, and transformation of practice. Most applications fail at the level of positioning. Strategy Coach Notes break down how to approach each question, what the panel is evaluating, and how to structure a competitive proposal.
About the Ellis-Beauregard Choreographer Award
The Ellis-Beauregard Choreographer Award provides one national award to a choreographer working in the United States. The award is structured around both funding and presentation. The selected artist will present an evening of work in Maine, organized in partnership with Portland Ovations.
The presentation is part of the Raising the Barre initiative. The program is determined in relation to the venue, scale, and production needs. The award does not require a specific format or new creation. The recipient may present existing work or structure an evening based on their current practice.
The award includes support from Portland Ovations, which manages the presentation framework. This includes production coordination, technical support, and audience-facing elements. The artist works within this structure while maintaining control over the artistic content and format.
What Is Offered
- $50,000 award
- Presentation opportunity in Maine
- Partnership with Portland Ovations
- Technical support for the presentation
- Lodging during the presentation period
- Local transportation
- Marketing and promotion
- Production management by the presenting partner
- Retention of remaining funds after expenses
Who Should Apply
- The competition is only open to permanent residents of the US who are 18 years of age or older.
- Artists at any stage of their careers are welcome to apply.
- Applicants who are currently enrolled or will be enrolling in degree-granting programs are ineligible.
Timeline
Application Opens: May 1
Deadline: June 1, 2026, or when the 300 submission cap is reached, whichever comes first
Financial Structure
The award provides a total of $50,000. The artist is responsible for managing how those funds are allocated across the project.
The recipient is responsible for all artist fees, travel to and from Maine, and production elements required to stage the work. This includes performers, collaborators, and materials.
Portland Ovations provides presentation-specific support. This includes technical infrastructure, lodging, local transportation, and marketing. These elements reduce the logistical burden of presenting the work in Maine.
Any funds remaining after covering production and travel expenses are retained by the artist. The award functions as both production support and artist income, depending on how the budget is structured.
Why This Opportunity Matters
This award delivers a high funding amount within choreography. It includes a presentation partner with an established infrastructure. The structure allows for flexibility in how the work is composed and presented while maintaining a defined production context.
The submission cap introduces urgency. Applications close once 300 submissions are received. Early submission increases the likelihood of consideration.
Apply
https://www.ellis-beauregardfoundation.org/choreographer-award/
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