About the Cultural Arts Incubator
The Cultural Arts Incubator is a new paid program for performing artists ready to take risks, push boundaries, and experiment across disciplines. Designed for artists working in dance, music, theater, and other performance-based art forms, this program prioritizes creatives who are exploring multidisciplinary and innovative approaches to their craft. Artists will receive a $5,000 monetary stipend, free rehearsal space, and a fully-produced culminating performance at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, complete with professional lighting design, technical support, and professional documentation. With the support of a dynamic cohort of fellow artists, the Cultural Arts Incubator offers the opportunity to experiment, refine, and present daring new work in a collaborative environment.
The 2025/2026 Cultural Arts Incubator will run from September 2025 to May 2026. Applications are due on Sunday, July 20 at 11:59pm EDT. All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than September 30, 2025.
Incubator Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 21 years old and not currently enrolled in any degree-seeking program (undergraduate degree, master’s degree, etc).
- Applicants must currently reside in the “DMV” (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) area. There is no lodging available.
- Selected artists must facilitate two student/community engagement workshops (one in the fall and one in the spring).
- Selected artists must attend four cohort meetings (two in the fall and two in the spring).
- Selected artists must present one work-in-progress showing for Montgomery College students, faculty, guests, and fellow cohort members.
- Selected artists must present a final show of their work completed during the Cultural Arts Incubator.
Incubator Provides:
- A monetary stipend in the amount of $5,000.
- Free rehearsal space, exact times subject to availability.
- A fully-produced show at the culmination of the residency (one-weekend run), including access to a lighting designer, technicians, etc.
- Four weeks of exclusive use of the black box theater leading up to their performance.
- Professional photography and videography of culminating performance.
- Complimentary tickets to shows at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center (MCCAC) throughout the 2025/2026 season.
- Facilitated introductions to potential project mentors through the MCCAC team.
- Facilitated introductions to other DMV presenters through the MCCAC team.