Applications for the 2025-2026 Fellowship are now closed.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF DEA HURSTON
The Dea Hurston Fellowship (DHF) program at New Village Arts was created to address the lack of paid opportunities for women, BIPOC, and other underrepresented theatre artists and students in San Diego.
2025-2026 Fellows will be
announced soon!
The DHF, which will currently focus on San Diego County, is centered on the belief that a more diverse theatre environment leads to better and more inspiring stories that have broader positive impact on our communities.
The Dea Hurston Fellowship (DHF) addresses three main categories:
High School
The high school program focuses on accessibility to the arts for students in high school. The DHF provides free tickets to shows, education from industry professionals, and mentorship opportunities. The DHF will give priority to students from lower income/higher diversity schools.
College Students
The college program focuses on creating professional opportunities for BIPOC, women, and other underrepresented theatre artists currently in college. DHF covers stipends for these emerging artists to work in local professional theatres and gain mentorship from them.
Professional Experience Artists and Administrators
The professional artist and administrator program supports the hiring of BIPOC artists in professional theatres in San Diego County.
The DHF is designed to support artists working within San Diego County to create meaningful connections and discourse with NVA, youth and college-aged partners, and the greater San Diego theatre and arts community.
FELLOWSHIP TESTIMONIALS
“The Dea Hurston Fellowship was transformative to my art practice. I appreciated the time and space the fellowship provided that allowed me to learn and focus on my craft. NVA staff was very supportive, offering the tools and freedom to collaborate and explore new ideas. 10 out of 10 experience!“
— Miki Vale (2024-2025 Hurston Fellow)
Check Out Miki’s book, In Lieu of FLWRZ, created as a companion to their time in the Fellowship!
“The professional fellowship granted me the opportunity to cultivate my artistry on my own time as well as working within the theatre. I am grateful for how much it grew me and for the chance NVA gave me to create and put up work at their theatre“
— Lilea Alvarez (2024-2025 Hurston Fellow)
For more information about the Dea Hurston Fellowship, please contact Kali Boston at kali@newvillagearts.org.
Pictured Above: Moments from past Fellowship Events. Photo Credit: Rich Soublet Photography, Michael Taylor, and others.