NEW YORK, April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Vilcek Foundation has selected the field of theatre as the awards category for the 2016 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in the Arts. Three foreign-born theatre professionals will be chosen to receive the prizes, each comprising an unrestricted cash award of $50,000.

The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise honor young immigrants who have demonstrated exceptional creative achievements early in their careers.  Applicants must:

• have been born abroad;
• be naturalized citizens or permanent residents of the United States; also eligible are persons who have held a valid H-1B or O-1 visa for at least 5 years, and individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) relief;
• be no more than 38 years old as of December 31, 2015;
• intend to pursue a career in the United States.

Theatre professionals from a wide range of categories are invited to apply.  Eligible categories include playwright, director, actor, designer, composer, lyricist, and choreographer.  The deadline for the submission of applications is June 15, 2015. 

A written application, professional résumé, personal essays, and work samples are required.  A panel of distinguished experts will consider applicants’ accomplishments, based on the clarity, ambitiousness, and feasibility of their vision; the degree of innovation and uniqueness apparent in the work samples; and the applicants’ impact on the field.  Complete eligibility requirements and a link to the online application can be found at Vilcek.org.

The winners will be notified in November 2015 and honored at the foundation’s annual awards ceremony in New York City in the spring of 2016.

About the Vilcek Foundation:

The Vilcek Foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia.  The mission of the foundation, to honor the contributions of foreign-born scholars and artists living in the United States, was inspired by the couple’s careers in biomedical science and art history, respectively, as well as their personal experiences and appreciation for the opportunities they received as newcomers to this country.  The Foundation hosts events to promote the work of immigrants, awards annual prizes to prominent immigrant biomedical scientists and artists, and sponsors cultural programs such as the Hawaii International Film Festival.

To learn more about the Vilcek Foundation, please visit Vilcek.org.