Bindlestiff First of May Award

The Bindlestiff First of May Award is a $500 to $2,000 development grant for full-length variety arts productions. Submissions are evaluated based on artistic merit, originality, and variety arts relevance. Other criteria taken into consideration include the quality of the proposal itself, the project’s impact (social, community, etc.), and its stage of development (with preference given to projects not previously presented).

This year in 2024, a single Bindlestiff’s First of May Award 2024, in the amount of $1,500 has been awarded to Aydan Shahdadpuri and Pher, for their film “Death Defying”. Please read full press release here: 2024 First of May Award.

 

 

Submission Guidelines for Bindlestiff’s First of May Award:

Projects should be new, original, full-length productions.

Proposals must include:

  1. Project description (3,000 characters maximum)
  2. 1-3 links to videos of past work
  3. Resumés and/or bios of participating artists

Proposed productions must be at least 40 minutes in length.

Productions may be either solo or troupe-based projects.

  • If submitting as a solo artist, you must be a NYC resident.
  • If submitting as a troupe, at least 50% of troupe members must be NYC residents.

By submitting a proposal, applicants acknowledge that if the award is granted:

  1. Development of the proposed production must begin prior to June 30, 2024
  2. A progress report is due by December 31, 2024
  3. At least one public performance of the production must be presented in New York City before May 1, 2025 (a work in progress performance and/or segment of complete production is acceptable).

If these requirements are not met, the award must be returned.

Deadline:

Submission for the 2024 First of May Award is now closed. Congratulations to Aydan Shahdadpuri and Pher as the Winners of the 2024 First of May Award! 

Bindlestiff’s First of May Award cycle opens in March yearly, and closes on April 1  for NYC-based solo artists or troupes wishing to apply for upcoming Awards.  First of May Award recipients are also eligible for other forms of support including professional mentorship in  marketing, fundraising, and production aspects of their project; and all applicants are invited to shared resources such as grant opportunities and professional development. For NYC-based circus and variety artists wishing to learn more about the Bindlestiff First of May Award for the 2025 cycle, for detailed application guidelines, please stay tuned for more updates on this webpage.

SUBMISSION:

Submissions for the First of May Award will be evaluated based on artistic merit, originality, and variety arts relevance. Other criteria taken into consideration include the quality of the proposal itself, the project’s impact (social, community, etc.), and its stage of development.

SUBMISSION FORM:


Bindlestiff First of May Award

Past Awardees:

2012: Unmasked, created and directed by Lady Aye and Mistress B
2013: Solomon the Perplexer, created and written by Tanya Solomon and directed by Corn Mo
2014: Clown Baggage, created by Matt Wilson
2015: Wacky of Wallabazoo, created by Justin Weber; and Dandy Darkly’s Trigger Happy
2016: TruDee’s “Dances for Lovers” by Deborah Lohse; Ellia Bisker and Adam Kuchler’s Cupcake Show; and Jennifer Harder’s The Wild Party’s Over
2017: Kyle Driggs’ ENSO; Bennett Santora’s Seasons; and Angelo Iodice’s A Cowboy From The Bronx?!
2018: Shane & Collin Miclon’s The Preconceived Notions of Dr. Pellucida; Christopher Scheer’s [n]Gender; and Paris the Hip Hop Juggler’s juggling comedy show
2019: Maia Ramnath’s The Conference of the Birds; Mariko Iwasa’s Shout and Feel It; Becca Bernard’s The Fainting Room; and Jeff Seal’s Jeff and Buttons
2020: Loki Circus Theater’s COLORED GRRLS; Brianna Kalisch’s {IN}TANGIBLE a circus play; Stav Meishar’s Barbette at the Circus: Performing Gender; and Montana Miller’s untitled solo show
2021: Kinetic Cabaret Productions/The Brides’ Pixie Grit; Claire Davison’s Crash Test Dummy; Joel Jeske’s Some Clown; and Mark Lonergan/Parallel Exit’s Sunset Circus
2022: Karim Muasher’s It’s Okay to Be Sad; Juanita Cardenas’ Notes from the Void, ‘The Prequel’; and Elizabeth Munn / Tiny Hallway Productions’ Up Above the Sky Waited, Too
2023: Ayal Prouser’s Coup De Foudre; Medea Exogiinos & Maia Ramnath’s Conjunction (Solo Show Synthesis); Brian Klimowski’s untitled project; and Kita St. Cyr / Hot Fix Sideshow’s Inferno
2024: Aydan Shahdadpuri and Pher’s “Death Defying”