MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, MINN.: Theater Latté Da has announced the establishment of the NEXT Generation Commission, designed to support the creation and development of musicals by women and artists of color. The company will award a $20,000 commission to an individual artist or writing team, and provide creative support over an 18-month period. In addition, Theater Latté Da will present two developmental workshops.

Artists interested in applying for the NEXT Generation Commission should visit the website for complete submission details. The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2019.

“It’s clear to us that if it is our goal to create musical theatre that is reflective of our communities, we need to create more pathways for women and artists of color,” said founding artistic director Peter Rothstein in a statement. “The NEXT Generation Commission is designed to seek out those voices and provide them with the support necessary for their talents to be recognized and nurtured and their stories to be told.”

Creating and premiering new work has been part of the company’s mission since its founding in 1998. The company supports the development of new musicals with its annual NEXT Festival. Past NEXT Festival projects include Five Points by Harrison David Rivers, Douglas Lyons, and Ethan Pakchar (NEXT 2017); Goddess by Saheem Ali, Jocelyn Bioh, and Michael Thurber (NEXT 2017); and Gun and Powder by Angelica Cheri and Ross Baum (NEXT 2018).