The 16th Street Foundation and Company 16 have announced the second instalment of the Cooper Prize, a prestigious international playwriting award celebrating bold, original theatrical voices.
The prize offers playwrights the freedom to explore difficult and controversial ideas with full creative integrity, supporting work that challenges assumptions in pursuit of truth, beauty, and meaningful storytelling.
Funding
The winning playwright receives a prize of AUD $20,000 and their work will be considered for a full commission and production.
All finalists will receive a professionally directed public reading of their submitted scene, performed by professional actors.
Programme focus
Submissions are invited in response to thematic prompts drawing inspiration from Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. Themes include:
The battle of doubt and faith
Whether suffering is redemptive or meaningless
The power of truth
The prize seeks original works that explore complex philosophical and human questions with depth, originality, and creative courage.
Eligibility
The Cooper Prize is open internationally to both published and unpublished playwrights. There are no restrictions on nationality or career stage.
Application information
Applicants must submit:
A one-page document including a motivation for writing, a brief outline of the philosophical perspective informing the work, and a synopsis or treatment
Ten pages of the play
Applications are submitted via the official application form on the 16th Street Foundation website.
Deadline: 19 June 2026
For more information and to apply, click here.
Your funding experts
InterArts Funding offers its expertise to assist you in applying for grant opportunities (including this one), leveraging our extensive experience to enhance your chances of securing the grant. It is important to clarify that InterArts Funding is an independent entity and is not affiliated with any specific funding organisation. While we have a commendable track record of success, we cannot guarantee the approval of your application. Grant outcomes depend on various factors beyond our control.