ARTIST COHORT APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!
Click the ‘Artist Cohort’ tab for more information.
At Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, we are committed to cultivating and supporting a vibrant and sustainable arts ecosystem by nurturing the next generation of artistic talent in Salt Lake County.
To further this mission, Arts & Culture is pleased to announce the inauguration of Launchpad, our new artistic incubation program. Launchpad empowers emerging to mid-career artists to create and perform new works by providing expanded access to Arts & Culture venues, services, and resources.
Launchpad Objectives
- Empower Artists by removing financial and logistical barriers at Arts & Culture venues, allowing artists the freedom to create and perform new works.
- Nurture Artists by sharing knowledge through mentorship, curated workshops, and production opportunities.
- Strengthen Artists by offering creative collaborations between Launchpad participants and seasoned professional artists.
Launchpad is a nine-month program (January-September 2027), pairing three artists or artist collectives (Artist Cohort) with a Fellow. Over the nine months, each artist/artist collective within the Artist Cohort will create, rehearse, and perform an original evening-length work under the mentorship of the Fellow and production support from Arts & Culture.
Multidisciplinary theatre artist, director, and educator Robert Scott Smith will serve as the inaugural Launchpad Fellow. Head of the BFA Actor Training Program at the University of Utah and Co-Artistic Director of Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory, Smith brings extensive experience in new work development and mentorship to the role. In addition to staging two of his own original performances with Arts & Culture support, he will directly guide the cohort through hands-on skill-building and collaborative mentorship. .
The Artist Cohort application is open through September 18. See the Artist Cohort page for more information and a link to the application.
Meet Robert Scott Smith, Launchpad’s Inagural Fellow
Robert Scott Smith is a multidisciplinary theatre artist, actor, director, producer, educator, and Co-Artistic Director of Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory. For more than a decade, his creative practice has centered on interdisciplinary collaboration, devised performance, new work development, and creating spaces where artists can experiment, take risks, and bring new ideas to life..
Through Flying Bobcat, Robert has collaborated with artists and organizations across theatre, dance, film, music, design, and playwriting—including Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, NOW-ID, Salt Lake Acting Company, and Plan-B Theatre—to create and incubate original works such as Liminal, Climbing with Tigers, The Live Creature and Ethereal Things, FEAST, and Jump. He has also supported emerging artists in developing work that has gone on to be presented at the Great Salt Lake Fringe, United Solo Festival in New York, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and National Women’s Theatre Festival.
Robert is Head of the BFA Actor Training Program at the University of Utah, where mentorship, artistic development, and the creation of new work are central to his teaching. Over the past eight years, he has guided and produced nearly 100 student-generated Senior Projects spanning original plays, film, devised performance, movement, clown, musical theatre, directing, immersive work, and interdisciplinary performance.
At the center of Robert’s practice is a belief that artists need both the freedom to experiment and the practical support to make their ideas possible. As the inaugural Launchpad Fellow, he is excited to foster a collaborative, curious, and supportive environment where artists can develop their voices, challenge their practices, and create bold new work. Learn more at RobertScottSmith.com
As part of the program, the Robert will produce two evening-length performances of his own in Arts & Culture venues; dates to be announced.
The Artist Cohort application is open through September 18. See the Artist Cohort page for information and the application link.
Mentorship
The Fellow will provide support and feedback to each Artist Cohort member during the creative process and share knowledge and expertise throughout the duration of the program. The Fellow will advise on the creative development process only and will not provide any artistic training (singing, dance, etc.).
Workshop Creation & Facilitation
There will be six creative workshops throughout the program, and the Fellow is responsible for creating the curriculum and facilitating the workshops. Arts & Culture will provide support with venue spaces or virtual meeting platforms, depending on workshop needs.
Artist Cohort Program Curation
The Fellow will work with each Artist Cohort member and support them as they create their evening-length, culminating performance. The Fellow will curate a mid-program performance with the Artist Cohort, producing an evening-length show of the Cohorts’ works-in-progress. Curation responsibilities include participating in rehearsals to support their productions, individual and group mentorship, and advising on staging elements.
Fellow Performances
As part of the program, the Fellow will produce and present two evening-length performances of their own works in Arts & Culture venues with production support provided as part of the program. All dates and performance locations will be pre-determined by Arts & Culture staff in accordance with venue availability and are non-negotiable. Compensation for these performances is included in the program stipend. Arts & Culture staff will provide a production budget for these performances.
Responsibilities
- Provide program administration for Artist Cohort, including serving as the liaison for the Cohort with Arts & Culture on scheduling and other issues
- Fellowship contract begins in September 2026, with program planning meetings and review of the Artist Cohort applications
- Participate in the selection of the artists who will be part of the Artist Cohort and participate in onboarding meetings
- Develop and present curriculum for six Artist Cohort creative workshops
- Work collaboratively with Arts & Culture program staff to schedule regular check-ins throughout the program
- Artist Cohort Management
- Attend and observe Artist Cohort rehearsals at least once per month
- Monthly check-in with each Artist Cohort member
- Attend and participate in all Artist Cohort performances
- Curate Artist Cohort mid-program cabaret performance of works-in-progress
- Manage requests from Artist Cohort – rehearsal dates, etc
Benefits
- $15,000 stipend to support mentorship, program management, and workshop curriculum creation and facilitation
- Budget for performance expenses, including production elements (lighting, limited equipment rentals, staffing, ticketing
- No-cost rehearsal space at Arts & Culture venues for the duration of the program (January-September 2027)
- Opportunity to present two performances at an Arts & Culture venue, including production support and marketing and communications assistance
- Curate and execute creative workshops for the Artist Cohort
- Access to skill-building classes and workshops from Arts & Culture, ZAP, and other arts partner
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be an arts professional with extensive experience in producing artistic works and working across multiple disciplines
- Mandatory attendance at all workshops and performances
- Must reside in the state of Utah
- Must have a U.S. tax ID number
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in arts education or mentorship
- Experience in building and producing productions in theatrical spaces
Launchpad 2027 Schedule
- The Fellowship begins in September 2026 and concludes in September 2027
- The Artist Cohort program begins in January 2027 and concludes in September 2027
- All rehearsals and performances throughout the duration of the program are predetermined by Arts & Culture staff based on venue availability
Rehearsal Schedule
- Artists will receive between 2-4 hours of rehearsal space each week at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (Salt Lake City) or Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center (Taylorsville)
- Upon program acceptance, Fellow and Artist Cohort will work with A&C staff to select rehearsal dates and times from the available options
- Rehearsals and workshops will be scheduled for Sunday-Thursday
- Sunday workshops will be scheduled from 10-12 pm with rehearsals between 12-4 pm
- Mon-Thurs workshops and rehearsals will be scheduled between 5-9 pm
Performance Schedule
Fellowship Performance Dates
Performance 1
- Wednesday, March 3, 2027, at Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater
- Tech dates – March 1 & 2
Performance 2
- Thursday, July 8, 2027, at Leona Wagner Black Box at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
- Tech dates – July 6 & 7
Artist Cohort Performance Dates
Mid-program cabaret-style performance
- Thursday, May 13, 2027, at Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater
- Tech dates – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, May 10-12,
Capstone Performance
- Thursday through Saturday, Sept 23-25, 2027, Location TBC
- Tech dates – Sept 20-22
Fellow Application Information
- The application is now closed
Artist Cohort
Artist Cohort Applications are now open and will be accepted through September 18, 2026, by 5:00 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted.
**The Artist Cohort application will be submitted through Smartsheet. Since Smartsheet does not allow you to save your progress, we recommend drafting your responses in a separate document and pasting them into the form when you are ready to apply. Please use this PDF to help you prepare your application.**
Click here for a recording of our Artist Cohort Application workshop. September 3 Workshop
The Launchpad Artist Cohort is for emerging to mid-career artists who want to increase their knowledge and experience through in-depth capacity building, mentorship, and production experience by creating and producing their own a new, full-length multidisciplinary performance.
Applicants should have interest or experience in taking a multidisciplinary approach to their work but have a primary focus in the performing arts. 501c3 status is not required to be eligible for this program.
The program runs from January – September 2027, culminating in a final capstone production. Through this program, Arts & Culture provides venues, resources, and professional services necessary to develop and produce original new works. There are no costs to participate in the Artist Cohort.
Each Artist Cohort member will create their own evening-length performance and present two performances. The first performance will include excerpts of their incubated work. The final performance will be the completed work.
The Fellow will provide mentorship to the Artist Cohort, plan and execute creative workshops, and support each member of the Cohort in the development and presentation of their culminating full-length evening performance.
Applications for the Artist Cohort will be considered for both individuals and artist collectives.
- Individual Applicants are welcome and encouraged to include additional performers or collaborators in their work, however, only the applicant will receive program benefits, including workshops and one-on-one mentorship with the Fellow.
- Artist Collectives can apply as a group, but all members must commit to the full program, including all workshops and meetings. Each artist collective must name one primary point of contact for their application, and that person must meet all eligibility requirements. Artist collectives should only include the artists who are creating the work together. Performers or collaborators who are not involved in creating the work, or who cannot commit to the full duration of the program, should not be listed on the application.
Responsibilities
- All participants must commit to the full duration of the program, and new participants cannot be added after the application has been accepted
- Create and produce an evening length (45-60 minutes) work that will be presented in a capstone performance in Arts & Culture venues
- Artist Cohort members will participate in the Fellow’s performances as part of the production crew. Training will be provided by Arts & Culture staff
Benefits
- No Cost performance rental at Arts & Culture venues to create and produce an evening length performance (45-60 minutes)
- No Cost rehearsal space at Arts & Culture venues for the duration of the program (January-September 2027)
- Production support and budget for performance expenses, including production elements (lighting, limited equipment rentals, staffing, ticketing, and marketing and communications support)
- Mentorship from the Fellow, including creative workshops and one-on-one meetings to support the development of the incubated work
- Skill-building classes and workshops from Arts & Culture, ZAP, and other arts partners
- Stipend for performance expenses including music licensing or composition, costumes, additional performers, prop or set elements, etc.
Eligibility Requirements
- All participants must be at least 18 years of age
- Primary applicant must reside in Salt Lake County
- Primary applicant must have a U.S. tax ID
- All Artist Cohort members must be available for workshop and performance dates listed
Launchpad 2027 Schedule
- The Artist Cohort program begins in January 2027 and concludes in September 2027
- All rehearsals and performances throughout the duration of the program are predetermined by Arts & Culture staff based on venue availability
Rehearsals & Workshops
- Artists will receive between 2-4 hours of rehearsal space each week at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (Salt Lake City) or the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center (Taylorsville)
- Upon program acceptance, Fellow and Artist Cohort will work with Arts & Culture staff to select rehearsal dates and times from the available options.
- Rehearsals and workshops will be scheduled for Sunday-Thursday
- Sunday workshops will be scheduled from 10 am-12 pm with rehearsals from 12-4 pm
- Mon-Thurs workshops and rehearsals will be scheduled between 5-9 pm
Performance Schedule
Artist Cohort Performance Dates
Mid-program cabaret-style performance
- Thursday, May 13, 2027, at Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater
- Tech dates – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, May 10-12,
Capstone Performance
- Thursday through Saturday, Sept 23-25, 2027, Location TBC
- Tech dates – Sept 20-22, 2027
- Each Cohort member will present their performance on a single date
Fellowship Performance Dates
The Artist Cohort will provide back-of-house services for these performances with training provided by Arts & Culture staff
Performance 1
- Wednesday, March 3, 2027, at Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater
- Tech dates – March 1 & 2, 2027
Performance 2
- Thursday, July 8, 2027, at Leona Wagner Black Box at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
- Tech dates – July 6 & 7, 2027
Application Information
Applications will be accepted through Friday, September 18, at 5:00 PM. Late applications will not be accepted. Click here for application link.
Applications will be submitted in Smartsheet. Since Smartsheet does not allow you to save your progress, we recommend drafting your responses in a separate document and pasting them into the form when you are ready to apply. Please use this PDF to help you prepare your application.
Contact Cami Munk via email with any questions. .