2025-2026 CVPA Young Alumni Commissioning Project Application
Please submit your application by 11:59 pm ET on Friday, September 5, 2025.
If you have questions about this application, please email Vic Adebusola.
Applicant Information
Applicant Name:
Applicant Email:
Applicant Graduation Year and School/Program (e.g., Theater ‘16):
Are you currently on staff at Mason?
(Current Mason staff are eligible, even if they are currently enrolled in a degree program, as long as they have also completed an undergraduate degree, graduate degree, or certificate at Mason.)
Project Information
Project Title:
Project Summary (max 500 words):
Please briefly summarize the project's overall concept and the anticipated creation timeline. Please discuss how these commissioning funds would impact your career trajectory.
Note: The panel reviewing applications comprises representatives from CVPA’s seven academic units: Art, Film, Music, Dance, Theater, Game Design, and Arts Management. When writing your project summary, please remember that those reviewing your application might not be experts in your discipline.
Creative Team:
Please list any relevant creative team members with brief biographies (150 words or less). Include each individual’s role in the proposed project and any Mason alumni's graduation year and academic program affiliation. (i.e., Theater ’16).
Career Impact (max 200 words):
Please describe how receiving the Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award would impact your career.
Supplemental Documents
Applicants are encouraged to submit work samples in a medium appropriate to the proposed project (video, text, images, audio, etc.) from the past 3 years, if available. Please submit links to material hosted online whenever possible.
Work Samples
Please include two (2) work samples in a medium appropriate to the proposed project (video, text, images, audio, etc.). Applicants are encouraged to submit work samples from the past 3 years, if available. Please submit links to material hosted online whenever possible.
For video and audio files, please include a link to the files, as well as a password, if necessary. The panel will review up to 10 minutes of video and audio files per applicant. If submitting sheet music or a script, please ensure the second work sample is a video or audio file.
Work samples may be excerpted from full-length works. If submitting longer samples, applicants should indicate the time code for the preferred sections for review.
Work Sample 1
[insert link]:
- Creation Year
- Creative Team
- Brief description of work sample and how it is reflective of or relevant to the proposed project.
- Time Code, if applicable
- Password, if applicable
Work Sample 2
[insert link]:
- Creation Year
- Creative Team
- Brief description of work sample and how it is reflective of or relevant to the proposed project.
- Time Code, if applicable
- Password, if applicable
Project Budget
Please [download THIS BUDGET TEMPLATE] and name the file “YACP Budget_APPLICANT LAST NAME.” Outline estimated expenses and revenue, and include budget notes as necessary to put financial projections in the context of the project.
Please include the $5,000 commissioning funds in your budget as pending revenue. In the budget notes section, please explain how you would modify your project if you receive less than $5,000.
If commissioning funds will not cover all anticipated expenses, please explain how adequate funding will be secured and indicate whether it is confirmed or pending.
If the applicant plans to utilize Mason resources to develop the work (e.g., equipment, rehearsal space, or studio space), this should be approved by the appropriate staff or faculty member before applying.
Budgets may include fees paid to those involved with the proposed project (including the applicant). Applicants are encouraged to research industry standard rates.
Budget Template
Income and expense categories are listed below. Your project may not require these categories or might include those not mentioned. Please modify this budget template to fit your proposal and provide as much detail as possible.
Under Personnel, please outline the pay rate for all involved.
When creating your budget, please remember that CVPA will provide the space and production personnel necessary to execute the public presentation of your work, as well as any required marketing.
Total income and total expenses should match. It is recommended that you always include a contingency line in your budget for unforeseen expenses.
Income |
||
| CONTRIBUTED INCOME | Pending or Confirmed | Amount |
| YACP Commissioning Funds | Pending | $5,000 |
| Foundation Support | ||
| Government Support | ||
| Total Contributed Income: | $5,000 | |
| EARNED INCOME | Pending or Confirmed | Amount |
| Ticket Sales | ||
| Applicant Cash Contribution | ||
| Total Earned Income: | $0 | |
| TOTAL INCOME: | $5,000 | |
| EXPENSE | ||
| PERSONNEL | ||
| Artistic Personnel Fees | ||
| Administrative Personnel Fees | ||
| PRODUCTION | ||
| Space Rental | ||
| Equipment Rental & Purchases | ||
| Set/Prop/Costume Expense | ||
| POST-PRODUCTION | ||
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| Travel Expenses | ||
| Per Diem | ||
| Hospitality | ||
| Licensing Fees | ||
| Contingency | ||
| TOTAL EXPENSE: | $0 | |
| NET PROFIT / (LOSS): | $5,000 |
Budget Notes
Please include any budget notes that provide clarity on the budget in the context of the project. If commissioning funds will not cover all anticipated expenses, explain how adequate funding will be secured, and indicate whether it is confirmed or pending.
The budget document automatically includes the $5,000 commissioning funds as pending revenue. In the budget notes section, please explain how you would modify your project if you receive less than $5,000.