Individual Artist Fellowship in Performing Arts

Individual Artist Fellowship in Performing Arts is sponsored by Nebraska Arts Council. The Individual Artists Fellowship (IAF) program recognizes and supports performing artists, including theater and playwright artists, for their exemplary, originating work.

Individual Artist Fellowship - Nebraska Arts Council Pictured: Long Food Line Detail 5 by Francisco Souto Individual Artist Fellowship The 2027 Individual Arts Fellowship program applications are now open. This year will focus on the Literary Arts. Applications are now being accepted through our Online Grant System Foundant.

Application deadline is November 16th, 2026. The Individual Artist Fellowship program recognizes artists in Nebraska. Fellowship recipients are chosen by a professional panel according to the merit of their work, their artist statement, and the description of how they plan to use the funds.

Funds must be used for professional development, which can include the creation of new art, presentations, training, and/or research.

The fellowship program rotates among three umbrella categories of artistic achievement: literature (fiction, non-fiction, poetry); filmmaking and performing arts (choreography, playwriting, composition, interdisciplinary performance); and visual arts (painting/drawing, photography, ceramics, installation, mixed media, printmaking, glass, sculpture, textiles, video). View previous Individual Artist Fellowship Recipients .

2026 IAF Recipients (Performing Arts) Jeff Koterba (Omaha) – Filmmaking/Screenwriting* Lite Pole (Omaha) – Music/Sound Fran Sillau (Omaha) – Theater/Playwriting * Darryl White (Lincoln) – Music/Sound* Matthew Bross (Omaha) – Filmmaking/Screenwriting* Mallika Madduri (Omaha) – Choreography* Henry Zander (Lincoln) – Choreography M Joseph Willette (Lincoln) – Music/Sound* Aly Peeler (Omaha) – Music/Sound* https://jeffreykoterba.

com/ Jeff Koterba is a cartoonist, screenwriter, speaker, and storyteller based in Omaha. His cartoons have appeared in over 800 newspapers worldwide including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Le Monde, and on French national TV, France 24. Koterba’s original drawings have flown on space shuttle Discovery and have been exhibited around the world including Paris.

His memoir, Inklings, was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2009. Entertainment Weekly called Inklings: “…a powerful and moving portrait of an artist. ” In 2024, a feature-length screenplay Jeff Koterba co-wrote was named as a finalist at the Cincinnati Film Festival.

He is currently writing a screenplay about a small-town Nebraska hero who has just returned from Mars, and who must now reconcile a mystical and life-changing experience in space all while attempting to reclaim his life on the farm, and to reconnect to those closest to him. As the host of Morning Classics on Omaha’s classical station, 90.

7 FM, Jeff Koterba shares compelling stories about composers and performers—from the quirky to the touching. A two-time TEDx speaker and creativity coach, I often speak on––and conduct workshops related to––creativity, problem solving, team building, and entrepreneurship. Koterba ha moderated conversations with such notables as Oscar-winning Pixar director, Josh Cooley, and Grammy-nominated jazz singer, Karrin Allyson.

He has written music for, and performed with, my swing band, Prairie Cats, at South by Southwest, the Derby in Hollywood, and the World Trade Center in New York. https://lpunplugged. com/bio Lite Pole, a.

k. a Jonathan Bryce is an emerging artist hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, whose innovative rhyme schemes and whimsical metaphors set him apart as one of the most unconventional and captivating lyricists on the music scene today. A natural- born creative, his passion for art took root in childhood, but it was during 7th grade that his love for music truly ignited.

Inspired by the freestyle sessions of his peers during lunch, he began honing his craft, blending vivid storytelling with intricate wordplay. Over the years, he has evolved into a masterful lyricist and a versatile producer, crafting several projects for other local and national acts. In 2011, he founded UnPlugged Connection™ (UPC), a platform for his music and clothing line.

Through UPC, he strives to inspire peace, elevate consciousness, and revive the lost art of storytelling in hip-hop. With a unique sound and a visionary approach, the artist continues to carve his path, connecting with listeners and leaving an indelible mark on the world of music and beyond. http://www.

fransillau. com/ Fran Sillau has worked extensively within the world of Theater for Young Audiences (TYA—children’s theater) for over twenty-five years. A professional playwright, director and producer, Fran can be found in the classroom as a teaching artist and inclusion consultant.

For 25 years, Fran Sillau served as Director of Accessibility at The Rose Theater, a large TYA theater in the United States, and creating programming for children with disabilities in special education classrooms. Fran Sillau is in the twelfth season as Executive Artistic Director of Circle Theatre, Omaha’s theater for individuals of all abilities.

Under my leadership, the Circle co-commissioned My Broken Doll, a TYA play based on the life of a Holocaust survivor, and Over the River, a play about friendship. Both plays toured the state of Nebraska. In 2016, Sillau directed a regional premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

This production incorporated American Sign Language, shadow interpreting, audio description, as well as actors with physical and developmental disabilities. Fran is also developing new works for the Institute for Holocaust Education. For seven years, Fran Sillau has collaborated with theatrical producer Deborah Denenberg (Dodger Productions and Big League Productions) on The Doll Maker’s Gift.

After tracking the book author down to her home in St. Petersburg, Russia, Fran co-wrote the musical and directed the world premiere at the Rose Theater in 2019. The Omaha World Herald said “Families should flock to this one.

” My latest collaboration with Ms. Denenberg is the musical adaptation of The New York Times best-selling book Just Ask! Our TYA musical premiered at the Coterie Theatre of Kansas City in January of 2025. Fran Sillau served as Artistic Director of Trike Theatre, the professional theatre for youth in Northwest Arkansas for three seasons.

Fran holds an MFA specializing in directing and inclusion from Goddard College. https://arts. unl.

edu/music/person/darryl-white/ Darryl White’s performance experiences include a wide range of idioms. He has appeared as guest soloist and clinician for the International Brass Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Montreux Jazz Festival, the IWB Conference, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the Brandon Jazz Festival, the New Mexico Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and Roaring Fork Jazz Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

Dr. White is currently Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to his position at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he also held positions at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado and University of Denver. White holds a BM degree from Youngstown State University, a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a DMA from the University of Colorado.

White can be heard on several recordings including performances with the Denver Brass, “Rhapsody in Red, White &Blue” on Centaur Records, 1997; and “America, The Golden Dream” on Delos International, 1996. He can also be heard on the Capri Record Label with jazz tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman on a 1997 release entitled “Out on a Whim and a 1999 release entitled “Hard Times”. White currently has three solo recordings released.

The first is a 1999 release entitled, “Ancient Memories,” and a 2002 release entitled “In the Fullness of Time”. The 2002 release features several original compositions including “Lil I” featured on the PBS special “New Beginnings”. In 2008, White collaborated with ECM Recording artist/pianist, Art Lande to release his first classical recording, “Resonance.

” In 2020, White went on sabbatical after 25 years of service as Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University. During this tumultuous period in our nation’s history, White went into the studio to record his fourth CD entitled, “The Serpent and the Dove. ” A recording solely dedicated to all who suffered illness, personal loss and injustice.

Mallika Madduri’s choreographic practice reimagines Bharatanatyam as a dialogue between mathematics, movement, and memory. She works at the intersection of classical structure and contemporary experimentation, exploring how rhythm and geometry can express ideas of identity, belonging, and transformation.

Mallika began learning Bharatanatyam at the age of four under Guru Tumkur Ramanna Master in the Tanjore style—known for its precision, symmetry, and devotional intent. Later training under Karnataka Kalashree Guru Vijaya Marthanda and Guru Jyoti Mohan (Tanjore Quartet lineage), along with studies in Kuchipudi and Kathak, deepened my sense of cross-style understanding.

When Madduri moved to Omaha, she founded the Gurukulam Center for Indian Arts to preserve this lineage while inviting new communities into it. Her personal journey—from India to Nebraska—has become the foundation of her artistic vision: bridging tradition and place, ancestry and innovation. Matt Bross is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate with a BA in theatre.

He is the co-owner and director of photography at a local production company with over 20 years of experience in graphic design, website design, video production and editing. Bross’s video work includes documentaries, multi-camera live performances, theatrical projection design, as well as stop-motion animations. His work has been featured on NET, various broadcast networks, and on stages throughout the community.

The 2011 documentary, The Diavolo Project, premiered at the Mary Riepma Ross film Theater in Lincoln, and the Holland Center in Omaha. Matt Bross and his partner received a 2020 Silver Telly Award for the stop-motion animation for Opera Omaha’s production of Faust and a 2024 Gold Telly Award for the stop-motion La Traviata.

In addition to time at his production company, Matt Bross served as an adjunct professor at UNO in the areas of public health marketing as well as graphic design. In 2013, Matt Bross was selected as a participant in the ADL Glass Leadership Institute. Since 2014, Bross have been a member of the board for Why Arts, a provider of arts education for underserved populations.

Henry Zander is an interdisciplinary performance artist working in music, poetry, photography, wood carving, and dance. He has a BFA in studio art with an interdisciplinary option from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln completed in December 2024.

Born, raised and currently residing in Lincoln, he serves on the board of the Lincoln Zen Center, has spent time on staff at the Angel City Zen Center in Los Angeles, and gives regular talks at both centers. He has received the Captain Irby F. Woods Prize for Poetry, and was a Caniff Scholar.

He collaborated with Michael Sakamoto, Veronica Santiago Moniello as a dancer, Little House Dance Company as a composer and dancer, and Bread and Puppet Circus as a puppeteer. His work was published in Laurus literary magazine in 2019 and 2020, and included in the 35th and 36th Juried Undergraduate Exhibition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. https://mjosephwillette.

wpcomstaging. com M Joseph Willette is a composer and educator currently residing in the bustling city of Lincoln, Nebraska whose work unabashedly centers queer spaces, culture, and community.

Delicate timbres, rich sonorities, and driving club beats capture the intimacies, ecstasies, and tribulations of the human experience, and Joey explores these themes in their eclectic catalogue that ranges from opera to the electro-acoustic avante garde and beyond.

Recent projects include commissions for the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, NE, the prestigious Mid America Freedom Band in Kansas City, and collaboration with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and No Divide KC on “Working Hard & Hardly Working”, an operetta exploring queer vulnerability (libretto by Luke “Skippy” Harbur).

Joey holds degrees in music composition and music education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Wichita State University, and Troy University. With a doctoral cognate in musicology, their additional interests lie in the intersection of performance and gender identity in music. Joey is an amateur photographer, and is fond of poetry, scented candles, and a #4 from Taco Bell with a Baja Blast (no ice).

They are an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. https://alypeeler. bandcamp.

com/album/aly-peeler-friends A multifaceted musician, vocalist, and community leader based in Omaha, Nebraska, this artist has become a defining voice in the city’s music and arts scene. Known for soulful performances and a deep sense of empathy, their work bridges artistry and advocacy—using music to foster connection, comfort, and community engagement.

They lend their dynamic vocals to several acclaimed groups, including The Toast, Omni. Pleasures, Ebba Rose, and Aly Peeler & Friends. Beyond the stage, they sing for a local hospice program, providing peace and reflection for individuals in life’s final transitions.

Their songwriting often intertwines personal experience with historical and social themes—their first original piece was inspired by suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, setting the tone for a career rooted in storytelling and purpose. As Vice President of the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards and a key organizer of Porchfest Omaha, they champion collaboration and accessibility within the arts.

They are passionate about artists being paid their worth, and activating the creative community to take part in civic life and decision-making spaces. Their performances span many of Nebraska’s most celebrated stages and festivals, including Maha, Jazz on the Green, Power and Progress, Lincoln Calling, Grrl Camp, Petfest, and the Omaha Summer Arts Festival.

A recent release, Live Recordings of Aly Peeler & Friends, captures their authentic and improvisational performance style. Inspired daily by their two children, this artist continues to approach their work with warmth, curiosity, and conviction—using music as a vehicle for healing, empowerment, and joy.

The monetary stipend of up to $5,000 is for the duration of a one year fellowship, and artists must be able to show how the funding supported artist related presentations, training, research, and/or creation of new art. Applicants must be 19 years old or older and a resident of Nebraska for two years prior to the application date and remain a resident of Nebraska during the fellowship award period of one year.

In addition, applicants must also submit an attestation of Nebraska residency at least 24 months before submission and attestation of intent to remain in Nebraska during the fellowship, if selected. Applicants must not be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the artistic field in which the application is being made.

Applicants may be enrolled in graduate or certificate-granting program in the artistic field in which the application is being made, the strength of the portfolio outside the graduate or certificate-granting program will be assessed. All applicants must be the originator of the submitted work, not an interpreter of the work of others. Previous winners are eligible to reapply.

Previous winners must complete their grant award requirements and Final Report to be eligible, submit work not previously part of an award-winning application, and can only apply every three years. This is a competitive program based on a professional peer review process.

Applicants are adjudicated according to the merit of their work by out-of-state jurors selected for their expertise as established career professionals in the artistic discipline under consideration. Adjudication is based on each artist’s work, their artist statement, and the artist’s description of how they intend to spend the fellowship year.

The quality of work criteria includes innovation demonstrated by significant critical and aesthetic considerations explored through the art form. Artists must be able to show how the funding supported artist related presentations, training, research, and/or creation of new art. Artists should include information about how they plan to use their fellowship funding in the Artist Statement portion of the application.

Applicants may be awarded up to $5,000 through the Individual Artist Fellowship program. Funds must be used for the creation of new art, presentations, training, and/or research. Please provide your artist biography that highlights your artistic practice and any previous exhibitions, education or related experience.

This will not be visible to the jurors, so you do not need to redact your name. Please provide a descriptions of the body of work you submitted. In the artist’s statement, you can provide deeper insight into your work through your personal history or background, the themes you address, any influences or techniques you use in your process.

Please redact your name from the artist statement. All submissions MUST be in PDF format. In the narrative box, include the following details, as appropriate, with your work samples in • Describe the literary category of this work, i.e. poetry, nonfiction, fiction • Length of submitted piece.

If the submitted piece is a portion of a longer piece or series, • Series title, if applicable For Fiction and Nonfiction submissions: Use manuscript form, typed, pages numbered and double-spaced. Provide 1-2 short stories or novel chapters, not to exceed 50 combined pages in length. If a portion of a novel is submitted, a one-page synopsis can be included (optional, but encouraged) and does not count toward your 50 page limit.

Clearly type your poems using the format in which you intend the poem to be read. Provide up to five poems, not to exceed 30 combined pages in length. *submission note for uploading video or audio work: 1.

On submission page, answer questions. 2. Then click “add images”, and save as a placeholder.

3. When on your submission page, press “edit” on the right hand side of artwork, and you can add corresponding video or audio files or links. 4.

Repeat for each work. Key Terms and Definitions Artist biography: An artist biography highlights your artistic practice and any previous exhibitions, education or related experience. Information included is similar to a CV/Resume, but is in paragraph form.

It delivers how your career highlights have propelled you to your current position and where you are headed. CV/Resume: A List format with relevant dates and details for each accomplishment, including educational, performance, publication, positions, etc. For additional guidance writing a CV, try this link , or try this link for an artist Resume.

(not required for program) Originating Artist: The artist submitting the work is who created the work, which can be differentiated from an artist who performs, interprets, or present a piece of work of another artist. Contact Meagan Dion for more information.