2026 Fertile Ground Venue Application

If you plan to apply for a GROW Grant, please DO NOT use this application! Venue applications are included in the GROW Grant application.

About the Venue Lottery process:

Each Venue - 21ten, The Back Door, The Boiler Room, and The House Studio - will have its own lottery; you will only be placed in the lottery for the Venue you select. If there are available slots in a different Venue after the initial lottery is complete, we will conduct a 2nd lottery pull for each remaining/unassigned project that seems like a good fit for that different Venue. We will likely reach out to you to ask if you would like to be placed in a lottery for a different space.

In addition to paying the per-performance rental fee, each project is required to register for the Festival and pay the $135 registration fee.

About selecting a Venue:

21ten Theatre will work best for shows that are light and lean – solo shows, small-cast workshops productions with fewer technical needs, and staged readings. This tends to be one of our more tightly-programmed venues with minimal storage space, so it’s important that Producers who select this space have minimal set-up/breakdown needs. Audience Capacity of 40; total Venue Capacity of 49; $150 rental fee per performance.
The Back Door* and The House Studio are great venues for a staged reading or workshop production that is ready to start playing around with lighting, sound, and/or projections. Audience Capacity of approx. 40 seats at both venues; $150 rental fee per performance.
The Boiler Room at Portland State University will be mostly run by PSU student interns, which means a little less scheduling flexibility but lots of great amenities. This space is designed for projects in an advanced workshop phase, ready to make use of the lighting and sound playground this venue has to offer. Producers applying for this venue should be prepared to commit to a minimum number of 4 performances. Audience Capacity of 64; total Venue Capacity of 86; $200 rental fee per performance.

*Note: Back Door Theatre is home to Fuse Theatre Ensemble, whose focus is the representation and celebration of marginalized groups, with a strong background in Queer works. People who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ will be prioritized in the lottery for the Back Door Theatre. Disclosing your identity is voluntary (optional) and only affects the selection process for the Back Door Theatre.

For more details about all of our 2026 Partner Venues, please visit fertilegroundpdx.org/venues

Primary Contact Name*

First NameLast Name

Primary Contact Title or Role*

E-Mail Address*

example@example.com

Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.

Preferred Festival Venue:*

If your preferred Venue is no longer available by the time you are drawn in the lottery, do you have a second choice of Venue?*

Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, or does your project offer significant representation of LGBTQIA2S+ stories?

YesNo

Are you a Portland State University Student or recent alum?

Current StudentRecent Alum

Project Title*

Producing Organization or Individual*

Project Creator(s)*

Project Collaborators (if applicable)

Please provide a brief description of your project:*

0/200

Please describe the intended audience for your performance:*

0/200

Approximate Run Time*

Desired number of performances:*

12-34-56+

Cast Size/Number of Performers*

Project Discipline (select all that apply)*

What best describes the lighting needs of your project?*

Basic lights-up/lights-downA few programmed or internal lighting cuesSpecifically focused or colored lightsLighting as an integral production elementOther

What best describes the sound needs of your project? (select all that apply)*

What best describes the set/scenic needs of your project?*

No needs, and the ability to perform on an existing set (with ample open space available)A completely empty stageBasic chairs & music standsA variety of moveable scenic elementsLarge scenic elements requiring significant installationOther

What best describes the projection needs of your project?*

No projection needsA few projection moments, using a standard projection screen/surfaceProjection as an integral element to the productionComplicated projection cueingOther

Does you project have any other specialized technical needs that we should know about? If so, please describe.*

How much storage space will you need/how many and what sizes of items will you need to store at the venue?*

Each project receives an assigned load-in and rehearsal time slot prior to scheduled performances. Are there any dates/times between April 6th and April 26th that you are NOT available to perform or load in/rehearse? Please describe in as much detail as possible.*

Is there anything else we should know about your project?

I understand submitting this application does not guarantee my placement in a venue, and that if I am placed in a venue I will be assigned performance dates and times and not be able to choose my own.*

I Agree

2026 Fertile Ground Venue Application

Producer Information

Project & Venue Information

Additional Information