Each year, the Orson Welles Initiative awards unrestricted grants to exceptional American artists working in the fields of film, theater, radio, and more. The 2025 Orson Welles Initiative grants recipients are:

The Orson Welles Grant for New American Plays
Howard Emanuel, Sundogs

The Orson Welles Grant for New American Musical Theatre
Michael Hicks, Sophomore Concert

Gia Mora, Einstein’s Girl

The Orson Welles Grant for Audio Dramas & Comedies

Joseph White, Meet/Cute

The Orson Welles Filmmakers Grant

George Ellzey, Jr., Cottage Grove

Jesse Cowell, Where’s My Package

The Orson Welles Grant for Children’s Programming

Jordan Rivers, Turn the Pages

The Orson Welles Grant for High School Visual Artists

Quincy Kozak, Well Read Woman

WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE ORSON WELLES INITIATIVE.