NEW YORK CITY: The Public Theater has named 10 new playwrights for the 2020-22 Emerging Writers Group. Now in its eight cycle, the initiative provides an artistic home, support, and resources to a group of up-and-coming writers. Selected from a pool of 550 submissions, this year’s cohort includes Nissy Aya, Aya Aziz, Francisca Da Silveira, Katie Do, Timothy DuWhite, Ying Ying Li, Julián Mesri, AriDy Nox, Jacob Marx Rice, and Else Went.

“These 10 incredible artists represent the future of our field,” said the new-work development team’s Jesse Cameron Alick, Gabe Lozada, Jack Phillips Moore, and Cat Rodríguez in a joint statement. “Many are multi-hyphenate artists, and each possesses a unique voice and entryway into their artistic practice, from poetry to community organizing. We couldn’t be happier to welcome them to EWG. Though the communal space we build together will need to be digital for the time being, we look forward to the next two years’ worth of fellowship and art-making with these brilliant humans.”

Selected biennially, members of the Emerging Writers Group receive a two-year fellowship at the Public Theater and a stipend. Members of the Emerging Writers Group participate in a bi-weekly writers group, master classes, and observe rehearsals for productions at the Public. In addition, staged readings of works by members of the Emerging Writers Group will be presented as part of the Public’s Spotlight Series.