Family-Integrated Creative Support

Provides $25,000 grants to artist mothers in New York City with children under three years old to subsidize one year of childcare of their choice, enabling them to sustain their artistic practice during early motherhood.

Hosts family-friendly residency opportunities for artist mothers in Wassaic, NY; Berkeley, CA; and Portland, OR, providing dedicated time and space for creative work while accommodating parenting responsibilities.

Offers financial grants and institutional backing to support artist mothers with childcare, education, and logistical needs, addressing the systemic crisis of care that impacts their ability to continue creating art.

Mentored over 75 young professionals through fellowship and internship programs and provided instruction at institutions including Northwestern University, The Chapin School, and Hunts Point Alliance for Children.

Developed a five-year strategic plan through a nine-month community engagement process involving over fifty community members, guiding organizational development and growth.

Administers the Bryan Gallace/Posthumous Prodigy Productions Fellowship and the Bader+Simon Empowerment Grant, providing financial support, mentorship, and producing opportunities to underrepresented and early-career artists.

Provides time, space, and support for artists, playwrights, and artist-parents to create through fully subsidized residency programs at Ryder Farm, including multi-week programs culminating in presentations of new work. The organization has hosted over 1,600 residents since inception, with programs such as The Working Farm and Family Residency offering discipline-specific and family-inclusive opportunities.

Creates, produces, and invests in theatrical productions such as Slave Play, The Wiz (2024), Sweeney Todd (2017), and Gypsy (2014), presenting them in venues across the U.S., U.K., and internationally. The organization has produced multiple award-nominated and record-setting plays.

Offers the Engaging Futures Internship to provide education, skills, and opportunities to currently incarcerated individuals to support successful reentry into society.

Offers targeted residency opportunities including The Greenhouse for emerging artists and institutional residencies for theater and arts organizations, providing creative development space and resources. These programs support artistic growth and collaboration across disciplines.

Advocates for systemic change in the performing arts by amplifying testimony from parents of color, endorsing anti-racist initiatives such as We See You White American Theatre, and supporting fair wage and leadership candidates aligned with caregiver support, including the Fair Wage On Council Slate and Actors' Equity leadership candidates.

Provides ongoing community-building opportunities through monthly Zoom calls, affinity-based gatherings, in-person meetups, story circles, and digital affinity spaces tailored to identities such as BIPOC mothers, Black mothers, single mothers, and those experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Also hosts the annual PAAL International Summit, including hybrid and virtual events, with the inaugural summit held at The Public Theater and livestreamed on HowlRound TV.

Provides institutional members with grant partnership development and consultation services to strengthen caregiver support infrastructure and funding access.

Funds childcare grants for individual and institutional members through proceeds from merchandise sales and collaborative partnerships, including with the Sustainable Arts Foundation; awarded over $25,000 in emergency grants during the COVID-19 crisis for childcare, elder care, and income-loss support.

Supports the creation of local chapters that foster community among parent artists and collaborate with regional institutions to design and implement localized caregiver support programs.

Offers free services to members, including one-on-one consultant sessions, one free consultation on the PAAL Handbook for Institutions, and access to digital resources, particularly developed during the pandemic to support caregivers in the arts.

Conducts and disseminates research on caregiver-related policies, including data analysis showing increased maternity leave for Black non-Hispanic mothers and improved infant health outcomes linked to paid disability leave programs, particularly benefiting African American and unmarried mothers.

Provides institutional members with access to six care support training workshops in 2025 and facilitates PAAL Cohorts, a shared learning program that guides theatres in implementing caregiver support solutions.