The Public and The Old Globe to Co-Host 26-27 BIPOC Critics Lab

The Public Theater and The Old Globe will be co-hosting cultural critic Jose Solís’ BIPOC Critics Lab during the theaters’ 2026-27 season with a joint cohort, which will mark the program’s first bi-coastal cohort. Following three successful years of the program, The Public is continuing Solís’ commitment to creating an educational space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) writers in the realm of cultural criticism. Partnering with The Old Globe across the country will allow the opportunity for even more individuals to be impacted by this program’s ability to jumpstart their careers in arts journalism. Applications are now open for the upcoming cohort and applicants who reside within a commutable distance to each theater will be eligible for consideration.

Alumni from the BIPOC Critics Lab have gone on to hold freelance posts and editorial positions at many notable outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, TDF Stages, American Theatre, 3Views, The Hat, Brooklyn Rail, Elle, and more.

Sessions for the Lab will span the course of The Public and The Old Globe’s 2026-2027 season, with the primary instruction to take place on Zoom during the fall and in-person opportunities at both theaters throughout the spring. Those chosen to participate will receive offers to join the cohort in August, with the cohort kicking off in early September. For more information on this iteration of the BIPOC Critics Lab and to apply, visit publictheater.org. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 24.

The Public has long operated on the principles that theater is an essential cultural force and that art and culture belong to everyone. Hosting the BIPOC Critics Lab at The Public for a fourth season aligns directly with the goals outlined in The Public’s Cultural Transformation Plan, acknowledging that the field of arts journalism and the theater industry have historically upheld white supremacy, and, as a result, critics of color have far too often been left out of the conversation. In parallel, The Old Globe’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and access is deeply embedded in its mission to create theater that reflects and serves its community, as well as in its ongoing Social Justice Roadmap. By investing in programs that uplift historically underrepresented voices and challenge systemic inequities within the field, the Globe affirms its role as a civic institution dedicated to cultural transformation. Together, these aligned values underscore a shared investment in expanding who gets to shape critical discourse and ensuring a more inclusive and representative American theater.

12 members have successfully completed their training for the BIPOC Critics Lab over the past year. These writers are Anna Aguiar Kosicki, Serena Arora, Artel Great, Branden Janese, Timiki Salinas, Ankita Sharma, Julia Wojciechowska, Isaac Woon, Yashmita, Melvin Ningyao Yen, Hope Yoon, and Rohan Zhou-Lee. In addition to their writing, these cohort members bring expertise in film, acting, music, visual arts curation, politics, storytelling, movement and dance, costume and set production, accessibility, photography, video games, and arts organizing. These writers are passionate and eager to join the cultural conversation in both New York City and beyond. To add these individuals to your press lists, please email BIPOCCriticsLab@publictheater.org to receive their contact information.

In a continued effort to further the movement initiated by Jose Solís and to expand both past and present cohorts’ networks, The Public welcomes theaters in New York City, arts and cultural press agencies, and regional theaters around the world to collaborate with the Lab’s early career BIPOC journalists for future commissioning opportunities. Institutions are also invited to host their own cohort of the BIPOC Critics Lab to expand the number of opportunities. To learn more, please email BIPOCCriticsLab@publictheater.org.

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