Since 1983, NW New Works has been a vibrant celebration of artists from all performance disciplines, showcasing the dynamic arts community of the Pacific Northwest.
NWNW has an extensive history of presenting emerging works, with past festivals featuring renowned artists and groundbreaking performances that have left an indelible mark on the arts community, including:, Degenerate Art Ensemble, zoe | juniper, Wade Madsen, Waxie Moon, Amy O’Neal, Peggy Piacenza, Cherdonna Shinatra, Kultur Shock, Molly Sides, dani tirrell, Fox Whitney, Keyes Wiley, and many more.
In an effort to make the festival more equitable and responsive to the regional arts community, we updated the festival model in 2025 to feature a selection process led by a curatorial cohort made up of regional artists, educators, and arts professionals. The new model also includes: higher, more equitable artist fees; stipends for project development; rehearsal space; production support; and professional development sessions with our Marketing team.
Photo: Akoiya Harris & Kearia “Keke” Duncan in NWNW 2025 by Allina Yang