Every new show comes with a lingering sense of anxiety for Heather Christian during previews. But “Oratorio for Living Things,” at the Signature Theater, has come with reassurance: On the first day of rehearsals a few weeks ago, Christian learned she would be a MacArthur Foundation fellow.
Christian, 44, a composer and playwright, is one of 22 recipients of this year’s award, popularly known as a “genius grant.”
Honorees, described by the foundation as exceptionally creative people with a record of significant accomplishments and the potential for continued achievement, receive $800,000 over five years. Since 1981, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has awarded the no-strings-attached fellowship to 1,153 people.
The class includes an atmospheric scientist who studies tropical weather, a seventh-generation Wabanaki basket maker and a novelist focusing on Native Americans.
“The 2025 MacArthur Fellows expand the boundaries of knowledge, artistry and human understanding,” Kristen Mack, a foundation vice president, said in a statement.
Fellows do not apply for the honor; they are selected by a pool of anonymous nominators across the country and evaluated by a rotating selection committee of leaders in the arts, sciences, humanities and other areas.
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The post MacArthur Foundation Announces 2025 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners appeared first on New York Times.
