The Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism Application

The American Theatre Critics Association Belonging, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee (BEID) created the Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism to acknowledge outstanding writing by theater critics and theater journalists from under-represented groups throughout the United States of America. This prize purposes to:

• Reward excellence in the field
• Highlight and encourage journalists who continue the work of increasing the diversification of cultural criticism
• Increase the number of working theater critics and journalists 

• Honor our dynamic colleague Edward Medina, who died in 2021.

Edward Medina was an esteemed, multifaceted career entertainment and production artist and writer, most recently of theater criticism. Soon after joining ATCA in 2017, Medina became a very active member, first serving on the Membership and BEID Committees, and eventually, the Executive Committee. Throughout his time with ATCA, Medina emphasized the importance and responsibility of our organization to create opportunities for young critics, particularly those with diverse backgrounds.

The Prize includes $500 for the recipient, to be paid via check, PayPal or Venmo. It also includes free registration and accommodations to attend the ATCA annual convening in November in New York City where the award will be presented the BEID Committee and Medina's partner, Nate Hinkle.

Entry Guidelines: The prize is for an article, essay, op-ed, think piece, or other cultural criticism that (1) comments on a specific piece (or pieces) of theater or the at-large theater industry and (2) pertains to an under-represented or marginalized group. Entries must be:

• By writers from under-represented groups in theater journalism and criticism only (women, people of the global majority, trans, and/or non-binary)
• 3000 words or less total
• Published after September 1, 2021

Entries may have been published anywhere in any form.