Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

Early-Career Artist Project Grantee | $8,000

IN THE CAMPS: A Refugee Musical

Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay will follow the lives of Laotian families who have escaped communist Laos and are awaiting resettlement approvals in Saint Paul, MN to create a musical told from these survivors’ perspectives. The musical, “IN THE CAMPS: A REFUGEE MUSICAL,” will be told through traditional folktales and songs informed by 70s-80s Lao, Thai, and American pop and will explores trauma and healing, while simultaneously interrogating U.S. policy. Two staged readings of IN THE CAMPS will be presented to the public.

Forecast has been offering early-career artist grants supported by Jerome Foundation since 1989. In addition to funding, Forecast is dedicated to providing professional development and learning opportunities designed to assist emerging artists as they experiment/ hone their practices, and cultivate careers in the field. Forecast mid- and early-career grants are designed to support independent projects, leadership development, professional development, risk-taking, multidisciplinary approaches, and collaborative problem-solving in the field of public art.