In April of 1986, a group of theatre, film, and television professionals gathered to explore the trend in the entertainment arts toward exploitative and sensational material. 

They concluded there was a need to engage and support writers whose work sought a goal beyond mere entertainment, work that sought to empower and uplift.  It was out of this meeting that The New Harmony Project was created.

For more than three decades, The New Harmony Project’s primary program has been creating a community of artists together in the spring of each year to serve writers who are striving to make a difference. With the peaceful serenity of New Harmony, Indiana as the backdrop, writers are provided time and space to dream, create, develop, and workshop new scripts. The conference stands apart from other programs in the country with its focus on community. Conversations are had, meals are enjoyed, and the work is shared collectively.

In 2017, The New Harmony Project began to dramatically expand its programmatic offerings to include workshops, developmental support, commissions, residencies, and retreats throughout the year, in both Central and Southern Indiana. When the COVID pandemic hit, these programs were paused.

In 2022, The New Harmony Project adopted a new strategic vision for the organization designed to build a more just, equitable, antiracist, and impactful organization. The mission was updated to reflect a new set of values, and recognizes that hope is complicated and deeply personal. The Project is committed to nurturing writers so they can change the world.

Following a leadership transition in 2024, The New Harmony Project began to expand its support and care of alumni writers, as well as significantly expanding support for the further development of new work through PlayFest Indy, a week-long celebration of new plays.