SDCF Now Accepting G.A.I. Proposals

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) is now accepting grant proposals for SDCF’s Guest Artist Initiative Program.  Through this program, SDCF facilitates and funds the hiring of professional SDC Directors and Choreographers to helm theatre productions at universities and colleges across the country.  To date, funding and/or facilitation services have been granted to schools including Arizona State University (twice), Colorado State University, Eastern Mennonite University, Fordham University, Louisiana State University, Marymount Manhattan College, Michigan State University, Morehead University, University of Evansville, and University Nevada Las Vegas.

The experiences funded through this program have been positively received by all involved – the university community, students, audience members and artists.  Rob Roznowski, Head of Acting and Directing at Michigan State, states about the Guest Artist Initiative grant, “What a great success it was having Jen Bender here. We were expecting her professionalism and high standards — what we did not expect was her kindness, compassion and sincere interest in our students’ education.  It was a resounding success.”

American colleges and universities may apply for matching funds of up to $5000 for a Guest Artist Fee for a director or choreographer for a specific project.  Interested schools may apply by submitting a completed application form for a production to SDCF.  An SDCF panel comprised of professional directors and choreographers, arts administrators, and college educators will select the productions to be awarded grants. SDCF will furnish up to $6,000 to be shared by at least two schools.

Project Eligibility

  • Project must be produced by a regionally or nationally accredited American college or university located in the United States
  • Project must be mounted by December 31, 2014
  • Project must be fully funded
  • Project must be truly open to Guest Artist applicants; the school must not have either already hired the Guest Artist or have honed in on a Guest Artist candidate

 

Schools that have received funding in the last two years for the Guest Artist Initiative are ineligible to apply. This does not apply to schools that have received only hiring facilitation from SDCF; only schools funded in June 2011 and June 2012 are ineligible.

Eligible schools interested in applying for the SDCF Guest Artist Initiative Program can download the Guest Artist Initiative Application and Guidelines. Submissions will be accepted until May 13, 2013 at 11:59pm EST. We encourage early application as no applications will be accepted after this date. The selected schools will be notified by June 14, 2013. If requested, basic feedback will be given by SDCF staff on any proposal draft received by April 30, 2013.

  Guest Artist Initiative Grant Guidelines

  Guest Artist Initiative Application 2013-2014 (Word doc) |   PDF

For further information on this program and other SDCF programs, contact Ellen Rusconi, Producing Director, with any questions regarding eligibility, guidelines and application process at ERusconi@sdcweb.org or (646) 524-2226.