Professional Development Program FAQs
Q: How can I keep up to date on when opportunities are available?
A: You can follow us on social media @sdcfoundation on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also join our general mailing list (which includes all opportunities and programming we have available for the public throughout the year) here.
Q: Is housing and travel included or covered for these opportunities?
A: Travel and housing are not included in these opportunities at this time, unless explicitly stated for a specific opportunity. As we execute each season of the cycle and work towards growing the program, we will continue to evaluate the best way to create more accessible and equitable programming. As opportunities travel across the country, we will prioritize local artists in these different regions.
Q: How many times can I be a Shadow, Observer, or Fellow?
A: You can be Shadow once, an Observer once, and a Fellow once. Once you have received one of these opportunities, you will no longer be eligible for that type of opportunity. (For instance, if you are chosen to be a Shadow, you could not be a Shadow again but you could apply to be an Observer or Fellow moving forward.)
Additionally, if you received one of these opportunities, in order to apply for another one, you must wait a year to apply.
Q: If I applied in previous cycles, do I need to apply again?
A: Yes, you would need to apply again, even if you already applied in a previous cycle in the same season.
Q: I want to work on a specific production that isn’t one listed in the available opportunities, can I set up a separate professional development opportunity?
A: SDCF staff select opportunities by balancing a number of criteria: musicals and plays; classics, revivals, and new works; locations in New York State and regional theatres across the U.S.; first-time mentors and former mentors; opportunities for directors, choreographers, and director/choreographers, among other considerations. Candidates may not set up opportunities beyond those selected and administered through the Professional Development Program.
Q: A director/choreographer who I have been trying to work with for years says they will hire me to work on their production as an assistant, but they don’t have funding for me. Can I do this through the Professional Development program?
A: Please see above. The Professional Development Program cannot be used to support funding for independent projects.
Q: Are there any tips for writing a strong application?
A: Yes! You can review this list of application tips here
Q: How will my application be evaluated?
A: Applications will be evaluated by the SDCF staff as well as a panel of directors and choreographers. If you are a finalist for an opportunity, you will be contacted by SDCF staff. Applications are evaluated on the following three categories:
Clarity: The applicant’s ability to articulate interest, with specificity, in the theatrical art form and in their own work as a director and/or choreographer. Their response has clarity of thought, understanding, and focus.
Timing: The applicant speaks to why this is the specific right moment in their career to participate in the given opportunity.
Access & Impact: The applicant articulates why this production opportunity would give them access to knowledge and/or a type of educational theatrical experience they do not currently have.
Q: Can I get feedback on my application?
A: Due to the number of applications we anticipate receiving, we will not be able to provide feedback.
Q: I see some Named Fellowships are only for SDC Members and Associate Members – if I am not a Member can I apply for the Professional Development program?
A: Yes, most opportunities will be available to all to apply. The program now incorporates some of the Named Fellowships into the SDCF Professional Development Program cycle process. Those opportunities will be clearly labeled as such and who can apply for the opportunity.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to SDCF at foundation@sdcfoundation.org