Launched in September 2020 by Cody Renard Richard in partnership with Broadway Advocacy Coalition, this year’s Scholarship includes a new initiative supported by The Theater Leadership Project.
New York, NY – Applications for The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program are now open. The program seeks to honor, uplift, and support the next generation of Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) theatermakers working behind the scenes. Submissions are currently being accepted through Sunday, December 5th at 11:59 p.m. EST.
The 2nd cycle of The CRR Scholarship Program will grant each recipient a $5,000 scholarship and will offer the cohort five online work sessions connected to leadership, community building, social justice, and mentorship. With support from The Theater Leadership Project, this year’s scholars will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with mentors and experience and learn about Broadway and New York’s theater scene in person.
“I’m extremely proud to be launching the next round of this scholarship program. What started as a dream, became something much bigger than I could have ever imagined” says Richard. “Our inaugural cohort taught me so much – they reminded me of the true power of community and how important it is to be intentional about the spaces we create. I’m beyond grateful to build upon the foundation of our first year by offering even more resources to these future leaders of our industry.”
“We are looking forward to deepening our commitment to being in community with this year’s cohort”, said Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s Program and Partnership Producer Dria Brown. “Providing spaces that celebrate and nurture our industry’s future is integral in envisioning what leadership means and what it looks like.”
In its inaugural year, the program brought in 15 students and distributed $60,000 in scholarship funds amongst them. The students participated in work sessions with Richard, Zhailon Levingston, Nicole Brewer, Schele Williams, Clint Ramos, Brian Moreland, and other prominent leaders from the theatre industry.
“The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program offered me something I could only dream about,” says Brillian Qi Bell, a 2020-21 recipient. “For the first time in my life, I had access to mentors of color & a cohort of friends who were people of color in the backstage industry. It often feels isolating being the only person of color in the room. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to feel safe & understood by my peers.”
“This was such an amazingly safe space to talk openly and freely about how we, as BIPOC artists, can come together and make a serious impact and change in the theatre community”, said another 2020-21 recipient Annelise Salazar. “It was something so powerful and inspiring. I was both honored and humbled to be in the room with so many amazing artists WHO ARE THE FUTURE OF THEATRE and whom I have made lifelong connections with! Let us keep helping the next in line and pushing the conversation onward!”
Submissions are currently being accepted through Sunday, December 5th at 11:59pm EST. Applicants will be selected and informed by late December 2021. Eligible applicants will need to submit a one-minute video essay describing why they are the ideal candidate for the program, along with their current transcript and two letters of recommendation.
For additional information, or to donate or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please visit CodyRenard.com/scholarship, email scholarship@codyrenard.com, or @CRRScholarship on Instagram
About CRR Scholarship Program
The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program strives to:
- Encourage more Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, and other students of Color to pursue degrees in the theatrical management and artistic fields, such as Stage Management, Technical Theatre, Theatre Design, Playwriting, Directing or Theatre Management.
- Cultivate and provide a space for the next generation of BIPOC artists, while honoring, recognizing, and welcoming their future contributions to the theatrical world.
- Connect our scholars with theatrical and community leaders of color, to help cultivate their leadership and advocacy skills to encourage them to be change agents in their own communities and within the industry.
- Create a community of scholars who will learn and grow together throughout their various educational journeys.
- Remind BIPOC individuals that their voices and talents are needed and will be supported.
Further information from the Cody Renard Richard: https://www.codyrenard.com/scholarship
Further information from the Broadway Advocacy Coalition: www.bwayadvocacycoalition.org
Further Information from The Theater Leadership Project: www.theatreleadershipproject.org
