NEW YORK CITY: TheFrontOffice Foundation, the charitable arm of director/producer Wendy C. Goldberg’s TheFrontOffice leisure firm, has introduced a mid-career grant to a female-identifying theatre director that may function one of many largest monetary awards to a person director. With a handbag of greater than $25,000, the grant can be each merit- and need-based, and is meant each to honor the profession of a deserving artist and to maintain a highlight on the gender inequities within the theatre subject. Applications are actually being accepted by Oct. 31.
“Just prior to the pandemic, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers released a study entitled ‘On the Edge,’ where we finally learned the truth to what we all already anecdotally knew: Once a female director hits what should be the height of her/their career, they instead drop off and out of the active working membership at a startling rate,” stated Goldberg in a press release. “Gender bias, overall lack of equity, lack of resources, and lack of consideration for larger and even more commercial opportunities are all barriers to this progress. With the help of some additional leaders in these efforts, we’re creating a mid-career grant for a female-identifying director which is one of the largest financial grants to a theatre director. Currently there is no support quite like this. It’s also special because it’s designed to encourage directors to also give back to our community, and many of my colleagues have gratefully stepped right up.”
To wit, the award is being funded by Rachel Chavkin, Tamilla Woodard, Lear DeBessonet, Wendy C. Goldberg and TheFrontOffice, Lila Neugebauer, and particular person donors Peggy J. Koenig and Jerry and Roz Meyer.
“This is not a pipeline issue,” stated Chavkin in a press release. “This grant is simply about recognizing an artist already thriving in her/their career, which sadly may not translate to financial stability. Hopefully this award both sheds light on that challenging reality, encourages more hiring of people who haven’t yet made their Broadway debut in the commercial sphere, and helps inspire new necessary funding for mid-career directors. It’s an honor to stand with these treasured colleagues in supporting this grant.”
The grant utility, which can be within the type of nominations and self-nominations, can be reviewed by a variety committee led by Wendy Goldberg, Patricia McGregor, Robert O’Hara, Lisa Peterson, and Chay Yew. The recipient can be introduced on Dec. 1. Requests for functions will be despatched to thefrontofficegrants@gmail.com.
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