NEW YORK CITY: In response to a report from January that highlighted the lag in racial diversity on the staffs of New York nonprofit arts groups relative to the city’s demographics, the Theater Subdistrict Council* has announced a new diversity grant program. It will award up to $2 million in grants to theatre organizations looking to increase the diversity of their administrative and non-performing creative staff.
The grants will range from $50,000 to $250,000. As per the guidelines listed on the Subdistrict Council’s website, the grants must go toward providing fellowships, apprenticeships, or training positions, and provide clear paths to preparing people for further employment. These training opportunities must be for non-performing positions, including production and technical personnel, administrative and management positions, directors, designers, playwrights, composers, lyricists, casting agents, etc.
The grants are open to producers or presenters of professional theatre, or organizations that provide professional theatre-related services, within the five boroughs of NYC. The organizations also need to be incorporated in New York state, in operation for at least two years, and have an operating income of $250,000 or more.
The granting period will be between Jan. 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. Organizations are invited to submit an Intent to Apply form by May 11, 2016. A select field of applicants will then be invited to submit a full grant application by Sep. 26, 2016. Information sessions will be held March 24, 25, and 28.
Additional information about the grant can be found here.
*A previous version of this article identified the Theater Subdistrict Council as a branch of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. It’s actually an independent nonprofit.
