Listen to this articleA career in acting is the lifelong ambition of many young people. While breaking into the acting world can be challenging, it is possible with the help of dedicated and focused academic scholarships.
Acting school is a highly rewarding course of study, but it is expensive and there are not very many scholarships available in this field. The advantages of getting an acting scholarship are many, including building a respectable professional network to find new opportunities.
These 10 scholarships are focused on acting and film studies, and they will be able to help young actors build a solid foundation in their field to get more and better parts during the course of their careers.
1. Nancy Etz Scholarship
The Nancy Etz Scholarship is intended for excellent students in all fields of study, including acting. Students must be currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program. Alternatively, they can be high school seniors who have been accepted into a college or university.
The winner of the $1,000 scholarship is determined by responding to this 500-word essay prompt: “Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart”.
This year’s scholarship application deadline is February 1, 2022. Winners will be notified by the end of February.
2. Barbizon College Tuition Scholarship
This scholarship is an incredible opportunity for students in all fields including acting. The scholarship is awarded in the amount of $10,000 per year for four years. Students who apply for this scholarship must be seniors in high school who are already accepted to attend an institute of higher education. Next year’s deadline is yet to be determined.
3. Heroes and Legends Scholarship
The Heroes and Legends Scholarship is intended for minority and/or at-risk youth. This scholarship recognizes drive and persistence. Scholarship applicants must be studying in a performing arts discipline, including acting.
This scholarship is targeted to students who live or study in the region of Southern California. They must be able to show that they are positive community role models. The deadline for this year has not been established.
4. Princess Grace Foundation Awards for Film
The Princess Grace Foundation scholarship can be won by students who are participating in film, theater, and dance programs. This is a prestigious award, and students may not nominate themselves. Applications for the 2020-21 academic year begin on September 1, 2020.
5. Donna Reed Foundation Scholarships
This scholarship is targeted toward students who are graduating from an Iowa high school. Students must be accomplished drama students who have performed in official school productions. Students must show proof of their acceptance to a qualifying college or university. They must also keep a 3.0 grade point average and demonstrate their superb acting skills with a video. The final date that applications will be accepted is May 31, 2021.
6. George Heller Memorial Scholarship
An annual $2,500 scholarship is awarded by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. It is intended for existing members of SAG-AFTRA and their qualifying legal dependents. This scholarship is available to performing arts students only, including acting students, and it may be used for tuition and fees at four-year colleges and universities. This year’s applications open on December 4, 2020.
7. Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship
Intended for students from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, this award is worth between $500 and $2,000 annually. Students must be pursuing degrees in performance, media, or visual arts, including acting.
Students need to hold a 2.5 GPA and write a brief personal essay to be considered for the award.
8. DePaul University Theatre Performance Scholarship
This highly competitive award is worth between $15,000 and $30,000 annually. Students in the drama school at DePaul University are eligible to compete. The scholarship is renewable annually for up to four years. Students must maintain academic excellence to receive the scholarship.
9. CBC Spouses Performing/Visual Arts Scholarship
This scholarship is available to constituents of the Congressional Black Caucus. It is for African American students who want to pursue careers in the performing arts, including acting. Each year, 10 $3,000 awards are made. Students are able to reapply for consideration during their four-year college careers.
10. Chicago Drama League Retention Scholarship
Columbia College Chicago offers this $1,500 award to full-time acting majors at their school. Students must be able to display both financial need and academic excellence.
11. Donal Harrington Memorial Scholarship
Awarded by the University of Washington School of Drama, this scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is available to students residing in Washington state. These students must be full-time participants in the B.A. in Drama or M.F.A. in Acting programs at the university. Students need to show financial need as well as maintaining an excellent grade point average.
Finding Scholarships for Acting Students
While acting scholarships are relatively rare compared to opportunities in other fields, students who excel in the classroom and on stage will be able to find appropriate openings. Scholarships can be a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to avoiding excessive student loan balances. These 11 scholarships could show the way toward a more successful future in the acting field.
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