YouTube announces scholarship for NIDA
YouTube has announced a new scholarship for three creatives to study at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA).
The online video sharing platform will commit up to $100,000 USD (approximately $135,00 AUD) to provide this unique opportunity launching in 2021.
One scholarship (approximately $44,000 AUD) will be awarded each year for the next three years to a student from a background that has historically been underrepresented on screen and stage. The successful applicant will receive financial support to help with living expenses or to cover the full course tuition fees.
Head of YouTube Content Partnerships, Ed Miles’ spoke about the scholarship and how it encourages diversity and ensures everyone is represented.
“YouTube creates the accessible conditions within which diversity can flourish and where everyone has a voice – and we love being able to carry this over into the wider artistic and creative community,” Miles said.
“With so much talent in Australia, we are committed to helping uncover and foster the careers of creatives by investing in and supporting initiatives like this scholarship. We hope that by providing this assistance, aspiring students who may not have otherwise considered applying to NIDA will be encouraged to do so, and form part of the new generation of diverse NIDA graduates.”
The YouTube Scholarship will be awarded to a successful applicant of any of NIDA’s six Bachelor of Fine Arts undergraduate courses. These span across acting, design for performance, costume-making, props-making, set construction and technical theatre and stage management.
NIDA CEO, Liz Hughes, was grateful for YouTube’s support and spoke about what that means for school as a place that celebrates diversity.
“We wholeheartedly thank YouTube for their support of NIDA and the artistic community. We want to encourage creative and passionate individuals across Australia to apply to study at NIDA and to remove barriers for individuals to do so,” Hughes said.
“The YouTube Scholarship provides invaluable support for three future students to attend NIDA: one commencing in 2021, one in 2022, and one in 2023. Our goal is for NIDA graduates to be representative of the diversity of contemporary Australia.
“We want NIDA to be a place where every person feels supported and safe to bring their whole self, to tell stories, and so be a courageous and creative voice for the nation.”
Billed as one of the world’s top drama schools, alongside Julliard and Yale, NIDA has built a reputation on practice-based industry-relevant training. Renowned for its acting degree, NIDA also trains creative collaborators including costume, set, video/lighting designers, stage managers, costume makes, scenic artists and set builders.
Some of NIDA’s 2000s alumni include Yael Stone (‘Orange Is the New Black’), Ryan Corr (‘Holding the Man’), Meyne Wyatt (‘City of Gold’), Lee Lewis (Queensland Theatre Company), Kip Williams (Sydney Theatre Company) and Jacob Nash (Bangarra Dance Theatre).
Applications for this extraordinary opportunity have been extended until Saturday, 31 October 2020. Individuals who have already completed their application will benefit from the same deadline extension to apply for the scholarship.
First Nations and People of Colour, people with disability, those from remote and regional areas or those experiencing barriers to access are strongly encouraged to apply.
For more information and to apply, visit NIDA’s website.
Imagery sourced and supplied via NIDA’s Website.
