Film, theater, dance students offered grants of up to $25,000

Undergraduates who study theater, film and music have been presented with an opportunity to receive up to a year free of college tuition since 1984. Future artists with great potential will be rewarded for their excellence.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA offers students up to $25,000 in grants to pay for tuition to all film, dance and theater majors, in addition to a year of paid salary for those already in the workforce. Applications, a statement of purpose, resume, photo, recommendation from the dean of the participant’s school and three samples of work
are all required to meet the deadlines at various dates, beginning March 31.

“After students send in their criteria, in June we have a panel of professionals in the theater field who sit down and choose who the winners are,” said Christine Kite,
communications manager for the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

All those with artistic quality and a potential future for excellence can apply for the grant the foundation offers, according to the foundation’s Web site. Students will compete against 50 to 80 applicants per category and about five to seven participants will be chosen by the end of June, Kite said. After the winners are notified they will fly to New York to attend a decadent gala and will be awarded their scholarship, Kite said.

“Our target candidates for the grant are college students who are looking for artistic excellence and the best people in the country that given year,” she said.

Students from Ohio University, University of Southern California and New York University have been awarded grants or fellowships through the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

Many applicants are highly competitive and follow certain rules to capture the judge’s attention.

“Make sure you put your best foot forward,” said Kite. “What you want the panel to see should be placed first on your DVD because the artist usually offers multiple sources.”

Being confident in your approach and who you are as an artist are two important tasks
to follow when you apply, Kite said.

Many IU students are unaware of this foundation, junior Hillary Kern said. They are notified through advisors about local scholarships but have never heard of such an elaborate offer, she said.

Kern, a theater major at IU, said she believes students should take this chance into great consideration.

“Many theater students work long hours on top of doing school work,” Kern said. “This opportunity can allow them to focus more on their productions and wouldn’t be as stressed.”

Students’ connections remain strong with the Princess Grace Foundation-USA after acceptance. After winning the grant, students become eligible to receive up to $10,000 for funding on special projects they are working on, Kite said.

Prince Rainier III created the foundation in honor of actress, idol and wife Grace Kelly, according to the foundation’s Web site. During her lifetime, she dedicated her time to discovering and assisting emerging artists.

“Most of our future advertising is sent to those who are already recipients of the Princess Grace Awards,” Kite said. “We are based on excellence and not on need.”