Acting Scholarships
No matter how much natural talent they have, actors and actresses can all benefit from some amount of formal training. A college education is a great way to gain knowledge and experience related to your craft, and can also be instrumental in forging the connections that lead to your big break. Regardless of its role in producing quality actors, obtaining a college education can come with all of the drama of a made for TV movie, especially when it comes to finding the money to pay for school. Luckily, there are acting scholarships out there to help you perfect your skills without acquiring tragic amounts of student loan debt.
Yesterday, Congress held a hearing to begin the process of determining the fate of the Federal Family Education Loan Program, the bank-based federal student loan program that President Obama has proposed eliminating in the 2010 federal budget. Voices from both sides of the debate chimed in, with one clear theme emerging: in 2010, student loans are definitely going to change. The questions at this point are to what extent federal student lending will change and whether the banks currently involved in FFEL will still have a place in the new system.
To help propel your work in the performing arts, here are a few scholarship opportunities for acting students. Many acting scholarships are college-specific, while others go to members of particular communities, or to acting students who best personify an organization’s mission. You can find more acting scholarships, as well as awards based on your other talents and interests by conducting a free college scholarship search.
Screen Actors Guild John L. Dales Scholarship Fund - Standard Scholarships
Application Deadlines:
March 15, Annually
Applicants for scholarship awards of the John L. Dales Scholarship Fund will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:
- Applicant must be a member of the Screen Actors Guild, or the child of a member.
- The member applying with the Standard application and is under the age of 22 must have been a member in good standing for five years and have a lifetime earnings of $30,000 earned [...] More
Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships
Application Deadlines:
Varies
Since 1972, the Irene Ryan Foundation of Encino, California, has awarded scholarships to the outstanding student performers at each regional festival. These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the late Irene Ryan who is best remembered for her portrayal of the lovable and feisty "Granny Clampett" in The Beverly Hillbillies. All student actors in both Participating and Associate [...] More
NYCDA Scholarships
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts' School of Film and Television typically awards more than $800,000 in scholarships per school year. NYCDA Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, and may reflect artistic promise and demonstrated financial need.
The Sanford Meisner Merit Award is based upon talent demonstrated at the audition. The award will be renewed if the student is [...] More