We recognize that the persistent inequities pervasive in American society have made access to circus training inherently difficult for members of historically marginalized groups, particularly Black, Indigenous, People of Color. Our studio is located in a predominantly white, affluent neighborhood of Seattle, further exacerbating this issue and limiting entry to folks outside of that group.
We believe wholeheartedly in the transformative benefits of circus as an art form, physical practice, and community. This scholarship aims to make circus training available to those who have been historically excluded, and to benefit the VA community as a whole by addressing a lack of diverse engagement.
The BIPOC CIRCUS ARTIST FINANCIAL AID project is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of BIPOC CIRCUS ARTIST FINANCIAL AID must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
All donated funds go toward tuition and training costs for our scholarship students.
Applications will be accepted for the Jan – June 2024 term from Oct 15 to Nov 20, 2023.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this scholarship you must identify as a person of color and be located in the greater Seattle area. Each scholarship is available for a 6 month (3 session) term each year. Scholarships are available to both youth and adult students (ages 11+). Recipients will be receive support for 1 class per session in their first term, increasing to two classes per session if their second term if desired. Qualified adults will also receive an open gym membership. Aerial experience is not required, but the ability to attend the majority of your classes and set and work towards goals is.
In order for your scholarship to automatically renew, you must remain active. Active should mean enrolled in at least one session class or regularly attending weekly drop-ins.
Applications will be reviewed by a person of color and assessed for a combination of qualities including drive, passion, dedication, & desire to learn/participate.
You can access the application in written form here: https://forms.gle/y6NxrHQwSnJGuPyB9
Hear the application read aloud here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZBFoA-Gmmncbeh1XWV8Bm7-Ev05BOdNz/view?usp=sharing
Submissions will be accepted in both written or video format. Please only submit once in one format. There is no preference of one over the other.
Contact lindsay@versatilearts.net with any questions.