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Black Love. 
Black Art.
Black Joy.
  • Home
  • 2022 Scholarship Program
  • BIA Scholarship Calendar
  • Book Us!
  • Black Comedy Events
  • Black Improv Almanac
  • #OperationBlackJoy
  • Performance Teams
  • Our Business Structure
  • Code of Conduct

Ready to do more than just talk about diversity?

 The 100 Black Improvisers Partnership  is a joint venture among corporate sponsors, improv teachers, and improv schools/theaters around the country which are actively seeking diversity. By pledging to provide a minimum of five scholarships for Black students, each of us contributes to a common goal of getting 100 more Black people into Improv 101 by July 2021. BIA Academy is pledging 50 Improv 101 scholarships for Black students this year. 


Can we count on you to help us reach 100?


An updated Student Interest Form will be available soon!

(Details for potential students & partners below)

Where are our partner theatres?

What are students saying?

    Bronze Members

    The following groups have committed to sponsoring 5 students in the 100 Black Improvisers Partnership. 

    Thank you for your commitment to increasing diversity in improv!

    BATS Improv

    Berkeley Improv

    Charlotte Comedy Theater

    CSZ Chicago

    CSZ Columbus 

    CSZ Houston

    Show More

    Silver Members

    The following groups have committed to sponsoring 6-10 students in the 100 Black Improvisers Partnership. 

    Thank you for your commitment to increasing diversity in improv!

    ColdTowne Theater

    The Comedy Project

    CSZ San Antonio

    Theatre Momentum

    Freestyle Love Supreme Academy

    The Improv Place

    Show More

    Gold Members

    The following groups have committed to sponsoring 11-19 students in the 100 Black Improvisers Partnership. 

    Thank you for your commitment to increasing diversity in improv!

    Big Couch NOLA

    CSZ Portland

    CSZ Seattle

    Florida Studio Theatre

    Impro Fest Online 

    Improv Asylum

    Show More

    Black Star Members

    The following groups have committed to sponsoring 20 or more students in the 100 Black Improvisers Partnership. 

    Thank you for your commitment to increasing diversity in improv!

    Black Improv Alliance

    Comedy Conservatory

    CSZ Boston

    CSZ Richmond Theater

    Curious Comedy Theater

    Just the Funny

    Show More

    FAQ’s for INTERESTED PARTNERS (Improv Schools & More)

    What do I have to do to qualify for this program?

     

    -Offer a full session of Improv 101 classes

    -Provide at least 5 scholarships for Black students, in the same class. Additional scholarships must also be issued in groups of 5, in the same class. 

    -Have a written and shared Code of Conduct which expresses a zero tolerance policy for racism - on or off stage - for all cast members, employees, and students. (We understand that you might not have this completed just yet. But in order to be part of this program, you need to be working on it. We want our students to be confident that we are sending them into situations where they can be safe being vulnerable).

    -Have a written process, which is shared with all students, for how they can file a report or otherwise express discomfort about anything that happened in class or in another interaction with a teacher, employee, or student of your theater. There must also be written assurance that there will be no repercussions against students who speak up. (Again, if you don’t have this totally together right now, it’s ok if you are working on it)

    How do I get involved?

     Send us an email, letting us know that you want to join The Partnership, where you are located (if you are a school/theater/teacher), and how many students you are willing to sponsor. Improv schools, theaters, and teachers can join us by directly offering a minimum of 5 Improv 101 scholarships for Black students. Corporate sponsors - and generous individuals - can join us by paying for a minimum of 5 Black students to take Improv 101 at the qualifying theater of your choice. Or, if you’d simply like to make a donation, we can find a class for you to sponsor. 

    Why insist on a minimum of 5 students?

     Because we refuse to send anyone into a situation in which they will be tokenized. And because we want Black students to not just try out your class, but to STAY and become part of your community! In our many conversations with Black improvisers, we have found that having some sort of Black community present has been essential to their decisions to stay in majority white theaters. The number one reason they leave? Being one of few or the only Black person there. We could write a novel on why that is, but trust us: if you want Black people to stay in your theater, you need more than a ‘token Black person’. You need to build a COMMUNITY. And so, for every improv school/theater that partners with us, we insist on a minimum of FIVE Black students - IN THE SAME CLASS.

    Wait? In the same class? But that’s like...half the class filled with Black people.

     We said what we said. 

    Why should we offer Improv 101 to Black people for free?

     Because improv can be financially prohibitive and hard to sell to those who have never seen it. If you truly want to increase Black representation in your theater, you need to consider removing barriers which would prevent people from getting involved. Our hope is that after completing Improv 101, the students in this Partnership will choose to invest in furthering their improv education at your theater. We are also gathering resources to invest in additional scholarships for those who want to continue but need assistance to pay for more classes.

    What do I get out of this?

     Melanated blessings from Black Jesus.


    Seriously, by participating in this program, you make this community better for all of us. By actively pursuing a diverse student body, you make it clear that your theater is a safe and inviting space for Black students and audience members. You also make your organization better by inviting more perspectives and experiences into your art. 


    Plus, you get a nifty banner for your website and listed as a partner on ours! (and that's good publicity! whoot whoot!)

    I love this idea! I want to join in! But I don’t know how to find Black students.

     Not a problem! We have connections with Black arts communities all over the country and will gladly reach out to help you find Black students. We will always endeavor to find you local students first, because we want to help you build physical communities once the world reopens, but you may also have some online students from other cities. Worst case scenario, you'll build goodwill with Black people from other places and they'll want to visit your theater when they come to town. It’s win/win!

    I'm in! What do I do now?

    Awesome! Get in touch with us at BlackImprovAlliance@gmail.com - Subject line “Interested Partner - 100 Black Improvisers Partnership” We'll get back to you shortly and will work with you to design a diversity support opportunity that's just right for you!

    FAQ's for INTERESTED STUDENTS

    What do I have to do to qualify for this program?

    -Be Black. 

    -Be 18 or over (we love the kids but are working on a separate program for youth)

    -Be interested in learning improv. 

    -Be available to attend classes and attend regularly with a willingness to learn (Attendance below 75% may get you removed from the program). 

    -Have never taken a formal Improv 101 class before (drop-ins are ok!)

    -Agree to follow all Rules & Codes of Conduct at the theater with which you are matched.

    Dassit.  

    How do I apply?

    Fill out the form located here: https://forms.gle/xS8PjfxZLHurearw9

    That was easy. That's it?

    That's it!

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