Ready to do more than just talk about diversity?

-Offer a full session of any type of Improv classes

-Provide at least 4 scholarships for Black students, in the same class. Additional scholarships must also be issued in groups of 4, 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)

You can fill out our Google Form here. And if you have any additional questions, you can email us at scholarships@blackimprovalliance.com. Improv schools, theaters, and teachers can join us by directly offering a minimum of 4 scholarships to any class for Black students. Corporate sponsors - and generous individuals - can join us by paying for a minimum of 5 Black students to take a class 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. 

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 4 Black students - IN THE SAME CLASS. 

 We said what we said. 

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.

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!)

We are doing things differently this time- after filling out our Theatre Interest Google Form, you'll get access to a database of our interested students and their location and experience level, so you can reach out to them if you think they'd be interested in your class. Additionally, if you have a class that you want us to advertise, you can submit it to us here to be displayed on our Scholarship Class Calendar.

-Be Black. 

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

-Be interested in learning improv (at any level!)

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

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

Dassit.  

Fill out our student interest form here! Filling it out will add you to a database that partner theaters have access to so they can reach out to you if you might be a fit for their class. Additionally, available classes will be listed on our Scholarship Class Calendar if you'd like to reach out to theaters yourself.

That's it!