The 1/52 Project Launches, New Grant Program for Early-Career Designers

The 1/52 Project is a newly launched financial grant program which will offer $15,000 grants to theatre designers. The project hopes to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups with the aim of diversifying and strengthening the Broadway design community.

The 1/52 Project is funded by designers with shows running on Broadway who are encouraged to donate one week every year of their weekly royalties to this fund, thus the 1/52 Project.

Applicants will be chosen based on talent, creativity, innovation, and potential for future excellence in the professional theatrical field. Demonstrated financial need will be a determining factor.

The 1/52 Project will open applications in mid-January and accept them until May 15. Finalists will be notified by July 1 and interviewed by the selection committee in August. Grant recipients will be announced on Labor Day.

Founded by Tony-Award winning set designer Beowulf Boritt, the grant criteria have been created, and will be adjudicated, by a world-class committee of BIPOC professional designers; Tony Award nominated costume designer Dede Ayite, projection designer David Bengali, set designer Wilson Chin, lighting designer Allan Edwards, Tony Award winning sound designer Kai Harada, set designer Kimie Nishikawa, Tony Award winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, costume designer Alejo Vietti, and costume designer Anita Yavich.

Boritt says, "I always understood how lucky I was to work on Broadway, how tough it is to get that opportunity. But the past few years made clear to me what should probably have already been obvious, that part of my 'good luck' was being born a white boy, that simple fact opened doors for me. I hope this project can do a little to help support the careers of a more diverse group of designers."

The 1/52 Project is primarily funded by donations from professional designers working on Broadway, but anyone is welcome to make a tax-deductible contribution at: www.oneeveryfiftytwo.org/contribute . Among the first to donate were Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty the set designer of Chicago, Tony Award winner Nevin Steinberg the sound designer of Hamilton, Hadestown, and Freestyle Love Supreme, Tony Award winner Jennifer Tipton the lighting designer of To Kill A Mockingbird, Tony Award nominee Jeff Sugg the projection designer of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Tony Meola the sound designer of Wicked and Tony Award winner Jeff Croiter, the lighting designer of Freestyle Love Supreme.

The 1/52 Project is partnered with TheFrontOffice Foundation, created by Director Wendy C. Goldberg in 2020 to support the live theatrical community during the time of industry shut down through direct artist relief, commissions and grants. TheFrontOffice has partnered with TCG, SDCF and has distributed additional mid-career relief grants to theater workers and parents/caregivers. With corporate donors as well as individuals, these efforts have distributed a quarter of a million dollars in aid. For further information on TheFrontOffice, contact thefrontoffice@icloud.com.