DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

 
 

Improvolution is committed to nurturing a diverse community of students, staff, and audience members and to providing greater access to improv for marginalized voices.

As such, we offer quarterly Diversity Scholarships to support our mission that IMPROV IS FOR EVERYONE – regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or physical ability – and everyone should be given the same opportunities within our program.

All skill levels* are welcome. No prior experience* is necessary to apply!

The goals of our Diversity Program:

  • Provide an opportunity to students who, due to limited access/resources, are unable to participate in improv classes

  • Increase the diversity of our student body - cultivating a stronger community

  • Encourage the exchange of culture and ideas, allowing for creative work and smarter comedy that embraces and celebrates differences


We are now accepting applications on a Quarterly/Seasonal basis.

Application Deadlines:

  • Classes starting in January-March: December 1st

  • Classes starting in April-June: March 1st

  • Classes starting in July-September: June 1st

  • Classes starting in October-December: September 1st

You must be 18 years or older to enroll in Improvolution classes.

*Some classes have prerequisites to register; please see FAQs for more info!

FAQs

  • We award scholarships for our Level classes.

  • We are open to receiving applications from anyone who considers themselves part of an underrepresented community in comedy and improv. No experience necessary. (Please note: all participants must be 18 years or older to enroll in Improvolution classes.)

  • Some classes have prerequisites to register and participate. In an effort to set all students up for success, scholarships will only be granted to those who meet these requirements.

    Please note the following Level Class Prerequisites:

    Level 1 Prerequisite: No Experience Required
    Level 2 Prerequisite: Improvolution’s Level 1 and/or Instructor Approval
    Level 3 Prerequisite: Improvolution’s Level 2 and/or Instructor Approval

  • Our Diversity Scholarship ​awards are for half the cost of a class (i.e., 50% of tuition of each Level Class).

  • All scholarship recipients will receive notification via email approximately two weeks after each seasonal application deadline.

    Application Deadlines:
    Classes starting in January-March: December 1st
    Classes starting in April-June: March 1st
    Classes starting in July-September: June 1st
    Classes starting in October-December: September 1st

WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
If you are interested in learning more about our Diversity Scholarship, please contact our Executive Director, Rebecca Stuard, at rebecca@improvolution.org



DISCLAIMERS:

Attendance Policy
All students are expected to abide by our Attendance Policy, as follows:

Due to the progressive nature of the LEVEL classes, absences adversely affect the learning experience of both the missing student and the rest of the class.

• All 10-week & 8-week classes: students are permitted 2 absences.   
• All 6-week classes: students are permitted one (1) absence.
If you exceed the permitted absences, you will need to drop out of the class.

Please note: Excessive absenteeism may disqualify scholarship applicants from future consideration. 

As scholarships are granted seasonally, all scholarships must be utilized in the corresponding season that they are awarded.

WHY STUDENTS CHOOSE IMPROVOLUTION

 

  • You’ll be taught in a school founded by Los Angeles’ GROUNDLING MAIN COMPANY alum, Holly Mandel. No other school in New York carries on this tradition of character-inspired improvisation.

  • You’ll be involved in a school and culture that values diversity, respect, and your authentic freedom of expression. We believe that stems from the fact that our school is the only female-founded, owned and operated improv school in the city (and probably the country!)

  • You’ll have access to seasoned, experienced, professional instructors all trained by Holly and Rebecca themselves.

  • We run a boutique school allowing our teachers to give personalized attention to each student. We have 20+ years experience working with all types of people and are attuned to the fact that everyone progresses differently.

INTERESTED IN HELPING SUPPORT THE DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM?

We’d love to hear from you!

The scholarships we award are supplemented with contributions - big and small - made towards Improvolution Scholarship Funds by generous sponsors. 

If you’d like to support this mission, please consider sponsoring! All contributions to this scholarship fund will be allocated to deserving students.