Beowulf Boritt's The 1/52 Project Now Accepting Applications for $15,000 Grants

The 1/52 Project, the financial grant program funded largely by Broadway designers, has announced that applications are now being accepted for early-career designer recipients to benefit from $100,000 in grants. Applicants will be chosen based on talent, creativity, innovation, and potential for future excellence in the professional theatrical field. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2023.

"We were deeply gratified that the Broadway Design community (and even many from the non-design Broadway community) donated so very generously last season to the 1/52 Project allowing us to give over $100,000.00 in grants to seven talented early career designers," said Founder and Tony Award-Winning Broadway Designer Beowulf Boritt. "We are excited to launch a second year and grateful for the outpouring of support we've already received as we make the 1/52 Project an annual effort."

Last year the entire design teams of Hadestown, Hamilton, and Wicked all contributed. Already this year the entire design team of The Piano Lesson has contributed. Early donations for 2023 include Tony winners Julie Taymor, costume designer and director of The Lion King and Richard Hudson, set designer of The Lion King; Nevin Steinberg, the sound designer of Hamilton; Tyler Miccoleau, lighting designer of The Band's Visit; Emmy Award winner David Korins, set designer of Hamilton; and Drama Desk winner Tony Meola, sound designer of Wicked. Among the non-designer contributors is Director/Author James Lapine.

The inaugural recipients who received individual grants up to $15,000 were Brittany Bland: projection designer; Everett Elton Bradman: sound designer; Stefania Bulbarella: projection designer; Jessica Alexandra Cancino: set designer; Frank Cazares: costume designer; Jordan McCree: sound designer; and Jingyi Johanna Pan: costume designer.

"The 1/52 Project was a before and after in my professional career," said 2022 Grant Recipient Stefania Bulbarella. "I now have the funds to rent a studio to work, bring animators to work along with me as I develop different projects. I no longer have to have animators working along with me in my room, instead I have a professional setup with optimum working conditions."

The 1/52 Project was founded by Tony Award-winning designer Beowulf Boritt and launched in January 2022. It is primarily 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. The project hopes to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups with the aim of diversifying and strengthening the Broadway design community.

The 2023 grants will be adjudicated by a world-class committee of professional designers:

David Bengali: Projection Designer

Amith Chandrashaker: Lighting Designer

Jiyoun Chang: Lighting Designer

Wilson Chin: Set Designer

Alan C. Edwards: Lighting Designer

Justin Ellington: Sound Designer

Kai Harada: Sound Designer

Rachel Hauck: Set Designer

Toni Leslie James: Costume Designer

Cookie Jordan: Hair & Wig Designer

Sun Hee Kil: Sound Designer

Hana S. Kim: Projection Designer

Nikiya Mathis: Hair & Wig Designer

Elaine McCarthy: Projection Designer

Kimie Nishikawa: Set Designer

Alejo Vietti: Costume Designer

Anita Yavich: Costume Designer

Production Manager Bethany Weinstein Stewart as well as designers Simon Harding, Jeff Croiter, Elaine J. McCarthy, Nevin Steinberg, Rachel Hauck, and Jeff Sugg, also helped manage the 1/52 Project as volunteers.

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: https://www.oneeveryfiftytwo.org/contribute.

The 1/52 Project is partnered with TheFrontOffice Foundation, founded in 2019 by Director/Producer, Wendy C. Goldberg. TheFrontOffice is an entertainment development company that specializes in cross over content from live theater to new media. Fueled by the intersection of Goldberg's 20 years in the theater and her experiences as a Performance Director for Rockstar Games, TheFrontOffice develops content and stories for our times. TheFrontOffice Foundation, the company's charitable arm, was established in 2020 to support the live theatrical community during the time of industry shut down as well as the re-opening efforts. Our support happens in a multitude of ways including direct artist relief, commissions and grants. To date, we have partnered with TCG and SDCF on relief efforts. TheFrontOffice Foundation distributed additional mid-career relief grants to theater workers in March 2021 and to parents in June 2021. With corporate donors as well as individuals, these efforts have distributed a quarter of a million dollars in aid. TheFrontOffice works with Players Philanthropy Foundation as their Fiscal Sponsor.

Applications are now open for the 2023 early career designer grants. The deadline is May 15, 2023. For more information go to: oneeveryfiftytwo.org.