2010 Guest Artist Grant Applications Now Available. See below for application and guidelines. 

Arizona State University and Michigan State University Selected as Inaugural Recipients

of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Guest Artist Initiative Awards

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) announces the selection of Arizona State University and Michigan State University as the inaugural recipients of the Guest Artist Initiative Program grants. Arizona State University will receive SDCF funding and support for a fall 2010 production of Big Love by Charles Mee. Runner-up Michigan State University will receive SDCF funding and support for a multi-media production of Wizard of Oz in early 2011. Additionally, through this program, SDCF facilitated Fordham University’s hiring of a guest artist to direct a classical play in winter 2011.

Through the Guest Artist Initiative Program, SDCF provides American colleges and universities with up to $5000 in matching funds for a guest director or choreographer fee and provides further support by promoting the position to qualified candidates and gathering guest artist applicant materials. SDCF collates and passes all materials on to the school for hiring decision; SDCF plays no role in hiring.

SDCF has already invited professional directors to apply for the guest artist positions at Arizona State University and Fordham University. Professor Linda Essig, Director of Arizona State University’s School of Theatre and Film at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, states of the selection process, “We were really delighted with the quantity, caliber, and diversity of interest from professional directors.  We are able to enrich the experience of our students and our audience members by engaging such an outstanding director to work with students on Big Love. The SDCF staff were extremely helpful throughout the process.”

"The Fordham Theatre Program was dazzled by the strength of the SDC directors who offered to direct on our mainstage.  We only had room for one, but we truly hope to reach out in the future to the many others with whom we would love to work," Matthew Maguire, Director, Theatre Program, Fordham University, says of his experience with SDCF’s Guest Artist Initiative Program.

Professional directors will be invited to apply for Michigan State’s guest artist position in the upcoming weeks.

SDCF is now accepting applications for the next round of funding. Schools interested in applying for this program can obtain application and grant guidelines at www.SDCweb.org (scroll to Guest Artist Initiative under Foundation). Application deadline is June 1, 2010. A panel of professional directors and choreographers, arts administrators, and college educators will select productions to be awarded funding. SDCF will furnish the top selection with funds of up to $5000 to match the fee budgeted for the guest artist. A second grant of $1000 will be awarded to a runner-up school to increase the fee paid to the guest artist. SDCF will provide assistance to both schools by soliciting applications from professional stage directors and choreographers who wish to be considered for the project. Only full SDC members, in good standing, will be considered for guest artist positions.

Schools selected for funding will be notified by June 15, 2010. In addition, select schools who apply for this program who do not receive funding will be offered free services to facilitate the hiring of a guest artist.

To be eligible for this program, the production must be produced by an American college or university and mounted by December 31, 2011. Guest artist position must be open; hiring plans may not be in place.

For more information on the SDCF Guest Artist Initiative Program, please visit www.SDCweb.org (go to Guest Artist Initiative under Foundation) or contact Ellen Rusconi at 212.391.1070x244 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Applications Now Available for Colleges and Universities to Apply for Funding

Matching Grant of Up to $5000 for Guest Artist Fee

2010 GUEST ARTIST INITIATIVE GUIDELINES (PDF) | 2010 GUEST ARTIST INITIATIVE APPLICATION (PDF)

SDC MEMBERS: PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR POSTING OF GUEST ARTIST OPPORTUNITY AT MICHIGAN STATE.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON APPLYING FOR THE GUEST ARTIST POSITIONS:

Only SDC Full Members in good standing are eligible to be hired for positions through the Guest Artist Initiative.  Please note that although the school will make all hiring decisions, SDCF will collect all application materials  for the school.  Please address materials to "Faculty" and submit materials:

By email (preferred):  Please put requested materials in one folder labeled School - Last Name (for example, Fordham - Rusconi) and email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Label each document with your name and the school name.

By mail or hand delivery: Please mail 1 copy of requested materials to SDCF, 1501 Broadway, Suite 1701, NY, NY 10036 ATTN: Guest Artist Application.  Please note that I must receive materials by application date; application date is not postmark date.

Please direct any questions regarding this program to Ellen Rusconi at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 212.391.1070x244.  Do not contact the school directly; this program is designed to make it easier for them to hire professionals and, thus, we will be acting as administrator through the selection.