The Rising Leaders of Color program is no longer accepting applications for the 2024 round.

Deadline: Friday, February 23, 2024 at 6pm CT. Please note the time zone.


For Recommenders


 

Overview What Who How When 

Instagram Live Interview: 

On Wednesday, February 7th at 11am ET, TCG hosted an Instagram Live interview with two past RLC cohort members, Shae Wofford and Justin Lucero. They spoke about their experience in the Rising Leaders of Color program and how it has impacted their career journeys and you can view the full interview by clicking the link below!

 

Information Session: 

On Monday, January 22nd at 2pm CT, TCG hosted a virtual information session to give a complete overview of the RLC program. We'll also created space for attendees to ask questions about the program and meet the TCG staff facilitating the process!

 

Overview

 

In 2024, RLC will form a cohort of six exceptionally talented early-career leaders of color from Chicago, IL who are advancing their careers in the U.S. not-for-profit theatre and related sectors, and who demonstrate the potential to impact the field in a positive way. Please note that the RLC 2024 cohort will not include individuals specializing in theatre criticism or journalism, as the RLC 2023 national cohort specifically focused on theatre criticism and journalism.


Embedded in TCG’s mission and vision is a long-range goal to transform the national theatre field into a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse community. TCG is committed to centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Transgender and Gender Nonconforming, and Disability communities. Through its programs and services, TCG is actively addressing and eliminating the structural barriers preventing BIPOC from thriving to their full potential.

TCG strongly believes that improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in the U.S. theatre field is essential to the vitality of theatre as an art form. To that end, TCG is fully committed to supporting a wide range of aesthetics, perspectives, organizational sizes and structures, as well as celebrating all areas of identity, including: gender, race/ethnicity, nation of origin, class, age, ability, sexual orientation, and religion/spirituality.

If you have any questions, please contact Raksak Kongseng (she/they) at [email protected].

 

Program Support

 

Funding for Rising Leaders of Color activities is supported in part by Howard Gilman Foundation and Walt Disney Imagineering.
     

Howard Gilman believed in the power of the arts to transform lives. The Howard Gilman Foundation honors his legacy by supporting the most robust, innovative, and promising performing arts organizations in New York City.

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative engine that designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide, and oversees the creative aspects of Disney games, merchandise product development, and publishing businesses.

Past support for the Rising Leaders of Color program has included The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Hearst Foundations, the Knight Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis, and the Weissberg Foundation.


Past Participants

 

A complete list of past participants of the Rising Leaders of Color program can be found here.

 

RLC embraces the broadest range of models and methods for theatre-making and understands that theatres are not uniform in aesthetic, approach, context, structure or delivery. At its core, theatre is an expressive and collaborative art form using any combination of words, voice, movement, media and visual elements to convey an idea, emotion or feeling.

BIPOC and BITOC are terms used here for solidarity purposes representing a multiplicity of racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. We acknowledge that the terms BITOC and BIPOC are imperfect, not universally embraced by many who identify as People of Color and/or People of the Global Majority, and that language is in a constant state of reimagination and redefinition. For reference, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color represent over 80% of the global population. It is possible that during the program period, the language may shift again.