Ann Shaw International TYA Fellowship
Travel around the globe to witness innovative practice, make connections and explore the landscape of Theatre for Young Audiences through the Ann Shaw International TYA Fellowship.
The Ann Shaw International TYA Fellowship (originally the ASSITEJ/USA Observership fund) was founded in 1996 to support career development opportunities for theatre artists and administrators committed to theatre for young audiences. This program was renamed in 2003 in recognition of Ann Shaw’s visionary leadership and tireless efforts to support individual career development of TYA professionals. Since its inception, the Ann Shaw Fellowship has provided funds to assist over forty individuals with travel to theatres and festivals throughout the United States and abroad, for viewing outstanding work, pursuing mentorship opportunities and innovative collaborations and exploring challenging questions related to the field of theatre for young audiences.
Who: Artists, educators, administrators, university faculty and students working or studying in the field of TYA (*Applicants must be current TYA/USA members to apply)
What: The opportunity to travel in pursuit of research or discovery in the field of TYA. Fellows expand their understanding of the dynamic TYA landscape through international travel to theatres and/or festivals, exploring challenging questions related to the field of theatre for young audiences.
How It Works: Applicants submit a proposal for a research and discovery trip that will advance their understanding of the TYA field. Proposals may include meetings with practitioners, observation of work in action, attendance to a festival, or other possible activities.
Award: $3,000 for an International experience or collaboration and complimentary registration for the 2020 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference (May 14-17, 2020). Since its inception, the Ann Shaw Fellowship has provided funds to assist over forty individuals with travel to theatres and festivals throughout the United States and abroad, for viewing outstanding work, and exploring challenging questions related to the field of theatre for young audiences.
Applications are on hold for now due to the impact of COVID-19. We hope to have more information soon.
Questions? Contact TYA/USA at info@tyausa.org.
Photos of Past Ann Shaw Fellow Trips
History
The ASSITEJ/USA Observership fund was founded in 1996 to support career development opportunities for theatre artists and administrators committed to theatre for young audiences. This program was renamed in 2003 as the Ann Shaw Fellowship, in recognition of Ann Shaw’s visionary leadership and tireless efforts to support individual career development of TYA professionals.
Since its inception, the Ann Shaw Fellowship has provided funds to assist over forty individuals with travel to theatres and festivals throughout the United States and abroad, for viewing outstanding work, and exploring challenging questions related to the field of theatre for young audiences.
Past Fellows
- 2019Ashley Laverty
- 2018Todd Siff
- 2017Sarah Jane Hardy
- 2016Cortney McEniry and Lily Junker
- 2015Sara Morgulis
- 2014Jenny Anne Koppera
- 2013Bethany Lynn Corey
- 2012José Cruz González and Angela Tillges
- 2011Richard Hitchler, Julia Krebs Patterson and Elizabeth Schildkret
- 2010Ryan Conarro, Linda Hartzell, Wesley R. Taylor, Xanthia Walker and Sarah Sullivan
- 2009Tom Arvetis, Abra Chusid and David Saar
- 2008Greg Eskridge, Rachel Evans and Gary Minyard
- 2007Amy Dugas Brown, Ernie Nolan, Jessica Simon and Lauren Spear
- 2006Emily Petkewich, Daniel Kelin II and Elana Nightingale
- 2005Joan Briccetti, Ruth Mercado, Scott Strode, Megan Sandberg-Zakian, Bonnie Johnson and Steve Bianchi
- 2004Rachel Briley, Sharon DeMark, Gillian McNally and Janet Stanford
- 2003Megan Ann Rasmussen, Jeremy Kisling, J. Richard Smith and Adam Burke
- 2000J. Daniel Herring, Alan J. Prewitt, James Still and Stephen McCormick
- 1999Barry Kornhauser, Amie Brockway, Maggie Chang, Lisa Kramer, Kassie Misiewicz, David Miller, Lesley Moore and Hilary Blair
- 1998Lyn Kajiwara Ackerman, Dorothy Webb and Deborah Nitzberg
- 1997Luanne Nunes de Char and David Kirk Chambers
Ann M. Shaw 1930-2016
More about Ann Shaw
Ann Shaw began as a creative drama specialist for the Evanston Public Schools over four decades ago. She has distinguished herself as writer, speaker, researcher, consultant and program developer, college and university teacher. But mostly she is known to us as an extraordinary international organizer.
In 1965 Dr. Ann Shaw traveled to Paris as a U.S. delegate to the first ASSITEJ Constitutional Congress. She continued active participation with the U.S. Center for ASSITEJ, a committee first of the Children’s Theatre Conference which later became the Children’s Theatre Association of America, a division of the American Theatre Association. In 1981 she founded ASSITEJ/USA, an independent organization to serve professional theatres for young people.
She founded the Pacific Rim Artists Exchange in 1982, and the Mexico/USA Exchange in 1985. Within the past two years she designed a model for ASSITEJ/USA Regional Conferences, and founded the ASSITEJ/USA Observership Program which provides travel grants to members.
Ann Shaw was also instrumental in organizing Drama and Theatre By, With and For Handicapped Individuals as a committee of the American Theatre Association. Now it is the Association for Theatre and Accessibility. She is the 1997 recipient of the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America’s Medallion Award.
Michael Fitzgerald, World President of ASSITEJ International reported that Dr. Shaw is “one of the great stalwarts of the ASSITEJ movement with a passionate belief in and a lifelong commitment to arts experiences for young people in the interests of peace and education of future generations.”
Designated by the ASSITEJ USA Board of Directors “Founding President, Driving Force, Creative Inspiration,” Ann M. Shaw serves as a model for all who aspire to lead the growing field of theatre for young people into the twenty-first century.