NEW YORK CITY: Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the launch of the Willa Kim Costume Design Scholarship. The scholarship will provide costume designers who are enrolled in a university or professional training program the ability to supplement their fine arts training in drawing and painting. The scholarship, honoring costume designer Kim’s legacy, will be administered by TCG with the support of Kim’s estate.
“Willa was passionate about making it possible for early career costume designers to hone their skills outside of the traditional curriculum,” said Teresa Eyring, executive director of TCG, in a statement. “Thanks to support from the estate of Willa Kim, this scholarship program will empower them to strengthen their craft and deepen the range of their artistry.”
Scholarship recipients will receive up to $7,500 to be used toward tuition, registration, and/or supplies over a one-year period between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Funds cannot be used for required curriculum at the applicant’s college, university, or professional training program. International study is allowable, but the scholarship will only cover tuition, registration, and supplies. Expenses related to travel will not be covered by the scholarship. Applications are due May 9; click here for more information about the application process.
Kim was a costume designer for ballet, theatre, opera, and television. Among her many honors were Tony Awards for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies and Tommy Tune’s The Will Rogers Follies, and Tony nominations for Peter Allen’s Legs Diamond, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song & Dance, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, and Joel Grey’s Goodtime Charley. She won Drama Desk Awards for Jean Genet’s The Screens, Irene Fornes’s Promenade, and Sam Shepard’s Operation Sidewinder; Obie Awards for Robert Lowell’s The Old Glory and Lanie Robertson’s Woman Before A Glass; and Emmy Awards for the PBS broadcasts of Michael Smuin’s ballets The Tempest and A Song For Dead Warriors. Kim received lifetime achievement awards from the Fashion Institute of Technology and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. The Theatre Development Fund honored her with the Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007, she was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.
