NEW YORK CITY: Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the Black Theatre Coalition (BTC) have partnered on a new talent representation fellowship aimed at increasing employment opportunities for Black theatre professionals.
Supported by its network of artists, production companies, and educational institutions, BTC will select candidates from historically marginalized communities who are interested in careers as talent representatives for stage performers. Applicants will be required to complete a standard application and interview process. Fellows will be hired to work within CAA’s theatre department, where they will receive mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities with leading industry professionals. The fellowship hopes to transform systems and eliminate employment barriers to increase the number of Black executives in the industry, who currently make up less than 1 percent of the theatrical workforce.
“We are excited to partner with CAA to increase the diversity of talent representation in the entertainment industry,” said BTC program director Nik Whitcomb in a statement. “Our goal is to create hands-on experiences that help participants develop meaningful relationships, learn hard and soft professional skills, and identify a strong network for continued success. We look forward to this long-lasting collaboration with CAA and know that together we will make an impact on the industry.”
“CAA and BTC share a strong mission to address the lack of diversity among theatre professionals in the field of representation,” added Joe Machota, head of theatre at CAA, in a statement. “Developing the next generation of theatre artists and professionals has been a priority for CAA. This fellowship, and the impactful work that BTC is doing, will open doors for aspiring theatre executives for many years to come. We are proud to partner with BTC on this incredibly important work.”
Applications will be accepted until Aug. 31, 2022. Interested candidates can find more information here.
CAA continues to prioritize and invest in varied efforts and initiatives that advance opportunities for underrepresented communities, within the agency and beyond. The Black Theatre Coalition was founded to address the vast disparity between perceived inclusivity on stage and the utter dearth of Black professionals offstage. BTC aims to reshape the working ecosystem for those who have been marginalized by systemically racist and biased ideology in the field.
