Student Bursaries
The Sid Williams Theatre Society (SWTS) gives out financial bursary awards at the end of each school year to local students who are pursuing post-secondary education or training in the performing arts. The bursary award program is guided by the SWTS mandate and core values. We encourage graduating students to apply by April 1 each year.
A minimum award of $500 per approved recipient will be given out each year – to be determined by the Sid Williams Theatre Society (SWTS) bursary committee.
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Students: How To Apply
Applicants must provide the SWTS bursary committee with the following information:
A completed bursary application form (see bottom of page),
OR
Completed bursary application forms provided by the applicant’s school,
OR
An application letter under the "Special Criteria" section below.
Application information must be submitted to the SWTS bursary committee (which may be forwarded via the applicant’s school) on or before April 15, 2025.
Applicants are encouraged to attach letters of reference supporting the criteria below.
Criteria
- Applicants must be graduating in the year of application from: G.P. Vanier Secondary School, Highland Secondary, Mark Isfeld Secondary, Nala’atsi Alternate School, Glacier View Secondary, Ecole au Coeur-d-l’ile, Gaglardi Academy, or Navigate North Island Distance Education.
- The SWTS Bursary Committee will consider applications submitted by Comox Valley residents graduating from another Grade 12 equivalency program (must be a program recognized by the province of British Columbia), if all other award criteria are met.
- Applicants must be continuing their studies at a post-secondary institution in a field related to the performing arts or entertainment industry (including film/video). See also "Special Criteria" below.
- Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to theatre arts (live performance including spoken word, cultural use performing arts, film, video, or other entertainment/performance genres, or theatre technology).
Preferred indicators of commitment:
- Applicants who have contributed a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer effort per year within the past 2 years with either the Sid Williams Theatre Society or a Comox Valley-based non-profit organization using the Sid Williams Theatre for their events.
- Applicants who have invested a minimum of 40 hours per year within the past 2 years to either training or community/cultural practice in the Comox Valley region in the theatre arts (as described above).
- Applicants who have resided in the Comox Valley less than 2 years, but meet the graduation criteria above, who are able to demonstrate the other above criteria in another community may also apply.
We recognize that COVID-19 may have disrupted cultural volunteer time or training; applicants are asked to indicate any cultural volunteer efforts or training over the last 2 years, or apply under "Special Criteria" below.
Special Criteria
- Applicants who do not meet all the criteria above (either in terms of commitment to the theatre arts or in terms of their post-secondary education plans), but who believe they can demonstrate a commitment to the theatre arts, and who believe their intended future studies will prove beneficial for the community and the theatre industry, may write a letter of application outlining their theatre/arts background and their intended studies, and submit it to the bursary committee by the April 15 deadline.
- If funds are available, the bursary committee may consider letters of application after the April 15 deadline in special circumstances. In this case the letter of application must also explain the special circumstances.
- The letter application may be submitted in person, via mail to the theatre address, or by email bursary@sidtheatre.com.
Applicants submitting a special criteria letter may be contacted by the SWTS bursary committee for more information.
How The Committee Will Rank Applicants
If the basic criteria are met, but the number of applicants exceeds the funds available, the SWTS bursary committee will use the following considerations to select finalists/recipients:
1. Financial need
2. Number of volunteer/training/practice hours above the minimum
3. Number of years of theatre-arts commitment above the minimum 2 years
4. Strength of reference letters
5. Strategic or developmental merit (underserved genre/demographic/skill area)
6. GPA and/or academic merit
Notification
Applicants selected to receive an award will be notified through bursary award presentation processes at each school. Special criteria applicants will be notified directly in a timely fashion, and will be given appropriate recognition to the SWTS membership and/or other participating organizations.
Applicants not selected to receive an award will be notified in writing by the SWTS bursary committee.
Please contact us at bursary@sidtheatre.com with any questions or concerns.
Bursary Application Form
The bursary application deadline is April 15, 2024.
