NIDA is pleased to announce an additional Ingham’s First Nations Scholarship for a student commencing the Master of Fine Arts Directing or Master of Fine Arts Dramatic Writing courses in 2024.
These scholarships will support First Nations students with the cost-of-living expenses and enable them to fully focus on their intensive NIDA training.
The increased commitment means two students studying the Masters of Fine Arts in Directing or Dramatic Writing course will be eligible to receive an Ingham’s First Nations Scholarship to the value of $30,000 per student and a paid internship for 8 weeks upon finishing their course.
Ingham’s 2023 First Nations Scholarship recipient Mia McMenamin said: ‘Without the Ingham’s First Nations Scholarship, I would not have been able to attend NIDA. Due to their generous contribution, I can devote all my focus to my career and studies with the goal of advancing my passion for Acting without financial restraints. Without this scholarship, it is unlikely that I would have been to find suitable housing, and I would have had to defer my NIDA offer as a result. This has been a life-altering donation, and I am appreciative for the wonderful financial support that has helped me and my family.’
Raise the Curtain 2023, NIDA’s annual fundraising event. From left to right, back row: Jenn Brandt, Grant Kerswell, Mia, Andrew Reeves, Thierry Bled. Middle row: Kavitha Pakala, Melissa Meadows, Kate Reeves. Front row: Seb Brant, Catherine Brown, and Wendy Lenton.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Ingham’s, Andrew Reeves, said: ‘Inghams has conditional endorsement from Reconciliation Australia to implement a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. This means we will take actions to support reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of our business operations, including engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in our supply chain and sponsoring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives such as the First Nations scholarship with the National Institute of Dramatic Art. This sponsorship is important to us as we believe advancing reconciliation for First Nations peoples means they must have access to increased representation in the arts.’
