USITT proudly announces the new 2021-22 PURPOSE Grants program, offering research grant funding of up to $10,000 per recipient, supporting individual and group investigations into current industry restart efforts including changed production operations, increased sustainability of physical resources, and/or improved working conditions for all involved artists and technicians. 

PURPOSE Grant funding is intended to help to partially underwrite investigations in shifting production practices from what they have been historically and had to become due to the pandemic, to what is desired into the future. 

PURPOSE Grant funding can be leveraged to support taking risks, trying something new, supporting increased diversity and proving replicable concepts that can be embraced by others.    

Proposals will be accepted from active members proposing research to address current challenges faced by the entertainment industry, broadly framed by USITT’s Core Values:

• Inclusion: Acknowledging the inequitable structures established by the dominant culture, and the industry’s conscious or unconscious participation in these unjust systems, USITT commits to the ongoing struggle to create equitable spaces, to embrace diverse experiences, and to uplift and encourage multiple perspectives. 
• Excellence: Recognizing the need for continuous pursuit of the very best in our profession, our industry, and our Institute, USITT cultivates innovation in education, research, and safety. 
• Responsibility: Embracing a long-standing imperative to serve, USITT provides value through year-round activities, elevates the work of individuals and organizations, and heightens accountability to our members and the industry.