Bluecoats Fellowship Program Aims to Create a Pathway to More Diverse and Inclusive Marching Arts
The Bluecoats Fellowship is a centerpiece initiative of the Bluecoats 50th Anniversary Celebration. As we look ahead to the next fifty years at Bluecoats, we’re centering our vision around four core pillars:
Investing in the Bluecoats Experience
Investing in Music Education
Investing in our Community
Investing in Accessibility & Equity
The goal of the Bluecoats Fellowship is to invest in accessibility & equity, creating a pathway towards a more diverse and inclusive world in the marching arts.
Bluecoats Fellows are individuals who are a part of, or are committed to supporting, traditionally under-represented communities in marching arts design, and are selected by demonstrating excellent skill and potential in their field. Each fellow will be paired with a Bluecoats designer in their field and will take part in a modestly-paid assistantship to gain the opportunity to grow their skills while receiving advice and guidance from the corresponding Bluecoats designer.
“I’m looking forward to meeting this first class of Bluecoats Fellows. We’re aiming to make the Bluecoats Fellowship a wonderful experience and opportunity that cultivates the future leaders of marching arts design.”
- Jon Vanderkolff, Bluecoats Artistic Director / Visual Designer
Each winter an annual cohort of up to five Bluecoats Fellows will be selected to participate in the program. These resident fellowships are modestly-paid contract positions that include travel and accommodations. The residency extends from March through the DCI World Championships in August each year. Fellows will be invited to select Bluecoats design meetings, Spring Training with the Bluecoats, limited time on tour, and DCI World Championships.
Applications are now open for the 2022 Fellowship.
