RISING PRODUCER FELLOWSHIP

The CIPA Rising Producer Fellowship recognizes that each producer will have varied individual professional needs and draw on the potential of collective brainstorming, network-building, and strategic advising to provide the most significant impact possible for each fellow and the cohort. This program supports early- to mid-career producers with funding, mentorship, and professional development resources. After completing a course of foundational producing seminars taught by a rotating roster of industry professional guest lecturers, fellows are eligible for paid placement with a producer to support their work over a 6 month work period.

HISTORY OF THE FELLOWSHIP

CIPA’s Rising Producer Fellowship launched in 2022 with an inaugural theme: Imagining New Models. CIPA members Sophie Blumberg, Chelsea Goding, and Cynthia J. Tong designed the first Fellowship based on CIPA’s mission. The inaugural cycle took place from January to November 2022 and supported three producers at a critical professional moment by equipping them with financial, procedural, and interpersonal resources to better establish their careers. This iteration of the program was administered by Lucy Jackson, Patricia Garza, Tiffany Vega-Gibson, and Miranda Wright, active creative and independent producers working in Brooklyn, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. Each participant received direct funding of up to $3,000 to cover strategic professional expenses, mentorship opportunities, and professional development sessions. Today, the CIPA Fellowship is designed and led by Carolyn Boyd for a class of up to sixteen fellows.