BBC Performing Arts Fund ("BBC PAF") Training in Musical Theatre Scheme 2009 ("Scheme")

Terms and conditions of Scheme

What is the Scheme? How much money will be granted and to how many applicants?

• The Training in Musical Theatre Scheme 2009 will award funding to ambitious and talented students aged 17 and over with a place (or applying for one) on a recognised or accredited musical theatre training course, and without the means to pay for the fees.
• The total maximum amount awarded under the Scheme will be £150,000. The maximum individual grant awarded will not exceed £8,000, for one academic year and most grants will be for around £5,000. We expect the total number of grants to be around 25.
• The Scheme awards will award a contribution to grantees' course fees only. BBC PAF will not pay grantees for travel, headshots, equipment, books, magazines or living expenses, such as rent, mobile phone, food or clothes.
• If grantees withdraw from their course for whatever reason they may be required to repay the sum allocated at the reasonable discretion of the BBC PAF.
• Payment will be made by cheque and paid directly to grantees' college on receipt of a valid invoice.
• All grants under the Scheme must be claimed by 31 March 2010.

Who is eligible?

(Applicants will be asked to show proof that they meet the following eligibility criteria if applicants are invited to attend a talent audition and interview for the Scheme. BBC PAF also reserves the right to verify for accuracy and currency any information applicants give BBC PAF during the application, talent audition and interview process. Applicants do not need to send this to BBC PAF with the application form.)

• Applicants must be students or should be applying to become students (ie, in full-time education at a recognised educational establishment – eg school, college, university) aged 17 or over on the 6th April 2009;
• Applicants must be a resident of the UK (or Isle of Man or Channel Islands) with sufficient proof of identity and right of residency;
• Applicants must be enrolled in, be accepted for enrolment in or have applied for) a musical theatre training course for the academic year 2009/10;
• If applicants receive a Dance and Drama Award from their college they will not be eligible to receive a grant from the Scheme. BBC PAF will check this with applicants' educational institution prior to issuing any funding;
• Previous applicants and grant-winners may apply to the Scheme and shall be assessed against the same criteria as all other applicants for the Scheme.

How are applications to be made?

Applicants must complete the online form entitled Training in Musical Theatre 2009 including as much detail as possible.

What is the application and selection process?

Step 1: Applications open at 10am on 6th April and close at 10am on 18th May. Application is made by completing the online application form on the BBC PAF website.

Step 2: Applications will be assessed by an independent expert in the Musical Theatre Industry. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate ambition, motivation and a clear financial need.

Step 3: Applicants selected for the next step will be invited by e-mail to attend a talent audition in London between the 13th-16th of July 2009.

Step 4: The audition will take place in front of a panel of West End Musical Directors and vocal coaches. Details of the audition will be circulated to selected applicants with the email inviting them to the audition.

Step 5: If the applicant passes the talent audition, they may be invited to a further interview on the same day. This interview will be private (that is, no other applicants will be present), conducted by the BBC PAF Manager and an independent external assessor and will focus on the information those applicants provided BBC PAF in their original application, particularly their financial circumstances. BBC PAF may ask those applicants to provide evidence to support answers given to BBC PAF in an interview. If applicants have not been invited to the interview – they will be informed and the process for this year will end for them.

Step 6: Following the talent audition and interview, and on the recommendation of the selection panels, the Trustees of the BBC PAF will decide on who will be granted funding. All those applicants who were chosen for interview will receive a letter from the BBC PAF informing them of this decision within 6 weeks of their talent audition and interview.

What are the other general terms and conditions of the Scheme?

• Only one application per person.
• It is applicants' responsibility to ensure that the contact details supplied on their application form are correct and kept updated for the duration of the application and assessment process and Scheme.
• The decisions of the selection panels at talent audition, interview and grant stages, and those of the Trustees of the BBC PAF involved in these stages are final. Neither correspondence nor discussion concerning any decision shall be entered into.
• BBC PAF reserves the right to refuse any application for any reason at BBC PAF's discretion.
• Attendance at the talent audition and interview is undertaken at applicants' own expense.
• BBC PAF reserves the right to seek and issue publicity about grantees, grantees' courses, grantees’ school or the grants made to them by BBC PAF.
• Applicants must provide contact details and the BBC and BBC PAF will only ever use personal data and any sensitive data for the purpose of administering this Scheme, will not publish them or provide them without permission to anyone not involved in the administration of the Scheme and will administer and hold any data applicants give BBC PAF or which is collected during the application and grant process according to the BBC Privacy policy.
• Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions is a condition of application to the Scheme. By submitting an application for a grant under the Scheme, an applicant communicates to BBC PAF his/her acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

The BBC Performing Arts Fund is a registered Charity (no. 1101276). The registered address is Room 4171, BBC White City, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7RJ. For further information or any questions, please email performingartsfund@bbc.co.uk