News & Notices
Member Benefits: Grant Aids Japanese Artist's Visit to Universities
The first USITT International Artist Exchange Grant will bring Toru Shimakawa to both Ohio Northern University and the University of Oklahoma this spring. In addition, Mr. Shimakawa participated in the 2012 Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Long Beach, California.
Mr. Shimakawa, a Japanese scenic artist, has studied in the United States and is a member of USA 829 and the Japan Association of Theatre Designer and Technicians.
He will design and be in residence at Northern Ohio for its production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in April and then travel to Oklahoma for a week of teaching and interaction with students there.
Kathe Devault of Ohio Northern and Scott Henkels of the University of Oklahoma collaborated to bring Mr. Shimakawa to their respective institutions and to seek the USITT grant.
As noted in the application for USITT assistance, both organizations feel it is important that students continue to be exposed to international artists and practices, a perfect mesh with the grant’s purpose to support institutions working together to integrate international theatre artists into programs to enhance educational and cultural exchanges.
The program was created in 2011 and is supported in part from USITT’s Samuel H. Scripps Fund for international activities. The grant is given only to USITT member organizations. Click here to learn more, or to apply, visit here. Grant applications will be reviewed again in September.
