Applications are now being accepted for 3 grants available in 2023.

• • The Training Boost Grant for prospective and currently uncertified members
  • The Actor/Combatant Training Boost Grant for current Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced members
  • The Leadership Level Training Grant for members FI and above

Details on requirements and how to apply can be found below, or by clicking the links above. All 3 grants are open to U.S. based members. The deadline for applications is March 5th, 2023 (now extended through April 8th for the Leadership Grant and May 20th for all others).

These grants are part of a series sponsored by the principals of Rapier Wit, a stage combat studio in Toronto, Ontario founded by FDC Fight Master Daniel Levinson. AFDC has partnered with Daniel and his wife Kirsten Gundlack Levinson on this grant program as part of our shared desire to promote a healthy, vibrant, diverse, and truly inclusive stage combat community. The planned grant series will run for a minimum of 3 years, with minor adjustments being made to the grant allocations according to the changing needs of our membership.

Both AFDC and Rapier Wit are committed to an ongoing, dynamic effort to reduce barriers to this essential training and foster the progression of all our members. As we tentatively but joyfully move back towards in-person training, we recognize the wide-ranging effects the pandemic has had on our professional sector, and the subsequent financial impact on so many of our members. We also would like to offer particular encouragement at this time to members of groups which historically have been underrepresented in our organization and our discipline, especially at the leadership levels of fight instruction and direction. It’s our shared hope that our combined continuing efforts and initiatives such as this grant program will nourish an artist ecosystem that helps members from all backgrounds to grow and flourish at all levels of our organizations.

Training Boost Grant

This grant was created in recognition of the financial difficulties emerging artists are facing in the wake of the pandemic. It is available to artists from all backgrounds and is intended to assist them in their pursuit of FDC training. This grant, which will be awarded to 2 candidates, consists of 1 payment of $500 CAD each.

Beyond a short list of restrictions, it’s up to the recipient to decide how this grant would best facilitate their training. Examples of this might include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Supplementing the transportation expense of travelling to/from training
• Supplementing living expenses for periods of time when the candidate must give up paying work in order to train with AFDC (such as during an intensive course)
• Supplementing travel to an AFDC Nationals or other AFDC stage combat workshop outside the candidate’s region
• Funding participation in AFDC classes or AFDC workshops that promote key skills and/or address gaps in training that are impeding the candidate’s progress
• Supplementing babysitting, after-school care, eldercare, or similar expenses that can affect the candidate’s ability to commit to training opportunities

While we recognize that each candidate’s needs are unique and want to avoid undue restrictions on the use of these grants, they are not intended for the following purposes:

• To hire peers
• To fund shows or other artistic projects
• To fund any type of marketing or promotion
• For candidates with arts businesses, to fund business expenses
• To expand a personal armoury

Grant Eligibility

• Financial considerations are actively hindering candidates’ training progress
• Candidates are required to submit a completed application per the “How to Apply” list.
• Candidates should show clear commitment to the pursuit of their artistic training through active work and study, and are supported their application with a letter from at least one artistic mentor and/or established member of the artistic community
• Through their training practices and interactions to date, candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to ethical, professional conduct.

Grants will not be awarded more than once to the same recipient. Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated commitment to their artistic practice, especially those whose progress has been limited by external factors such as financial need or lack of opportunity. (And yes, we do recognize that the pandemic has limited opportunities for many people, and will take this into account.) If their first application is not successful, applicants may reapply in subsequent years if the grant is still being offered.

How to Apply

Please prepare a package that includes the following:

1. Application Form
   Download Here (PDF), or below
2. Artistic Resume
   A headshot or other picture of yourself is not required, but if you’d like to include one please feel free to do so.
3. Letters of Reference
   At minimum 1 letter of support from one artistic mentor and/or established member of the artistic community; you may include up to one additional letter of reference.
4. Questions About You and Your Perspective
   Please use the following questions to tell us about yourself, your artistic history, your perspectives on this work, and your plans for the future. You can do this in writing (paragraphs or point form), or by recording/filming your spoken answers - whichever helps you express yourself better. (250 - 500 words or no more than 3 mins of video)

• • Please tell us about yourself, your relationship with stage combat, your current work, and your goals.
  • Please tell us why this grant would make a difference for you, and how you see yourself making use of it.
  • Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?

How to Submit

Submissions will be accepted via email until midnight on May 20. Please send your application package to AFDC’s Executive Advisor Jackie T. Hanlin at advisor@fdc.ca, with the subject line Training Boost Grant 2022.

File Formats
Documents: PDF
Images: JPG
Video: unlisted YouTube link

Follow-Up Report

The recipients do not have to receive pre-approval from anyone for prospective expenses. However, within three months following completion of use of the grant, recipients will provide a record on how the funds were used (with receipts) as this information will help FDC understand how best to position our future funding for similar opportunities.

The recipients will also have the opportunity to have a follow up meeting with the donors, Daniel Levinson and Kirsten Gundlack Levinson of Rapier Wit, and the President of the Board of Directors of AFDC, Nathania Bernabe, to discuss the recipient's experience.

If you have any questions about this grant or the application process, please direct them to AFDC Actor/Combatant Representative MIchelle Lewis at combatantrep@fdc.ca.

Thank you for your interest!

AFDC Certified Actor-Combatant Training Boost Grant

This grant was created in recognition of the financial difficulties emerging artists are facing in the wake of the pandemic. It is available to AFDC Actor-Combatants from all backgrounds and is intended to assist them in their pursuit of AFDC training. This grant, which will be awarded to 2 candidates, consists of 1 payment of $500 CAD each.

Beyond a short list of restrictions, it’s up to the recipient to decide how this grant would best facilitate their training. Examples of this might include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Supplementing the transportation expense of travelling to/from AFDC training
• Supplementing living expenses for periods of time when the candidate must give up paying work in order to train with AFDC (such as during an intensive course)
• Supplementing travel to an AFDC Nationals or other AFDC stage combat workshop outside the candidate’s region
• Funding participation in AFDC classes or AFDC workshops that promote key skills and/or address gaps in training that are impeding the candidate’s progress
• Supplementing babysitting, after-school care, eldercare, or similar expenses that can affect the candidate’s ability to commit to training opportunities

While we recognize that each candidate’s needs are unique and want to avoid undue restrictions on the use of these grants, they are not intended for the following purposes:

• To hire peers
• To fund shows or other artistic projects
• To fund any type of marketing or promotion
• For candidates with arts businesses, to fund business expenses
• To expand a personal armory

Grant Eligibility

• Candidates must be full AFDC members in good standing.
• Financial considerations are actively hindering candidates’ training progress.
• Candidates must at minimum be certified at the AFDC Basic level, or have attempted Basic and are preparing to re-take the course.
• Candidates are required to submit a completed application per the “How to Apply” list.
• Candidates should show clear commitment to the pursuit of their certification through active work and study, and are supported in their application by at least one AFDC instructor.
• Through their training practices and interactions to date, candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to ethical, professional conduct.

Grants will not be awarded more than once to the same recipient. Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated commitment to their stage combat training, especially those whose progress has been limited by external factors such as financial need or lack of opportunity. (And yes, we do recognize that the pandemic has limited opportunities for many people, and will take this into account.) If their first application is not successful, applicants may reapply in subsequent years if the grant is still being offered.

How to Apply

Please prepare a package that includes the following:

1. Application Form
   Download Here (PDF), or below
2. Resume
   A headshot or other picture of yourself is not required, but if you’d like to include one please feel free to do so.
3. Letters of Reference
   At minimum 1 letter of support from an AFDC instructor; you may include other letters of reference to a maximum of 2.
4. Questions About You and Your Perspective
   Please use the following questions to tell us about yourself, your artistic history, your perspectives on this work, and your plans for the future. You can do this in writing (paragraphs or point form), or by recording/filming your spoken answers - whichever helps you express yourself better. (250 - 500 words or no more than 3 mins of video)

• • Please tell us about yourself, your current artistic work, and your goals.
  • Please tell us about your history/relationship with stage combat and AFDC.
  • Please tell us why this grant would make a difference for you, and how you see yourself making use of it.
  • Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?

How to Submit

Submissions will be accepted via email until midnight on May 20. Please send your application package to AFDC’s Executive Advisor Jackie T. Hanlin at advisor@fdc.ca, with the subject line AFDC CAC Training Boost Grant 2022.

Preferred File Formats
Documents: PDF
Images: JPG
Video Files: unlisted YouTube link

Follow-Up Report

The recipients do not have to receive pre-approval from anyone for prospective expenses. However, within three months following completion of use of the grant, recipients will provide a record on how the funds were used (with receipts) as this information will help FDC understand how best to position our future funding for similar opportunities.

The recipients will also have the opportunity to have a follow-up meeting with the donors, Daniel Levinson and Kirsten Gundlack Levinson of Rapier Wit, and the President of the Board of Directors of AFDC, Nathania Bernabe, to discuss the recipient's experience.

If you have any questions about this grant or the application process, please direct them to AFDC Actor/Combatant Representative MIchelle Lewis at combatantrep@fdc.ca.

Thank you for your interest!

Leadership-level Training Grant (FI Candidate and above)