The UBCP/ACTRA Scholarship Committee will award a maximum of up to $5,000 per Member per calendar year, to eligible Full Members, to enhance their education, professional industry skills or assist with career transitioning (where the member is moving on from their performing career due to reasons including but not limited to injury, lack of work, age, industry and/or technology changes). Programs which assist the member in continuing to develop their careers, whether directly through performer training, retraining or through training in other fields to supplement their income will also be considered.
Note: The scholarship is not intended for members starting their career and needing training. Professional development is for established performers. Depending on the request, applicants may only be approved for a portion of the amount, which can be up to a maximum of $5,000. Priority consideration will be given to members who wish to broaden their skills within the film and television industry.
Members should not be applying for multiple courses at the same time or for ongoing monthly lessons.
This scholarship is not open to Background and Apprentice Members.
Any current UBCP/ACTRA Full Member who has been a Full Member of the Union in good standing for at least five (5) years, and resides in the BC/Yukon region may apply for assistance.
Example: If you are a UBCP/ACTRA Member but reside full-time in Toronto, you will not be eligible for consideration.
However, if you are a current UBCP/ACTRA Full Member who has been in good standing for at least three (3) years, and are from the historically marginalised equity seeking groups of BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA2+, persons with disabilities, and 55+, or are dealing with exceptional/extenuating circumstances, the Committee will also consider your application.
Applicants who are 20 years old and under at the time of commencing the course, only need to be a Full Member of UBCP/ACTRA in good standing for at least two (2) years.
Applicants must also demonstrate financial need. In the case of members wishing to transition to a new career, priority will be determined based on length of membership within UBCP/ACTRA.
Each application must include the following documents:
- Updated resume
- A full description of the course of study.
Applicants must state the exact name of the course/program/training they are applying for and sufficiently describe the details of what it entails. Applications with vague terminology like “various acting programs around Vancouver” will be deemed incomplete.
- Proof of acceptance in the course of study
- Tuition cost
- A statement of any other financial assistance being awarded for the same course of study, including other bursaries or parental support
- The Member’s Notices of Assessment (NOA) from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the past five (5) years or from the time the Member first filed income taxes, whichever is shorter.
Applicants are only required to submit enough pages to show Total Income, Expenses and Net Income.
The summary page(s) are sufficient for this purpose. Do not submit your entire tax return.Note: If you can present NOAs for at least three (3) years with an explanation to support the missing years, your application will be considered.
- An essay of no more than five hundred (500) words or a video no longer than three (3) minutes outlining the reason for submitting the application.
If you are applying under exceptional/extenuating circumstances, details about the situation must be included in your essay or video.If applying for travel and lodging, also include:
- Location of the study program
- Full details of cost, including travel, food, and lodging
NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Applications seeking the scholarship to support career transition will need to have earned at least $5,000 per year for the last 5 years under UBCP/ACTRA contracts or have lifetime earnings of at least $100,000.
- Applicants for professional development can only apply for one (1) class or workshop per application period.
- The applicant’s course of study may already be in progress. Otherwise, the program of study must begin within nine (9) months of the application deadline. Funding will not be awarded for courses that have already been completed. Funds must be used towards the specific program stated in their application. Any remainder of funds will be redistributed to the Scholarship Fund and cannot be carried over to another term, year, or program.
- Applicants can receive a maximum of $5000 per calendar year.
- If the applicant needs to travel and reside away from their normal residence, assistance may be awarded for travel and lodging, to a maximum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) for board and lodging and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for return travel.
- All awards will be paid in Canadian Dollars, directly to the institution, school, or teacher providing the education. If the institution is based internationally, then arrangements will be made for the funds to be paid to the member directly upon proof of payment.
- Each recipient is limited to a lifetime total of $10,000 or four (4) successful applications (whichever comes first). If one of these maximums is reached, then the Member is no longer eligible to apply.
Note: The phrase “each recipient” refers to the person receiving the funds. As a result, a member and their dependant can each receive lifetime funds of $10,000.
- Applicants may apply to renew a grant if the program of study is longer than one year.
- If you file your taxes as an incorporated company, this must be stated on the application form. You must submit your personal AND incorporated returns.
- Timely submissions prior to the deadline will be reviewed by staff who can confirm if the application is properly completed. If staff advises that the application is incomplete, the applicant will have until the scholarship application deadline to submit any missing information. Items submitted after the deadline WILL NOT be considered. There will be no exceptions for missed deadlines.
- Members will be notified about the result of their application within four (4) weeks of the submission deadline.
- Financial need will be taken into consideration.
- The scholarship is a taxable benefit.
Complete the application form and submit it along with the checklist and relevant supporting information to scholarship@ubcpactra.ca. Otherwise, applications can be mailed to:
UBCP/ACTRA
Scholarship Application
300 – 380 West 2nd Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 1C8
Note: Mailed applications MUST have a postage date on or before the deadline (Friday, November 10, 2023 ) to be accepted.
Electronic Applications Deadline: Friday, November 10, 2023 at 4:00 PM
