Redford, College Pair Up
Oscar winner will help provide scholarships
Oscar winner Robert Redford is known for giving back.
In his newest venture, it will be students at Santa Fe University of Art and Design who will benefit. The filmmaker and university are launching a new scholarship program for emerging art ists and filmmakers.
The new Robert Redford/ Initiative Scholarship Program is geared toward attracting, retaining and graduating qualified students who wish to pursue a fulfilled life and career in the arts.
Chris Eyre, chair of the film school at the university, said the project took many years to bring to fruition.
“Mr. Redford was a mentor of mine when I was in film school at NYU,” he said. “We’ve talked about getting something like this started and when I became chair at the film school, we made it happen.”
Eyre said the collaboration between the university and Redford works well because Redford has been a champion for all arts.
“Not only is he a director, but he also paints. He’s been able to give emerging artists a break into this industry. I think that having his participation with the scholarship will automatically raise the university’s profile in the arts.”
The program consists of two scholarship categories: the Unique Voice and the Emerging Artist scholarships. The Unique Voice covers 100 percent of tuition — $35,000 per year — and room and board and is open to indigenous people. The Emerging Artist is open to full-time students in any SFUAD department and could cover up to $15,000 for some disciplines and up to $7,000 for others.
The scholarship program will be funded by SFUAD and the award recipients will be selected by the celebrated actor in conjunction with the Milagro Initiative spearheaded by Kathleen Broyles, the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program consultant and director of The Milagro Initiative.
“Regardless of the medium — whether it’s through a poem, art installation, or a film — Santa Fe University of Art and Design offers something special to its vibrant student body,” Redford said. “It is an honor to collaborate with this exciting institution in choosing scholarship recipients for the next generation of storytellers, as it will be this generation of artists who will provoke thought and inspire significant change throughout the 21st century.”