Nickelodeon has partnered with national non-profit Get Schooled — co-founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom — to award one skilled, innovative animator with a $25,000 scholarship by creating an original animated short. This partnership marks the first-ever animation scholarship program between the two organizations, which will give the brightest up and coming animators the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
“With a rich history of championing artist-driven shows and shorts, Nickelodeon is on a mission to bring these ever-growing, young animators to the forefront,” said Russell Hicks, President, Content Development and Production, Nickelodeon. “By partnering with Get Schooled, we are able to discover the next generation of storytellers and provide an animation scholarship for a deserving student, which is really rewarding.”
The scholarship opportunity will be open to 17- to 24-year-olds, asking that applicants submit an animated short in any format. Young animators 13 to 16 are also invited to submit a theme-based looping animation for a chance to win prizes, such as a tablet with animation software.
More information can be found at getschooled.com; full guidelines will be available in April, with the winners to be announced this summer.
How about continuing the contest to 24+years old with the winner receiving a paid internship? Degrees are fine but if you can’t use it because no one will hire you without having 2 years of experience in the field. The degree just becomes some piece of paper to mount on a wall.
This is a great idea!!
Why is it promoting age discrimination? Not everyone was a traditional student, and thus, are between those ages. There are many creative types, let’s omit age please.
Because. If you’re deemed worthy here, you’re probably someone who will make the most of the education and would grow to be even greater by the end. Someone who doesn’t expect to go to art schools and just get some kind of magical skill just handed to them. No shit the degree doesn’t matter
Will there be multiple prices? and would it be possible to change the age gap considering 17-24 is pretty broad and a 17 year old like me wouldn’t stand a chance against per say a sheridan or cal arts student?
*prizes
How about having no age restriction! Lots of young at heart, talented 40+ year olds. Run a competition that selects best shorts to air on Nick! Could get exciting projects in! Who knows!
Why is it promoting age discrimination? Not everyone was a traditional student, and thus, are between those ages. It’s hurtful to see that you’re omitted, because you aren’t “young enough”. Sometimes we don’t get our start in the creative spectrum until later. Now that we are here, we are punched in the stomach. It’s insensitive.
There are many creative types, let’s omit age please.
I get that a lot of people are saying that this is discriminating in terms of age but you have to realise that a lot of young animators find it hard to get started and get help, especially seeing as animating courses and courses like them are incredibly expensive. People who are older, hypothetically 40 years old, usually have a stable job already or at least a job that provides funding that they can use to kickstart a job like animating. As a young animator, I’m finding it incredibly hard to find anyone who is willing to give me a chance to animate. I think that this is a really great chance to help out people who might not have any kind of funding to be able to animate.