Springboard to Design Offers Tuition-Free Virtual Mentorship for Aspiring Theatre Designers

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The virtual mentorship program targets aspiring designers from underrepresented backgrounds ages 18–25.

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Springboard to Design (SB2D), presented by Design Action and led by Tony Award-winning designers Clint Ramos and David Zinn , today announced the launch of the Springboard to Design Fellowship Program, a year-long, tuition-free, virtual mentorship experience for aspiring theatre designers from underrepresented backgrounds.

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Designed for high school students and emerging designers ages 18–25, the program connects each Fellow with a professional designer in their chosen discipline — set, costume, lighting, projection, sound, and make-up design — offering direct mentorship, industry insight, and personalized creative feedback.

The Fellowship Program expands access to theatre design by providing mentorship, training, and community, empowering emerging designers to build confidence, develop skills, and envision a future in the arts. Fully virtual, the program allows participants to connect with mentors and peers from around the world.

SB2D pulls Fellowship Mentors from its esteemed community of Guest Artists, who are among the industry's most celebrated designers. Collectively, the Guest Artists have earned 123 Tony Award nominations and 33 wins across design categories.

The program will begin in the Fall of 2027, running over the course of an academic year through Spring 2028, with regular mentor meetings, cohort sessions, and workshops scheduled throughout.

Applications are open July 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027. The application includes a few short written responses, a brief introduction video, and 2-3 samples of artwork. Students will be asked to provide the contact information for one reference. For more information on the application, visit SpringboardtoDesign.com .

“The Fellowship Program advances SB2D's mission to expand access and opportunity for high school students and emerging designers through meaningful mentorship,” says Clint Ramos . “Each year, we hear from students around the world who are searching for access to this kind of creative guidance and artistic community, and we're excited to provide education, mentorship, and hands-on exposure to the collaborative artistry at the heart of theatre design.”

“We're proud to continue nurturing curiosity and helping young artists discover their creative voice through the Fellowship Program,” adds David Zinn . “Time and again, applicants reach out about how difficult it can be to find guidance and a community of peers who share their passion for theatre design, and this program helps create those opportunities and connections on a global scale.”

More about Springboard to Design:

SB2D recently announced the students selected for its summer program 2026 cohort after attracting more than 4,500 applications from 70 countries and territories — reflecting the rapidly growing global interest in theatre design education. The 2026 program will take place July 19–25, at The Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab housed in The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (NYC).

Through hands-on workshops, seminars, and access to Broadway and off-Broadway productions, students in the summer program will explore set, costume, lighting, projection, sound, and make-up design under the mentorship of award-winning theatre professionals. The summer program includes free tuition, housing, and supplies. For several participants, the program represents their first opportunity to study theatre design in a professional environment, particularly for students from communities with limited arts education resources.

With a fundraising goal of $50,000, Springboard to Design invites supporters to contribute to this vital initiative. Donations can be made online at https://givebutter.com/Cs4A3U or by mailing a check to Producer Hub, 315 West 39th Street, Suite 103, New York, NY 10018. Please specify “Design Action: SB2D” in the memo line.

The application includes:

Visit SpringboardtoDesign.com to learn more.

Design Action is an intergenerational coalition of BIPOC and white designers working to end racial inequities in the North American Theater by confronting racism in our workplace and forging new pathways into the industry for rising designers of color.

Clint Ramos is a Tony Award-winning creative director, designer, and producer. Most recently, he designed costumes for The Metropolitan Opera's sold-out production of Tristan und Isolde. He produced Theater Group Asia's sold-out production of Stephen Sondheim 's Into the Woods, starring Lea Salonga , Arielle Jacobs and featuring a cast of Filipinos and Filipino Americans. Ramos serves as the Visual Director for Lincoln Center's Summer for the City, where he reimagines the entire Lincoln Center campus each summer into a vibrant stage for more than 300 events that serve New York City's diverse communities. He also serves as Artist-in-Residence at Lincoln Center. Ramos was a lead producer of the groundbreaking Broadway musical Here Lies Love, and is currently the Producing Creative Director for Encores! at New York City Center. As a designer, Ramos has created over 200 productions across theater, opera, and dance. His Broadway credits include Maybe Happy Ending, Eureka Day, Here Lies Love, KPOP and Slave Play.

Recent work on Broadway includes scenery for: Liberation, The Last 5 Years, Stereophonic, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, The Notebook, Kimberly Akimbo, Funny Girl and The Humans; scenery and costumes for Boys in the Band, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Fun Home, and costume design for Enemy of the People and A Doll's House Part 2. Off-Broadway: Playwright's Horizons, The Shed , Roundabout, MTC, NYTW, Lincoln Center Theater , 2nd Stage, and The Public. Also: A.C.T., A.R.T, Berkeley Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, and Steppenwolf. In London, he recently opened Here We Are at the National (set and costume design) and Stereophonic at the Duke of York's. In Europe, he's designed sets and costumes for the Berlin Staatsoper and at Theater Basel.

Zinn has received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic's Circle, Hewes and Obie Awards for his work.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Springboard-to-Design-Launches-Tuition-Free-Fellowship-for-Emerging-Theatre-Designers-20260512)._