Educating the next generation of artists is a costly endeavor for a simple reason – creating art can be expensive. Tuition and fees at Tisch are approximately $39,000 annually, and we estimate that it will be close to $50,000 in five years. Currently, the average scholarship is $7,500, or roughly 20% of total costs. Most students must obtain loans and/or work part-time to pay for their education. Because NYU is not able to offer a higher level of financial support, many aspiring artists cannot attend Tisch, their "first-choice" school. Those who are not accepted elsewhere might not pursue their career ambitions at all. This is a loss not only to them, but to all of us, who are deprived of the strong, fresh alternative voices of these talented young men and women. In short, if we want the arts to remain an inclusive voice, it is imperative that we provide scholarship support for students from modest economic circumstances.
We seek to raise $30 million for scholarships. Placed in endowment accounts, this amount would generate approximately $1.5 million annually, assuring that the most promising students will be able to attend Tisch, regardless of means.
