With these FY25 start-up funds, it is my goal to be able to attend the 2025 United States Institute for Theatre Technology conference in Columbus, Ohio. This conference is an organization that works to advance the skills and knowledge of technicians and designers in the performing and live entertainment arts and is widely considered to be “THE” conference for technical theatre and design professionals in the industry. I would be interested in using the funding to apply for a pass into the conference, travel, lodging, and per diem. The conference will run from March 5th to March 8th in which professional organizations, leading industries, and professionals at the top of their respective fields will be hosing panels, training, technology demonstrations for attendees to see what is leading edge in our field of performing and entertainment arts. One of my goals is to visit the exhibition hall to keep in touch and experience what is the cutting edge of technology and compare the standards we are currently teaching students here at UNCW. It is my prerogative within my research to keep our department progressing forward with our lighting and projections technology at a rate that will put UNCW at the forefront of theatrical technology and design within academia. The exhibition hall is a wonderful place to see how and where the industry is progressing and can serve as a litmus test to compare curriculum taught within the department to what students pursuing degrees in this fields will actually go out and come face to face with. The exhibition hall will also do well to serve as a point of reference as our department is consistently looking to integrate the latest technologies into our performance and classroom spaces. My research here will be used to inform my colleagues and the university as a whole of where we may be able to develop our teachings as well as department technological resources that are available to our students. The conference also hosts a multitude of panels over the four-day period with topics ranging to many introductory as well as advanced discussion in the respective focuses and fields within live entertainment and theatrical arts. Our department is currently housing outstanding projections equipment. It is my prerogative to attend panels on projections design and how to utilize this equipment to the best of our ability so we may integrate this rapidly developing field into our curriculum and productions. These panels will also be discussing where the industry stands as of now and hopes for the future as the procurement of live entertainment and industry standards consistently evolves. Finally, this convention brings in professionals, organizations, graduate programs, and companies from all over the country. It is an excellent space to form working connections with industries that can later serve as reference points for students as they are looking towards their next steps outside of college or work to develop their academic and professional portfolios over the summer. From my experience of attending this convention in the past, I have formed relationships with recruiting managers for industries such as Disney Cruise Lines, Disney Parks Entertainment, and Stagedoor Manor to serve in the interest of my students who might be interested in pursuing work with companies who are leading our industry. I thank you for your consideration when reviewing this proposal. I believe the amount of development it has to offer not only me as a professor, researcher, and reference to my students, but to our department as a whole is immeasurable. These funds will contribute greatly towards my research into keeping our department in line with industry standards and for the beginnings of developing a more streamlined technical approach to theatrical projections design, an area in which I believe we can improve.
