The Drama Therapy Fund annually offers a limited amount of scholarships toward conference registration fees for the annual conference of the North American Drama Therapy Association. Please check the NADTA website for information on dates and place of this year’s conference at: www.nadta.org
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Any member of the North American Drama Therapy Association. Scholarships are only available for persons who have not yet registered for the conference. There will be no reimbursement provided for persons who register prior to the award being given.
AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP: The scholarship will cover registration for NADTA Conference in whatever registration category applicant is in. It will not cover any events/items outside of the registration. The recipient’s conference registration will be paid for them in full by the Drama Therapy Fund; however, they will still need to fill out the online registration using the award code provided. Drama Therapy Fund will not reimburse for registrations already paid for. You must register with the code provided.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: NEW DEADLINE May 3, 2026 for the conference in October 2026. The deadline has been moved up to accommodate the NADTA registration timeline. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Priority consideration, and waitlist go to persons who apply by deadline. Should additional spots be available for extended registration, announcements will be made once all on the waitlist have been notified. Please follow Drama Therapy Fund on Facebook and Instagram for announcements.
The application period for the 2026 NADTA Annual Conference will be from March 13, 2026 through May 3, 2026.
NOTIFICATION: Applicants will be notified of their acceptance or rejection in late May 2026.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION: We anticipate a highly competitive process this year. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria:
1. Evidence of financial need.
2. Quality of Essay
3. Submission on or before deadline. (Applications submitted after deadline will not be considered.)
4. Distance from region in which Conference is being held.
5. Evidence of membership in NADTA or another international drama therapy association.
BE SURE TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP – WE WILL CHECK!
6. Ability to actually be able to financially afford attending the conference with the additional help provided by the scholarship. Drama Therapy Fund scholarships only cover the registration fee to the full conference. Please take into account additional expenses such as the travel, lodging, and meal costs when applying.
7. Number of past scholarships awarded
8. International members who have monetary exchange rate difficulties will be given priority.
9. Individuals who have done volunteer work for NADTA or Drama Therapy Fund will be given priority.
10.Individuals who are presenting at the conference will be given priority.
11. Student status and Members over 65 with financial need will be given priority.
Scholarships are for full registration only. Drama Therapy Fund is responsible for paying NADTA for the registration. Upon acceptance of award, winners will be provided a code to register with that covers the registration fee. Attendees who register and pay on their own will NOT be reimbursed, and scholarship offer will be rescinded. We will inform applicants of their status prior to any registration deadlines.
REQUIRED REPORT: The Drama Therapy Fund requires that within 60 days of the end of the Conference, all recipients of scholarships send a one-to-two-page essay about what they learned at the Conference and how they will apply it to their drama therapy work.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Complete the Online Application with the following information:
1. Name
2. Address
3. Email
4. Phone Number
5. Region (East, Central, West, Canada, or International)
6. If you are a student (Which University? Or BCT, if Alternative Training?) OR over 65.
7. Indicate priority status (if applicable).
8. An essay is required and may be pasted in or attached to the online application.
In your essay address your financial needs, reasons for wanting to attend the conference, and other any special circumstances, such as unemployment, disability, school loan repayment, etc. of which you think the Scholarship Review Committee should be made aware.
Your essay will remain confidential.
You May Submit Your Application and Essay online here: Online Scholarship Application