It’s time, folks! Applications for the GaymerX GDC Scholarship for 2020 are now open. Below is some general information about the GaymerX GDC Scholarship program for 2020. In addition to awarding passes to qualified applicants, we have some exciting things in the works. Please be sure to read the entire post for all the relevant information.
For your convenience, you can find the application here:
Or copy and paste this link into your address bar: https://forms.gle/mLzZDg5pqjfjuxr5A
Also, please see last week’s post on how to give your application the best chance of being selected to receive a scholarship to GDC in 2020.
What is the GaymerX GDC Scholarship program?
The GaymerX GDC Scholarship Program provides Core+Summits level passes to Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. This program provides opportunities for marginalized individuals to attend GDC, a keystone professional conference, who could not otherwise afford the experience. The goal of this program is to improve diversity and inclusion in the games industry. We aim to do this by increasing the number of LGBTQIA+ individuals employed at major studios and whose games are published by major distributors. Scholarship recipients will be game developers and academics working in video games who are LGBTQIA+ individuals and/or produce LGBTQIA+ focused content.
Who is eligible for the program?
Recipients must meet the following criteria to be selected to receive a scholarship:
- 18 years of age or older by March 16, 2020
- Able to attend at least 4 of the 5 days of GDC 2020 in downtown San Francisco, CA.
- Currently working in video or tabletop games in an independent, professional, and/or academic capacity.
People of all identities are welcome to apply, however, consistent with our mission statement, preference will be given to LGBTQIA+ applicants. Transgender individuals, nonbinary folx, women, people of color, agender, asexual, aromantic, people with disabilities, neurodiverse people, and all individuals at intersections of these identities are strongly urged to apply.
Post secondary students who apply for the program must be within one year of their expected graduation date to be selected as a scholarship recipient.
Note to applicants not residing in the United States: Scholarship recipients are not limited by country of residence or citizenship. For instance, last year, GaymerX selected three recipients for the program who do not reside in the US. However, you must be able to legally travel to the United States. Letters of invitation needed to obtain a visa are available from the GDC Registration Department. Please see their FAQ for more details: https://gdconf.com/faq
Application process
The GaymerX GDC 2020 Scholarship Application window is open from 12:00 AM Pacific time on October 14th, 2019 to 11:59pm Pacific Time on December 1st, 2019. All scholarship applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Time on December 1st, 2019. Late applications will not be accepted.
The application consists of 29 questions covering contact information, applicant demographics, professional experience in games, and personal statements. The option to not answer is available for all sensitive information. Please be prepared to submit links to evidence of work in video or tabletop games. Examples: portfolios, resumes, webpages of published games, videos/photos of games being demonstrated, et cetera.
The Selection committee, consisting of 3 to 7 volunteer staff members of GaymerX, will evaluate each application individually. Fifteen applications will be selected to receive GDC scholarships. In addition, 15 applications will be waitlisted in the event that an applicant from the first selection group cannot accept the scholarship. If your application is waitlisted, do not despair! Last year we invited several waitlisted applicants to join us.
Applicants selected to receive GDC Scholarships from GaymerX must accept or decline their scholarship within 3 days, or 72 hours, of being sent the notification email. The email will contain instructions on how to accept or decline the scholarship. So if you apply, please keep an eye on your inbox in December. If we do not receive a response within 3 days, the committee will re-assign the scholarship to a waitlisted candidate.
All scholarship applicants will be notified about the status of their application by December 20th, 2019.
What can Scholarship Program Recipients Expect?
GaymerX will issue recipients a registration code for a Core+Summits level GDC pass. Recipients are responsible for registering themselves for GDC.
Recipients may also be eligible to receive a travel stipend from GaymerX of up to $500 USD dependant on program funding. Information about applying for a travel stipend will be provided to scholarship recipients once they have accepted their scholarship.
Additionally, representatives from GaymerX will be on hand during GDC to offer guidance and assistance to scholarship recipients should the need arise.
GaymerX will offer additional programming in San Francisco the week of GDC. This includes a meet and greet with fellow scholarship recipients and GaymerX Staff and Board members. Additionally we host a professional mixer with invited guests, food, drinks, and surprises! More information on that will be available in early 2020.
Additional benefits will include…
- An invite to the GaymerX GDC Scholarship Recipients’ Discord server, providing past and present scholarship recipients an opportunity to connect with each other and GaymerX Staff members
- Continuing support from GaymerX in the form of social media posts for new games projects, game releases, crowdfunding campaigns, et cetera
- Invitation to events sponsored by GaymerX during the week of GDC
Questions?
Please let us know if you have questions by emailing us at: info [at] gaymerx [dot] org.