Building a Pipeline for Future Arts and Culture Leaders

K-12 STEAM education

San Gabriel Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

While Los Angeles is a global arts hub, access to meaningful employment remains inequitable for historically underrepresented communities. Only 20% of playwrights and directors produced at US theatres are people of color, and 33% of major arts leadership roles are held by BIPOC individuals. BCP aims to change this by expanding its internship program and providing year-round, 10-week paid opportunities that offer real-world experience and leadership development. Audience demographics also remain skewed: 57% of BCP patrons are ages 45–74; 25% identified as BIPOC, 15% Hispanic/Latino, and 20% reported household incomes under $50,000. Prior to the pandemic, 50% of plays were by women, 36% by writers of color, and 63% of casts included BIPOC or disabled actors. Expanding our internship program and making investments in equity-driven talent development will help reshape BCP’s cultural ecosystem into one that is more inclusive and representative of our shared humanity.

Boston Court Pasadena’s 10-week internship program is designed to cultivate the next generation of arts leaders through an intentional, equity-centered approach that removes barriers, fosters meaningful work, and builds long-term pathways into the creative economy.
We begin by prioritizing access: offering stipends, covering meals, and eliminating prior experience requirements ensures that opportunities are available to all, not just those with privilege. We recruit strategically through partnerships with PUSD and LAUSD schools, as well as community organizations such as the Unusual Suspects Theatre Company and cultural centers that serve BIPOC, low-income, and historically excluded youth.
Once selected, interns engage in substantive work that contributes directly to the organization. Artistically, they assist with the New Play Reading Festival and season productions. Administratively, they support fundraising events, and in marketing, they help create content and manage communications. Interns are paired with dedicated mentors who meet regularly to provide feedback, help set goals, and offer professional guidance. Peer check-ins and team-building activities further support their development.
Crucially, we view the internship as a beginning, not an endpoint. We maintain alumni networks, provide references, and share new employment opportunities as they arise. We also track intern outcomes to assess impact and refine the program.

Boston Court Pasadena’s internship program, for ages 18 to 25, is a vital investment in Los Angeles County’s cultural future. While open regionally, it prioritizes young people from Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley—especially BIPOC and underserved communities—regardless of theatre experience. This intentional inclusivity breaks down barriers of access and background, nurturing diverse talent.
Theatre remains overwhelmingly white; only 7% of non-culturally specific productions are directed by people of color, exposing persistent structural inequities. BCP’s mission to reflect L.A.’s multicultural landscape begins with empowering the next generation through equity-centered internships. These emerging artists and cultural workers will shape both stage and systems, redefining power and storytelling in the arts.
By expanding access, BCP helps Los Angeles County become a national model of inclusive, creative cultural leadership rooted in equity and shared humanity.