The IAAPA Foundation Entertainment Task Force Scholarship, sponsored by RWS Global, is built for the dreamers, builders, and operators of live entertainment. The people who imagine it, design it, and make sure it actually happens in real time.
This scholarship is for both sides of creating unforgettable guest experiences: the creatives who dream up unforgettable guest experiences, and the operators, stage managers, technicians, and show callers who bring those experiences to life night after night, cue after cue, show after show.
Because in live entertainment, imagination and execution are inseparable. Led by IAAPA’s Entertainment Task Force and supported by RWS Global, this program celebrates the full ecosystem of entertainment. Great ideas only matter if they can be executed flawlessly and great execution only exists because someone had the imagination to design it in the first place.
Recipients will attend IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida in November, taking part in curated education sessions, behind-the-scenes learning, and networking experiences focused on the future of live entertainment. This includes creative development, performance innovation, technical production, and the real-world operations that keep entertainment running safely, consistently, and spectacularly at scale.
Whether you are a performer, creative designer, stage manager, show caller, technician, producer, or emerging leader in Family Entertainment Centers, theme parks, cruise entertainment, or Location-Based Entertainment, this scholarship is designed to elevate your craft and expand your understanding of how entertainment is both created and operation.
This is for the people who speak in cue sheets and storyboards. Who know that “five minutes to showtime” is both a warning and a promise. And who believe that magic only works when everyone hits their mark. Because in entertainment, there are no sidelines. Only the people who dream it, and the people who make it happen. And we celebrate both!
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IAAPA Foundation Entertainment Task Force Scholarship
Sponsored by RWS Global
Built for those who create the magic, and those who make it happen.
The IAAPA Entertainment Task Force is a global group of industry leaders dedicated to advancing the role of live entertainment across attractions worldwide.
Our focus is to elevate entertainment as a core driver of guest experience, not an add-on, by supporting education, sharing best practices, and connecting professionals across creative, operational, and technical disciplines.
Through IAAPA Expo programming and initiatives like this scholarship, the Task Force works to spotlight the full spectrum of entertainment, from creative development to stage operations and to promote an understanding in both how entertainment is designed and how it is delivered in real time.
This scholarship is a direct investment in that: developing well-rounded entertainment professionals who can think like creators, operate like technicians, and lead like producers.
RWS Global is one of the world’s leading producers and operators of live entertainment for theme parks, cruise lines, resorts, sport events and location-based entertainment destinations.
Our work spans the full entertainment lifecycle from concept development and creative design to casting, production, technical execution, and ongoing operations. We don’t just build shows, we help run them, sustain them, and evolve them in real environments around the world.
We believe the future of entertainment depends on professionals who understand both creativity and execution. That’s why we support this scholarship: to give emerging talent access to real industry insight, real operational understanding, and real connections that can shape their careers.
For many recipients, this experience won’t just be educational, it will be a turning point. Exposure to global operators, creative leaders, and real production environments has the potential to reshape how they see their role in the industry and accelerate their path forward in entertainment.
In short: we’re not just investing in attendance at IAAPA, we’re investing in the next generation of people who will lead the industry.
August 1 - August 31, 2026
This scholarship is open to applicants from all IAAPA global regions: Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa (ESA), Latin America & Caribbean (LAC), Middle East & North Africa (MENA), and North America (NA). Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application. IAAPA members and non-members are welcome.
Two recipients will be selected for the 2026 IAAPA Foundation Entertainment Task Force Scholarship.
Students
- Full-time or part-time
- Aged 18–35
- Studying hospitality, performing arts, technical theatre, production, stage management, operations, engineering, design, or related field
Industry Professionals
- Currently working in attractions, entertainment, or LBE
- Aged 18–35
- 1–3 years of experience in roles such as:
- Performance or character work
- Creative development or show design
- Stage management or show calling
- Live entertainment operations
- Technical production (lighting, audio, AV, automation)
- Guest experience or entertainment coordination
- Resume or CV
Upload your current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Letter of Recommendation
A short letter (max two paragraphs) from a current employer or instructor confirming your application and ability to attend IAAPA Expo 2026.
- Application Video (Max 3 minutes)
- Tell us:
- What you do in entertainment today—onstage, backstage, or behind the console
- What draws you to live experiences and the magic of guest connection
- What you hope to learn at IAAPA Expo 2026 and how it will shape your future in entertainment
- Bonus: Share your “this almost went wrong but the show still went on” moment.
- Tell us:
Recipients are required to provide a post-event testimonial following IAAPA Expo 2026.
This may be used by IAAPA Foundation or RWS Global to:
- Highlight the impact of the scholarship
- Inspire future applicants and donors
- Showcase the growth of both creative and operational talent in entertainment
The IAAPA Foundation Entertainment Task Force Scholarship provides a total value of $2,500. Funds will be applied toward IAAPA Expo registration, the YP Reception, and Entertainment Task Force programming, and EDU Tour with remaining funds supporting travel and accommodation expenses.
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