Student Ambassador Program
This is the ultimate experience for high school students who love the arts: an entirely free, seven-month program designed to transform passionate young people into arts leaders, team players, advocates, and engagement experts.
“Leadership is a characteristic that everyone has. It means to be brave and be yourself, but also to help other people find themselves and help them grow.” —Jordyn, former Student Ambassador
CTG’s Student Ambassador program is the ultimate experience for Los Angeles County high school students who love the arts: a seven-month paid leadership program designed to transform passionate young people into arts leaders, team players, advocates, and engagement experts.
This year’s Student Ambassadors will work towards a culminating project tied to Fake It Until You Make It by Larissa Fasthorse at the Mark Taper Forum. Students will design a community engagement event that encourages their peers and community members to engage with themes from the show. They will develop two distinct activities for this event and the event’s overall design. Through their work towards this event, ambassadors will learn community engagement and project management strategies, enhance their personal leadership skills, and explore how an arts organization operates.
In keeping with CTG’s commitment to a safe, happy, and healthy work environment, we aim to create a supportive learning environment where everyone can be their whole selves. We encourage wellness, embrace and support differences, and focus on principles of antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the Student Ambassador program.
The Ambassador Program runs from October 2024 – April 2025.
Applications for the 2024-2025 Student Ambassador Program are now closed. To hear more about our other Education and Community Partnerships Programs and to be notified when next year’s Student Ambassador applications open, please sign up for our newsletter here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Current high school students in grades 11-12 who attend school in Los Angeles County are eligible to participate (verify your county at schoolfinder.us). Please wait to apply if you are still in grades 9-10. Students must be enrolled in high schoolfor the entire school year. Public, private, charter, and home-schooled students are all eligible. We welcome applicants from continuation high schools as well.
We ask that you do not apply if you are not available on all program dates, including the group interview, orientation, and culmination. Please consider the following conflicts before applying: after-school activity schedules (theatre, sports, etc.) in both the fall and spring semesters, family vacations, college trips, mandatory scholarship, or school events.
In the interest of fairness, students can only do the program once.
There is no fee to participate in the Student Ambassador Program; it's entirely free! The costs for all of the activities, from seeing plays to attending workshops, are covered by Center Theatre Group.
All meetings will take place at the Music Center Annex in the Education Classroom. The address is 601 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and we are across the street from the Ahmanson Theatre. We are accessible by several public buses and close to the Civic Center/Grand Park and the Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill Station metro station. Free parking or TAP cards are provided to each Ambassador.
Center Theatre Group is a nonprofit, so the answer is very likely yes. Many Ambassadors use the program to complete their community service requirements. You can choose this option in lieu of receiving a stipend upon completion of the program.
All aspiring Student Ambassadors must submit complete applications with signatures from a parent/guardian and teacher. We’re not looking for a specific type of student; instead, we want to bring together a diverse group of students with different interests, skills, and personalities. Use the application questions to be honest with us about why you feel you need this leadership experience, what you’re interested in, and who you are. Don’t worry about trying to impress us! There's no need to be as formal as a college application essay, and we're not reading for grammar or spelling.
After reviewing all of the applications, our staff selects students to participate in a group interview and makes final selections from there.
No acting or performing is involved. But if you have a background in acting, you might enjoy getting a window into other careers and opportunities within theatre.
Several Center Theatre Group staff members read and discuss each application we receive.
Here’s what we look for:
Are you interested in the program? Do we think you’ll have a good experience here?
If you have theatre experience (especially acting experience) we need you to tell us why you’re applying for this program, where you’ll build leadership and career skills, instead of one where you’ll be onstage or directly working on your art form. If you don’t have previous theatre or arts experience, it won’t impact your chances of getting into the program, but you do need to tell us why you’re applying for a leadership program within a theatre instead of one somewhere else.
We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds, with different interests and reasons for applying to be a Student Ambassador. Don’t try to be formal in your answers to the questions—we want to see your unique style and voice shine through. It’s better for us if your answers sound like you’re talking to a friend, not applying to college. Instead of trying to tell us what you think we want to hear, be yourself and be honest in your responses.
We consider whether you submit your application on time and with all parts completed. It’s okay if you have technical difficulties, but if we have to follow up several times about a missed question or other outstanding information, that’s a sign to us that you might not be ready to commit to this program. We also look at whether you seem overcommitted, or nervous about committing to all of the program dates. Note that in general, spelling and grammar won’t impact your chances of selection
Don’t let lack of experience with theatre or leadership stop you from applying! People with a lot of experience might not benefit as much from becoming a Student Ambassador. Tell us why you need this program to develop skills you need for life, school, or your career. If you’ve already decided on a career path, it’s helpful for us to know why this program might help you achieve your goals. Be honest with yourself about whether this program is the best fit for you.