Jeff Skoll, founder of Participant Media, has endowed UCLA with $10 million for the establishment of the new Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. The new center is dedicated to promoting social change through entertainment and performing arts.
The Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment at UCLA TFT is the first of its kind dedicated solely to advancing the power of entertainment and performing arts to inspire social change. The work of the Center will be organized around three pillars: research on a global scale that provides a structure to measure the influence of social impact storytelling; education and special initiatives that will not only enhance and complement the educational experience by exploring innovative approaches to curricular development for the emerging field of social impact entertainment, but also provide students and faculty with workshops, lectures, distinguished visiting artists programs and unique opportunities to focus their scholarly and creative work in this arena; and public programming and exhibition to ignite and engage the public in meaningful debate around society’s most pressing problems and the important role entertainment and performing arts plays in this conversation.
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“I founded Participant Media in the belief that a story well-told has the power to ignite positive social change, ” said Skoll. “This new center at UCLA TFT is an extension of that vision, with the goal of empowering a new generation, and elevating storytelling as a tool to create impact and empower people to connect to the social issues which can have a profound impact on our world.”
UCLA TFT’s Dean Teri Schwartz added, “We could not be more honored or proud to partner with our good friend, Jeff Skoll, to establish this groundbreaking new Center. The Center speaks volumes to Jeff’s remarkable vision, generosity and commitment to making the world a better place.“
Participant Media announced the launch of a new annual global convening in association with the Center and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, beginning in 2015, which will bring together leaders from the creative community, government, academic, business and non-profit sectors.
Skoll added, “A key goal of the Center is to bring together groups that don’t often connect around the topic of storytelling, serving as a hub for foundations, social entrepreneurs, non-profits, philanthropists, corporations, and the creative community, who need a resource to create new ways to connect and tell stories.”
