Sarah Nash Gates was a costume designer, educator, and President of URTA from 2007 to 2010. A founder of Theater Puget Sound in Seattle, Sarah Nash Gates was an early pioneer in promoting the professionalism of the costume design industry, helping to elevate the respect costume designers received in the workplace. In celebration of her lasting impact on the costume design profession and in continuation of her mentorship of early career professionals, the Sarah Nash Gates Award will be granted annually to up to two costume design candidates returning to graduate school after having worked in a costume related field. The award recipient(s) will receive free registration for the upcoming year's URTA Auditions & Interviews.
Prior to applying, please review all URTA requirements and award criteria. Candidates applying must submit their professional resume and a personal essay on their reason behind pursuing graduate training at this time, professional goals in costume design, and what they hope to achieve while at graduate school.
If you have not already, please be sure you have completed Stage 1 of your URTA registration in Acceptd up to the point of payment (but do not pay). The Sarah Nash Gates Award application deadline is November 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM (Eastern). After that time, the URTA Awards Committee will begin reviewing applications, and award recipient(s) will be notified by URTA via email by November 19, 2025.
This award is generously funded by Holly Poe Durbin in memory of Sarah Nash Gates.