The Campfire Project to Receive Equity’s 2024 Paul Robeson Award

Actors’ Equity Association, alongside the Actors’ Equity Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization supporting the professional theatre community, jointly announced that they will bestow the Paul Robeson Award for 2024 on The Campfire Project.

The Paul Robeson Award honors individuals and organizations who leverage theatre to go beyond the stage to enact their commitment to the freedom of expression and conscience, their belief in the artist’s responsibility to society and their dedication to the betterment of humankind. It is the only award jointly administered by the union and the foundation, given annually since Robeson himself received the first citation in 1974. The Campfire Project promotes arts-based wellness in refugee spaces and empowers refugees to step into the spotlight, explore their creativity and refocus on their humanity. Its co-founders are theatre producer Jenny Gersten and Equity member Jessica Hecht.

"We are deeply moved by this honor," said Hecht and Gersten. "We can finally properly, publicly thank [Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director] Tom Viola for launching our mission and name the dozens of artists that have accompanied us around the world to take the work we know and love to the refugee community at large. We share this award with them." The award will be presented as part of the Actors’ Equity Foundation Awards ceremony on June 24 in New York City.