The surprise release of Beyoncé's single "Formation" in February 2016 shook the music industry, making a powerful, evocative and empowering statement — all traits that have become synonymous with the 22-time GRAMMY winner. The song's music video, a work that elicited strong reactions from fans and critics alike, went on to win a GRAMMY for 2016 for Best Music Video.
No doubt, Beyoncé has an uncanny ability to provoke thoughts and emotions, and her art and actions have inspired a generation. Now, the megastar has unveiled plans to help support the next generation of young female students with the Formation Scholars, a group of four scholarships that will be awarded annually to "female incoming, current or graduate students pursuing studies in creative arts, music, literature or African-American studies."
Slated to launch for the 2017–2018 academic year, the award is intended "to encourage and support young women who are unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident." Four schools have been designated as participants: Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Parsons School of Design, and Spelman College.
Supporting music education forms the crux of the year-round work of the GRAMMY Museum. Recently, The Recording Academy announced the integration of the GRAMMY Museum and the GRAMMY Foundation, two organizations that served nearly 100,000 students in 2016 through local and national education initiatives. The resulting new GRAMMY Museum Foundation will seek to become the leading educational institution dedicated to broadening the historical and cultural significance of music through their combined efforts.
