The Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (Skoll Center for SIE) 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 Skoll Center for SIE is 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 compliment 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.

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.

"I founded Participant in the belief that a story well-told has the power to ignite positive social change. 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." — Jeff Skoll

Our Mission

The mission of the Skoll Center for SIE will serve to attract and develop the most innovative ideas and thought leadership to advance the power of entertainment and performing arts to inspire social change. The Skoll Center for SIE will provide a structure to measure the impact and effectiveness of social responsibility on the entertainment and performing arts industry and global society. It will launch research initiatives that explore the development of a new field in social impact entertainment research and practice; inspire students and faculty to use the power of story to make a difference and inspire social change; galvanize the public to action to foster positive social change; develop meaningful partnerships between the public and private sectors to create new models to drive social change; and engage local, national and global communities about how the industry impacts global society through film, television, animation, digital media and theater.

The Skoll Center for SIE will be a hub for the creation of unique film and theater projects; symposia and lectures on pressing global issues; major conferences; festivals; special events; workshops; distinguished visiting artists-in-residence programs; and key partnerships aligned with the vision and mission of the Center.