Opportunities & Calls

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Dance Individual Project Funding

This funding provides up to $15,000 to support the development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for a specific dance project.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 1, 2023

Who can apply

Individual eligibility criteria

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

• are legally entitled to be or remain in Canada
• are legally entitled to work in Canada
• have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
• ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.

Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations are eligible to apply to this program and must list all principal artists involved in the project activities as part of their application. All members of an ensemble, collective, or collaboration must meet the individual eligibility criteria.

Principal artists cannot apply and/or receive funding for multiple projects at the same time, whether as an individual or a member of various ensembles, collectives, or collaborations.

What does this grant support

Please note, AFA funding is not assured for any project.

Types of projects

Through this opportunity, you may apply for project funding to support artistic activities in:

• art production
• marketing
• research
• training and career development

Art production includes the development, creation and production of any dance work. 

• Albertan artists that have been contracted by commissioners to create a specific work are eligible to apply for project support through this funding opportunity.
• projects should be confined to a distinct phase of a work
• Alberta individual artists that have been contracted by commissioners to create a specific work are eligible to apply for project support through this funding opportunity.

Marketing includes a program of activity for a specific period of time that promotes or advertises work created by Alberta dance artists, and/or develops audiences for the artist’s work.

Research includes a program of activity for a specific period of time that supports or results in the development of a dance project.

Training and career development includes enrollment in a course or program of study designed to develop an artist’s training in dance, including related performing arts disciplines, and/or performing arts administration.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• workshops
• master classes
• retreats
• mentorship programs
• professional development
• pre-professional and professional courses of study in dance

Eligible expenses

You can receive up to $15,000 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project. These expenses may include, but are not limited to:

• contracted artist and/or technician fees
• commission fees
• production
• promotion and publicity
• transportation and accommodation
• tuition or training fees
• royalties
• administration and contract fees
• basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, local transportation, food, childcare, dependent care) up to $3,000/month
• other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible expenses

Expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA project funding include:

• expenses for capital purchases, such as buildings or property, or for capital development, and studio construction or renovations
• recreational training projects
• specific component activities undertaken as part of a course of study
• contracts for ongoing activities or artists pursuing projects similar in scope to usual activities with commissioner
• expenses incurred prior to the application submission, including grant writer fees

• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples

This program supports Indigenous individuals, groups, Indigenous-led arts organizations and arts/cultural sector development organizations that foster a vital and resilient Indigenous arts ecosystem.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, groups and organizations may apply for funding for artistic and cultural activities.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, groups and organizations may apply to Creating, Knowing and Sharing (or to the other 5 Canada Council programs) for funding for artistic and cultural activities. Canada Council stands by Indigenous artists through a variety of programs and initiatives, such as {Re}conciliation. This program functions using a self-determined, Indigenous-centred approach. This means that it will be guided by Indigenous values and worldviews, administered by staff of First Nations, Inuit and Métis heritage, and assessed by First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals.

Collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, that are led by Indigenous artists/organizations are encouraged and facilitated in Creating, Knowing and Sharing.

Program Components:

Travel Up to $30,000
Small-scale activities Up to $3,000
Short-Term projects Up to $100,000
Long-Term projects Up to $300,000
Deadlines vary for each program.

• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

Arts Across Canada

The Translation component of Arts Across Canada funds activities linked to the translation of Canadian literary works or dramatic works into French, English, an Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) language, American Sign Language (ASL), Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), or any other regional Canadian or Indigenous sign language for Canadian publication or presentation. In case of sign language translation, sign language should be the language or one of the languages of performance.

For the translation of literary works: the Canada Council for the Arts is administering, on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the National Translation Program for Book Publishing (NTPBP) and we acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

You may be eligible for Application Assistance to pay someone to help you with the application process if you are experiencing difficulty and self-identify as:

• an artist who is Deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness
• a First Nations, Inuit or Métis artist facing language, geographic and/or cultural barriers.

Activities – what is eligible

Your application can include 1 or more requests to:

• translate Canadian-authored literary work into French, English or an Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) language, for publication
• translate and surtitle Canadian-authored dramatic work into French, English or an Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) language, for Canadian presentation
• translate Canadian-authored dramatic work into American Sign Language (ASL), Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), or any other regional or Indigenous sign language for Canadian presentation.

In addition, literary publishers can apply once per year for an Annual Supplement for reading fees, bilingual editing and promotional expenses; and applicants for sign language translation can apply for an Annual Supplement for video documentation of the translated work(s).

You can’t apply for activities that occur before the deadline date, those that receive funding from another Canada Council program or those on the general list of ineligible activities.

Who can apply

Types of potential applicants to this component include:

• literary publishers
• theatre and multidisciplinary groups and collectives
• theatre companies and dramaturgical organizations
• multidisciplinary organizations
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups or collectives
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations
• Deaf and disability arts organizations
• Deaf and disability arts groups and collectives

Your eligibility to apply to this component is determined by the validated profile created in the portal.

• Up to $25 000 for each translation, plus an Annual Supplement for targeted costs

Additionally, for organizations with profiles in Literature (with the exception of Indigenous Publishers), you must presently receive core support through the Supporting Artistic Practice: Literary Publishers component.

Organizations presently receiving core grants can apply to this component.

 The upcoming application deadline is January 11, 2023.

• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

Call for submissions: Emerging Screenwriter’s Grant

Whether you are finally putting that winning idea to paper, or digging out an old draft you never quite finished, we’re here to encourage you to take that next step! All submissions will receive written notes from the jury, but only winning scripts will receive an in-person feedback session. The winning short script (under 50 pages) will receive $250, and the winning feature-length script (50 page minimum.) will receive $500.

Submissions for this year’s Next Draft: Emerging Screenwriter’s Grant are open from August 1st, 2022 to December 1st, 2022.

You are able to submit as many scripts as you like, but please ensure the scripts follow the eligibility guidelines. If you submitted last year and didn’t win, we welcome you to submit an updated draft of your script. For the purposes of this grant, Emerging Screenwriters are defined as individuals who have not previously had a screenplay produced by a third party or production company.

HOW IT WORKS

Please fill out the contact form on this page and attach your script(s). We advise that you include a synopsis (max 700 characters) and indicated a short section of the script that you feel best represents the film (max 20-pages). This is due to time constraints; jurors are not required to read every submission in full. Once you submit, our programming manager will contact you with an invoice for your submission(s). The cost to submit is $10 per script for FAVA Members, $20 per script for non-members. Submissions that are not paid for will not be evaluated by the jury; the deadline to pay for your script is one week after the submission deadline.

PRIZES

• Selected Feature Film Script (50 page minimum.): $500
• Selected Short Film Script (under 50 pages): $250
• A one-on-one feedback session

All submissions will receive written notes from the jury, but only winning scripts will receive an in-person feedback session.

Scripts must follow industry-standard formatting, include a title page and be submitted as a PDF. If you are not certain what industry-standard format looks like, please review THIS PAGE.

ELIGIBILITY

For the purposes of this grant, Emerging Screenwriters are defined as individuals who have not previously had a screenplay produced by a third party or production company. All submissions will receive written notes from the jury, but only winning scripts will receive an in-person feedback session. Screenwriters who have self-produced their work in the past are welcome to apply. Screenwriters can submit a short and a feature script, but will only be eligible to win in one category (if both are worthy, preference will be given to the feature). If you submitted in previous years and didn’t win, we welcome you to submit an updated draft of your script; previous Next Draft winning scripts are not eligible. Only those residing in Alberta are eligible.

If submitting multiple scripts, please fill out the submission form separately for each script.

• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

50th Anniversary Micro-Grants for Visual Artists

In recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the AFA Art Collection (established in 1972), this program supports individual Alberta artists, ensembles, or independent curators with one-time funding of up to $2,500. This program supports specific visual arts projects that explore or engage with the history and diversity of visual arts in Alberta, or respond to our province’s visual culture and identity.

This funding opportunity is a subsection of our Visual Arts and New Media funding opportunity.

Who can apply

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

• are legally entitled to be or remain in Canada
• are legally entitled to work in Canada
• have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying

You must be in good standing with the AFA to apply.

Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, cannot be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations are eligible to apply to this program and must list all principal artists involved in the project activities as part of their application. All members of an ensemble, collective, or collaboration must meet the individual eligibility criteria.

What does this grant support

Please note, AFA funding is not assured for any project.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, eligible visual arts projects include, but are not limited to, works of art in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibre arts, ceramics, photography, mixed media, installation arts, and media or computer-assisted art. Eligible works also include Indigenous traditional arts such as beading, jewellery making, and quilling.

Funding is for creation and art production. This is not a purchase program. Ownership and copyright of works supported through this program remain the sole property of the artist. Artists interested in having their work acquired by the AFA Art Collection may submit completed works to the Art Acquisition by Application program.

Types of projects

You may apply for one-time project funding to support artistic activities that respond to, or engage in dialogue on:

• the history and diversity of visual arts in Alberta
• what it means to be an Albertan artist
• the role of visual culture and identity in our province
• Indigenous traditional cultural and customary arts
• recognition, respect, and value of culturally-diverse artistic practices
• representation of historically underserved communities within the visual arts, including Indigenous populations, racialized communities, women, artists who are Deaf and/or have a disability, and 2SLGBTQ+

Eligible expenses

You can receive up to $2,500 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project.

These expenses may include, but are not limited to:

• contracted artist and technician fees
• commission fees
• production, including materials and supplies that are appropriate for the development of the project
• promotion and publicity
• transportation and accommodation
• royalties
• administration and contract fees
• basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, local transportation, food, childcare, dependent care)
• other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible Projects

Additional expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA project funding include:

• Capital expenditures for the purchase of buildings or property or for capital development such as construction or renovations
• Capital expenditures for purchase of studio furniture and/or equipment such as computers, technology, lighting, audio, etc. that can otherwise be rented and/or has a use beyond the life of your project
• Career training, post-secondary study, or recreational training projects
• Thesis exhibitions, graduate films, and other activities undertaken as part of a course of study
• Applied arts such as gaming, architecture, interior design, commercial photography, graphic and commercial arts and/or fashion design
• Media works produced for commercial and/or broadcast purposes
• Expenses already incurred prior to the application submission, including grant writer fees

• Other
• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

Run for a Reason

Fort McMurray Marathon is excited to announce Run for a Reason – a new charity fundraising program!

Early Bird registration is open for Run for a Reason until May 31 – the new fundraising program for the Fort McMurray Marathon happening on September 25!

HOW IT WORKS – RUNNERS

When you register to run, you will have two ways to participate:

1. Make a one time donation to a participating partner organization of your choice!
2. Choose a participating partner organization & collect pledges:
   • Browse the list of Fundraising Partners, and choose an organization that you would like to support
   • As you train for race day, collect pledges & donations in support of your chosen organization!
   • Share your progress via your personal pledge page

HOW IT WORKS – DONORS

Not a runner, but still want to participate? Community members can contribute by donating to Run for a Reason! Donations can be made in two ways:

• Donate to an individual runner’s pledge page
• Donate to to a participating partner organization of your choice

This year we run for more than just medals – this year we Run for a Reason and Arts Council Wood Buffalo can be yours.

• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

Organization Activation Projects Funding

This grant provides funding to eligible organizations to nurture inclusive citizenship and promote pluralism through artistic projects that recognize, respect, and value difference in and through the arts. Learn more about the AFA and pluralism and find pluralism resources.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1, 2022

Who can apply

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be one of the following:

• Not-for-profit organization, registered and operating in Alberta for at least one year, and in good standing under the appropriate legislation
• First Nation or Metis Settlement in Alberta
• Foundation established and regulated under Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities Act
• University, college, or institute as recognized under Alberta’s Post-Secondary Learning Act

Eligible organizations must also:

• Have at least 50% of the organization’s board members living in Alberta.
• Deliver public arts and cultural programming in one or more of the following areas:
  • Self-created and self-produced work for public presentation in any arts discipline
  • Artist support, development, and training
  • Artistic presentation and public participation in any arts discipline that is open and available to the general public
  • Indigenous arts, culturally diverse arts programming, and arts programming that supports traditionally underserved communities
• Demonstrate adherence to good governance principles, efficient administration practices and commitment to fiscal responsibility.
• Demonstrate financial stability, in the judgment of the AFA, for at least one year prior to application.

Partnership projects

Two or more organizations that satisfy the eligibility criteria may apply to collaborate on a project. Multiple applications from separate organizations for aspects of the same project will not be accepted. Projects involving multiple partners must be consolidated and submitted by one lead organization.

Applicants are encouraged to consider projects between different partners (e.g. urban and rural, established arts organizations with new or emerging organizations, arts organizations with health, social services, immigrant settlement services, or Indigenous communities.)

Partnership projects must demonstrate that:

• Control and responsibilities in the partnership are shared equally amongst all partners
• Knowledge and practices will be shared and exchanged for the benefit of all project partners
• The partnership results in activity that is beyond the normal programming of partnering organizations
• The project could not be otherwise completed without the existence of the partnership

What does this grant support

Activities that accommodate and encourage diversity in the arts through projects that promote:

• equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility of artists, arts administrators, and audiences
• innovative artists practises that blend artistic practises and disciplines in novel ways
• innovative artistic practises that bring together artists from different backgrounds

Activities that foster trust, dialogue, curiosity, and sense of belonging through the arts by projects that promote novel artistic conceptualization, creation, and curation. This includes projects that:

• promote dialogue among different audiences about their differences
• promote trust, sense of belonging, and empathy among their audiences
• promote innovation and create new public value by bridging the arts with other sectors and industries

Examples include, but are not limited to, projects that:

• Identify and address inequities in the arts sector in terms of access, participation and outcomes
• Identify and address historical barriers or disadvantages, forms of diversity and differences such as marginalized communities, identities, abilities, gender, race, ethnicity and socio-economic status
• Foster the artistic practices and development of Deaf and disability arts in Alberta, recognizing the diversity of identities and artistic practices within communities.
• Include diversity and inclusion practices to build audience development, retention, and accessibility.
• Provide innovative approaches that bring together artists and communities from different backgrounds
• Create new public value by bridging the arts with other sectors and industries in novel ways
• Support staff and board diversity training with a focus on artists and audiences of racial, ethnic, disability, Indigenous or other historically underserved communities

• Artist calls
• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

Residential Schools Memorial

Indigenous artists can submit a proposal for a memorial on legislature grounds to honour residential school students who never came home.

Overview

On June 25, 2021, the Alberta government announced it would work with Indigenous communities to establish a permanent memorial on the Alberta legislature grounds for the victims of the residential school system.

The Residential Schools Memorial Advisory Panel was established to develop a vision for the memorial with consultation from Indigenous communities, review eligible artist submissions and recommend an artist to create the memorial.

The Residential Schools Memorial Request for Expressions of Interest is open to all Indigenous artists who live in or are from Alberta.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #82 calls “upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools Memorial in each capital city to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.”

On September 30, 2021, the Alberta government and Indigenous leaders planted a tree on the legislature grounds to represent growth, continuity, renewal and life. A reconciliation garden will also be planted on the site. The Government of Alberta is now welcoming Expressions of Interest for a permanent memorial on the site.

Funding

Up to $1 million.

Eligible applicants

This Request for an Expression of Interest is open to the following categories of Indigenous artists from or living in Alberta:

• individual artist
• artist-led teams
• artist collectives
• partnerships of artists

Recent familial connections to Alberta First Nations or with the Metis Settlements and Métis Nation Regions are required.

Artists are defined as individuals who:

• are actively pursuing a career in the arts
• have invested in the development of their artistic skills, voice and goals
• may have formal training
• may have shared their work publicly
• may have been compensated for their work, and
• may have a relationship with their artistic communities and peers

Artists do not need to be working professionally in the arts full-time. Artists may also include individuals working in craft, design industries or architecture.

Eligible proposals

Eligible proposals must:

• include a Letter of Interest for the proposed concept
• include a resume/CV/biography(ies) in the application
• demonstrate experience and ability to manage and deliver the scope of work proposed
• include examples of public artwork with a clear demonstration of how the final project will be delivered with pictures/images
• include a rendering or image to support the proposed concept attached
• demonstrate a meaning/impression/story of how the proposal reflects the history of residential schools in Alberta
• include a connection to Indigenous communities in Alberta

The panel will only consider proposals that meet these submission requirements.

How to apply

Step 1. Check eligibility

Be sure to meet all the eligibility needs mentioned above.

Step 2. Review the Proposal Checklist

Proposal Checklist – Print Version 

Your proposal must answer ‘yes’ to all of the items in this checklist.

Step 3. Complete an Expression of Interest

Residential Schools Memorial – Request for Expressions of Interest (PDF, 678 KB)

Step 4. Gather supporting documents

Your proposal must include:

• a Letter of Interest for the proposed concept
• a resume/CV/biography(ies)
• examples of public artwork with a clear demonstration of how the final project will be delivered with pictures/images
• a rendering or image to support the proposed concept attached

Step 5. Set up an Alberta Purchasing Connection account

Set up an account on Alberta Purchasing Connection.

Anyone who needs help with this can connect with ir.rscrg@gov.ab.ca.

Step 6. Submit your proposal

Upload your Expression of Interest and supporting documents to Alberta Purchasing Connection.

• Under ‘Main Menu’ on the top left side of the page, click on ‘Search Opportunities’
• Enter the keywords ‘Residential Schools Memorial’ on the following page to find the listing

After you apply

The Residential Schools Memorial Panel will review the submissions and will choose the artist, artists or collective. Information sessions with potential candidates may be held before a final decision is made. These could include a visit to the site.

The chosen artist or artists will be announced in Fall 2022.

Residential Schools Memorial Panel members (June 2022)

• Jeannette MacInnis, acting executive director, Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association
• Jennifer Paul, Indian residential school program coordinator, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
• Joseph RR (Reggie) Letourneau, CEO Nomad Spirit Journey, Stoney Nakota – Tsuut’ina Tribal Council
• Lisa Weber, board president, Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women
• Lorna Dancey, Truth and Reconciliation Coordinator, Metis Nation of Alberta
• Sherry Cunningham, vice-president, Metis Settlements General Council
• Bert Auger, Elder, Whitefish Lake First Nation
• Bernie Makokis, Elder, Saddle Lake Cree Nation

Contact

Connect with First Nations and Metis Relations:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: ir.rscrg@gov.ab.ca

Address:
Alberta Indigenous Relations
First Nations and Métis Relations
9th flr, Forestry Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2M4

• Artist calls
• Opportunities Calls
• Job Opportunities
• Funding

Apply to be Alberta’s Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador

Alberta-based artists can apply to become the government’s next resident artist to promote art and artists across the province.

This program seeks to inspire innovation in the arts and to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the arts and artists in Alberta.

Artists are encouraged to apply for this grant to become Alberta’s Artist in Residence / Arts Ambassador for a one-year term.

Through this grant, the successful artist will:

• work with communities across Alberta as an Arts Ambassador to promote the importance of Alberta artists and the arts
• communicate and share personal perspectives on the artistic process, the role of artists, and the contributions that artists make to Alberta
• act as an advocate for greater understanding of the realities of artists and the communities in which they work
• complete an art project that promotes the value of the arts in Alberta

Applications from all artists are encouraged, including artists from the following communities:

• Indigenous artists
• artists from culturally diverse communities*
• Deaf artists and artists with disabilities
• Francophone artists
• 2SLGBTQQIA+ artists**
• new generation artists, emerging artists and youth

*Culturally diverse communities are defined as racialized groups that correspond to “visible minorities” under the federal Employment Equity Act. These are individuals of African, Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern or mixed ancestral heritage that includes at least one of these groups.

**Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersexual, Asexual, plus.

Eligibility

The Artist in Residence is selected annually through a competitive project grant application process.

This annual opportunity is open to all artists who are residents of Alberta that practice any artistic discipline(s) including, but may not be limited to:

• dance
• film and video
• Indigenous arts
• literary arts
• music
• theatre
• visual arts and new media

Assessment

Applications are assessed by a panel of adjudicators with expertise in the arts sector in Alberta.

Assessment of an application will consider:

• the proposed project
• the ability and suitability of the candidate to act as an Arts Ambassador for Alberta

The successful grant recipient is selected by the Minister of Culture and Status of Women, whose decision is final. The selection of artists from year to year will be deliberate to reflect the cultural richness of diverse communities across the province. Funding is not assured for any project.

Project development

The program provides one-time funding assistance for the recipient to develop an artistic project that promotes the value of the arts in Alberta.

The artist is required to document and provide access to an inside look of their artistic creative process for the proposed project. The artist should clearly describe the purpose and intended outcomes of each activity, and how this work would be documented. All travel expenses will be the responsibility of the artist.

Community outreach

The artist is expected to be accessible to community organizations that may wish to invite the artist to attend a community event or to meet with stakeholders. In these cases, interested organizations must apply to host the artist through the Alberta Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador website.

The artist is expected to provide to provide content to share over a specialized social media (Instagram) account, owned and managed by the Government of Alberta.

Government interaction

The Alberta Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador is also a ceremonial position, and the recipient is expected to attend and bring greetings (as appropriate) for up to 6 government events at the minister’s request during the term of the residency. Event invites are at the minister’s discretion; however, it is anticipated the artist will be expected to attend events during:

• Month of the Artist
• Alberta Culture Days

The selected artist will also have an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Culture and Status of Women, as well as other government officials to provide their perspective on the value of the arts and artists in Alberta.

• Artist calls
• Opportunities Calls
• Funding

Call for Submissions: National Queer & Trans Playwriting Unit

UNIT DURATION: OCTOBER 2022-JULY 2023

WORKSHOPS & PUBLIC READINGS OF PLAYS: SEPTEMBER 2023

Zee Zee Theatre is leading a consortium of ten national producing companies searching for five playwrights working towards their best and most ambitious work to date for this first ever, entirely 2SLGBTQQIA+, virtual playwriting unit resulting in a canon of new Canadian intersectional plays being developed for production.

Reliable internet and Zoom access are essential for this initiative. If this poses a concern please bring it to our attention and we will work to connect you to a local organization that can host the meetings.

The consortium is made up of ​​Gwaandak Theatre (Whitehorse), Zee Zee Theatre (Vancouver), the frank theatre (Vancouver),  Theatre Outre (Lethbridge), Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), Theatre Projects Manitoba (Winnipeg), Native Earth Performing Arts (Toronto), Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Toronto), Imago Theatre (Montreal), Neptune Theatre (Halifax). Learn more about the consortium partners here.

Each playwright will work in collaboration with a dedicated dramaturg identified from their own needs assessment. They will meet weekly alternating between their dramaturg and the full unit, thereby offering each other collegial insights and support. 

The unique length and depth of the program as well as a significant financial investment allows the playwright to manage the trajectory of their play with committed and long-term dramaturgical, administrative, and communication support from the consortium as well as a commitment by the individual companies that each one of the five plays created will be picked up for brief additional development and ultimate path to production in a future season.

Over the course of the ten months, you will have opportunities to engage with each of the ten companies, having access to the artistic leadership as well as being asked to provide one Community Offering (workshop, artist talk, reading) per month to one of the companies via Zoom. 

At the end of each month during the unit there will be an Open House artist discussion with the full unit and their dramaturgs welcoming in audiences and stakeholders to look back on the month’s work. 

The program provides: 

• $2,000/month for the 10 months of the unit, 
• Dramaturgical support,
• One week workshop with a cast of actors and director, 
• Hybrid public reading of the play in person (as public health orders allow) with stakeholders Zooming in from other cities, 
• A consortium of theatre makers developing their networks, creative practices, and projects in conversation with each other, to provide a more comprehensive support and feedback network than any one individual as well as deep connections to ten producing companies and their audiences across the country.

The deadline to apply for the program is July 5, 2022. 

Who should apply?

Emerging and mid-career writers with a specific project in mind. 

Zee Zee Theatre is based in on the traditional, unceded, and occupied territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, but locations of the workshops and readings will be in various other cities determined by the eventual makeup of the unit. 

Participants must be permanent residents of Canada. 

Zee Zee Theatre is continuously working to make all our programs accessible. We encourage writers with a lived experience of disability to apply for all of our programs. We are also an equity-seeking company, with a history of working with artists from numerous communities. We are dedicated to creating spaces within which Indigenous, Black, people of colour, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and people with intersectional identity perspectives can lead and create. Flexible timing, virtual sessions, attention to time of day and duration of work can all be designed with the artist to maximize creative satisfaction. 

All artists, contractors, staff and volunteers must adhere to Zee Zee’s Community Guidelines.

The Unit is led by Vancouver’s Playwrights Theatre Centre’s Dramaturg, Creative Engagement, Joanna Garfinkel, and each of the five participating playwrights will be matched with one dramaturg to work with for the duration of the ten month unit. 

Application materials

1. A letter detailing: 

• What are you currently seeking to move your practice and project ahead? 
• What cohort/peer collaborations and conversations are you interested in forging? 
• What are your most compelling questions right now as a playwright? 
• What current and ongoing commitments and obligations do you have? 
• What obstacles are currently in between you and your goals? 

2. A pitch detailing your specific project: Either a short (500 word) description or a 5 minute maximum video submission of the idea that you want to focus on during the Unit. Include any co-producing relationships, community or peer collaborations in place, or previous development history if applicable. Commissions from or for other companies are not eligible. 

3. A recent, completed, full-length work, play, performance, installation, documentary, that you feel represents you as an artist and can demonstrate a history of completion. 

4. Your theatre resume/CV. 

5. If there is any other context or content that you would like to provide, please include it in the format that makes sense to you. And if you prefer an alternative means of applying, please contact Zee Zee directly.

When you’re ready to apply

Please combine all materials into one PDF, and email to producer@zeezeetheatre.ca including “Unit Application” in the subject line. 

Please apply by July 5, 2022. Artists will be notified by September 1st, 2022 with the Unit beginning October 3rd, 2022.