Applications for ThisGen Fellowship 2022 are open to BIPOC Women & Non-Binary Performing Arts Practitioners
call for applications
Why Not Theatre in partnership with the National Arts Centre are excited to announce the 2022 iteration of ThisGen Fellowship. ThisGen Fellowship is a national initiative that supports BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Women and Non-Binary performing arts practitioners get to the next stage in their careers through training, mentorship, hands-on work placements, and peer-to-peer connection.
We are passionate about creating a future where BIPOC Women and Non-Binary people have support, are celebrated, and have the resources and networks they need to thrive in the arts sector. By making connections to institutional leadership, enhancing valuable skill sets, and building a network of peers, ThisGen is a launchpad for Canadian cultural leaders.
“I felt deeply affirmed during my time in ThisGen. I have come to the realization through my work with these incredible women both teachers and peers, that there is space for our work, and not only that, we have the right to make it.
–Natasha Mumba | ThisGen 2021 Fellow | Tkaronto/Toronto, Ontario
about the 2022 fellowship
Eight Fellows will be selected as part of the 2022 cohort, and applicants may apply to participate in either the Directing Stream or the Producing Stream. The program will begin in April 2022 and run over a two year period (exact dates of activity TBD).
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Directing Stream
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- The Directing Stream is designed for applicants interested in developing their skills as stage directors.
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Producing Stream
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- The Producing Stream is designed for applicants interested in developing their skills in arts leadership, including as producers and arts administrators.
Program Structure
Running over the course of two years, ThisGen Fellowship kicks off with an in-person networking event in Ottawa hosted by the National Arts Centre. This will be followed by a 17-week paid training program featuring a faculty of internationally renowned arts leaders. The Fellowship will then transition into one-on-one mentorship, pairing each Fellow with an experienced industry professional. ThisGen will culminate with each Fellow receiving a paid work placement in their field.
Timeline
(exact dates and times TBD)
NAC Networking Event
📍 NAC, Ottawa
Training Seminars
📍 Online (1x/week x 17 weeks)
Mentorship Sessions
📍 Online/Various
Work Placements
📍 Various
Past ThisGen mentors and faculty members have included:
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- Dawn Walton (Founder of Eclipse Theatre, England)
- Josette Bushell-Mingo (Head of Theatre Department at Stockholm University, Sweden)
- Julie Nagam (Artistic Director of Nuit Blanche Toronto, Winnipeg)
- Latiana Gourzong (Technical Director at American Repertory Theatre, USA)
- Leslie Ishii (Artistic Director of Perseverance Theatre, USA)
- Madeline Sayet (Executive Director of Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program, USA)
- Nataki Garrett (Artistic Director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, USA)
- Nicole Brewer (Acting faculty at Yale School of Drama, USA)
- Rachael Maza (Artistic Director of Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Australia)
- Rachel Chavkin (Tony Award-winning director, USA)
- Syrus Marcus Ware (Visual artist and political activist, Toronto)
- Ty Defoe (Core Member of Indigenous Directions, USA)
- Weyni Mengesha (Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre, Toronto)
- Yvette Nolan (Multi-award winning playwright & director, Saskatoon)
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Past ThisGen mentors have included:
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- Akram Khan (Olivier Award-winning choreographer, England)
- Amrita Ramanan (Director of Lit Development at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, USA)
- Antoine Hunter (Director of Urban Jazz Dance Company, USA)
- Crystal Pite (Olivier Award-winning choreographer, Vancouver)
- Elisheba Ittoop (Acclaimed sound designer, USA)
- Julie Fox (Dora Award-winning set designer, Toronto)
- Kama La Mackerel (Multi-disciplinary artist, Montréal)
- Kirsty Housley (Tony-nominated theatre director, England)
- Lily Shearer (Co-Founder of Moogahlin Performing Arts Inc., Australia)
- Lisa Fa’alafi (Co-creator of the international smash hit Hot Brown Honey, Australia)
- Marcus Youssef (Siminovitch Award-winning playwright, Vancouver)
- Mimi Lien (Tony Award-winning designer, USA)
- Peter Lyne (Technical Director of Indigenous Theatre at the NAC, Ottawa)
- Pitseolak Kilabuk (Director of Operations of Inuit Broadcasting Corp, Iqaluit)
- Ramesh Meyyappan (Multi-award winning theatre artist, Scotland)
- Wesley Enoch (Past Festival Director of Sydney Festival, Australia)
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all applicants must
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- Identify as Women and/or Non-Binary*
- Identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Colour)
- Have a practice in the performing arts with a focus on either Directing or Producing
- Be available between April 2022- May 2024 for Fellowship activities (exact dates TBD)
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*Note: ThisGen Fellowship is a Trans-inclusive program.
application details
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- Deadline to apply is Thursday, January 13th, 2022 at 11:59pm ET
- Successful applicants will be notified by February 2022
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For more information visit ThisGen Fellowship.
If you have any questions about the program or the application process, email producer Tom Arthur Davis at [email protected].
ThisGen Fellowship 2022 is supported by Kingfisher Foundation, RBC Foundation, and the ThisGen Leadership Circle. ThisGen Fellowship 2020 and 2021 were supported by the Government of Canada.
ThisGen Fellowship 2022 is produced in partnership with the National Arts Centre.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre in collaboration with Black Theatre Workshop, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe.
