The intention of Creative Catalysts is to support works of emerging Black and Indigenous creators. Three companies, Black Theatre Workshop (BTW), Native Earth Performing Arts (NEPA), and the Thousand Islands Playhouse (TIP), have committed to pool resources, including dramaturgical and financial support, artistic expertise, and space to provide a strong foundation upon which the artists can develop their work. The model will be fluid to suit the individual needs of the artists involved. The length of each artist’s tenure in the program will be mutually agreed upon between the artist and the three companies, based on the progression of their individual work.
The first cohort will consist of four emerging creators, two from Black communities and two from Indigenous communities. The initial commitment will be a year long for which the artists will be compensated and provided, upon consultation, with a creative consultant (dramaturg, choreographer, mentor etc.) who will work with them over the course of the year. As the year progresses, certain benchmarks will be set, including but not limited to, a reading of the piece by the playwright for the member companies. After the first year, the project will be reassessed as to next steps, potential continued support, and/or opportunities moving forward. Opportunities could include continued participation in the program with the support of a creative consultant, involvement in one or more “developmental festivals” (ie. Weesageechak at NEPA, or the Discovery Series at BTW), support towards a “production festival” (ie. Summerworks, Fringe Festivals).
This commitment is considered a commission, and one or more of the companies may choose to exercise the right to produce the premiere of the work in a future season within a mutually agreed upon window of time.
Each playwright and creative consultant will receive a payment of $5,000 for the first year.
The submission period has now ended. Successful creators will be selected for a video or phone call with the artistic leaders of the three member companies to discuss their application. From those interviews, four successful creators will be chosen and the program will commence July 15.
Questions? Contact us here.
Black Theatre Workshop, Native Earth Performing Arts, and the Thousand Islands Playhouse would like to thank TD Bank for their support of this project. Funding has been provided through the TD Ready Commitment
