YouthWorks
JumpStart Programs
Our JumpStart initiatives are for emerging artist seeking a hand up in getting their career off the ground. These are generally young people who have completed their training and have some experience. Selection is focused more on experience than age.
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Artist In Residence Program (A.I.R. Program)
[Supporting emerging artists, in making the leap into professional practice - more details below]
Application deadline is September 6th , 2013!
Click here to download application
Click here to see what the 2011-2012 A.I.R. participants had to say
Image from rehearsal of : A Promise to the Sun
YouthWorks Spring 2011 production
Shown above: David Sklar as Canary, Shyhiem Cole as Peacock and Lateef Martin as Grumpy Tree
About YouthWorks A.I.R Program (Artist in Residence)
YouthWorks Artists in Residence is a part of our JumpStart Program, and is geared towards emerging artists who are engaged in the transition from apprenticeship to professional. The Artist in Residence program offers the mentorship, support and continued professional development needed to establish a fruitful career. Program features:
- Coaching
- Practical experience through assignments
- Practical professional experience in your specialty
- Network Development
- Opportunities to diversify your skill set
- Creating a professional profile (on line tools, portfolio etc)
- Other opportunities for professional development
- Honorariums for working on professional productions
This initiative serves as a tool to provide apprentices quality feedback and guidance from some of Canada’s most established theatre practitioners and members of Canada’s oldest Black theatre company on their way to becoming professional artists.
Residency opportunities can include (but are not limited to):
- Artist/Animator
- Arts Administration
- Design
- Directing
- Acting
- Stage management
- Writing
Number of participants per year: Total 12
3 Actors, 1 Stage Manager, 1 Set and/or Costume Designer, 1 Lighting Designer, 1 Director, 1 Playwright, 1 Production Manager/ Technical Manager , 3 Artist Animators.
Fees: $75.00 payable in installments. Note: No applicant will be turned away due to an inability to pay.
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Requirements:
Applicants must be actively pursuing a professional career in the theatre. Having an education in theatre, or equivalent experience at the community or professional level is essential to this program. All applicants who are either a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant are eligible; regardless of cultural background. However, applicants must be interested and willing to work on projects that fulfill the BTW mandate. (See website for details.)
-In addition to a resume–and portfolio, in certain cases– applicants must also provide a letter of intent indicating their career goals and how an apprentice position would help in achieving those goals. Submission deadline is September 6th , 2013.
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Submit applications to via e-mail or snail mail
Deborah Forde
YouthWorks Program Director, Black Theatre Workshop
432-3680 rue Jeanne-Mance
Montreal, QC H2X 2K5
514-932-1104 ex 224
youthworks@blacktheatreworkshop.ca
Other JumpStart Programming
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Playwrights’ Circle:
This initiative is aimed at assisting emerging artist to develop new works. Writers meet on a regular basis to exchange dramaturgical feedback with each other. This allows participants to draw on a pool of artists who share an understanding of Diaspora experiences and storytelling, who act as dramaturges throughout the process. Works in progress may also be selected for staged readings or even full production within the YouthWorks framework. More info HERE
Tea With . . . Series:
On opportunity for participants from both levels to meet and network with established theatre professionals. Selected professionals (writers, actors, directors etc.) are individually invited to tea, and asked to 1) share their experiences and b) field questions from participants. The goal is to normalize the culture of theatre and to help participants to broaden their network.
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Promotion:
Past YouthWorks graduates and emerging artists who are continuing their performance training and/or are working artists are encouraged and invited to use YouthWorks as a resource for their continuing professional development. BTW will be dedicating a page on our web site to promote the work of program alumni, and also acts as a referral source for casting and agents.
Continued Learning:
YouthWorks will plan and carry out one-off workshops design to help keep alumni abreast of changes and development in the field.
Career Orientation/Counseling:
The long-term employability prospect of the students is an important secondary focus of the YouthWorks Village. As such, training includes opportunities to explore the labour market, and each student is encouraged to chart an individualized path for success. To assist with this, our current Program Director is an experienced employability counselor who is also very well acquainted with outside resources that can also assist students in augmenting their employability profile.
Follow-up/ Extended support:
It is important to us not to abandon students after they have graduated. Again The Village Circle approach reinforces the idea that participants become part of a community not just a program. As such, graduating students are encouraged to use us as a continued resource and to expect us to contact them occasionally to follow-up on how they are doing.
