Stage Door News
Stage Door News
September 2, 2015 – TORONTO. On September 10th STAF will officially launch new programming after spending the last year transforming from primarily arts administration services to a mentoring, teaching, and innovation incubator that empowers independent artists, producers and leaders.
The new programming marks an evolution of STAF that has kept pace with a changing independent performance ecology. The Artist Producer Training program, a one year paid training program for artists and producers, received 51 applications for only 8 spots in its inaugural year.
“There is a definite desire for training and guidance from this entrepreneurial generation. They recognize these are survival skills for a sustainable career in the arts. Resources do not meet demand and we can empower these artists to maximize the resources at their disposal, which are their own time and skills,” says Executive Director & Transformation Designer Michael Wheeler. “In addition to exceptional applicants, we’ve received significant support and interest from our peers and leaders in Toronto performance. It’s been rewarding to see appreciation for the value of this program and people wanting to be a part of it.”
At their winter Open Source Brainstorm at the Theatre Centre, STAF found artists of differing levels of experience were exploding with similar questions and often felt isolated. In addition to building capacity among individual artists and companies, a critical component of STAF’s new programming is building capacity within the community through knowledge-sharing and cross-company collaborations. The Launch Party is the first step in that direction.
“Throughout STAF’s history, we’ve worked with many amazing artists, theatre companies, industry professionals and support people who are rich in experience. Now we’re bringing in a whole new wave of emerging artists, eager to learn and full of new ideas. It’s time they all met.”
There is one more step planned in STAF’s transformation and a special announcement will be made at the launch party. Wheeler adds, “It’s a new year for us and we’d like to share some of our resolutions with the people who have gotten us here and are taking the next step with us.”
Announcing our ARTIST PRODUCERS
The APT selection jury of Bruce Pitkin (Theatre Ontario), Naomi Campbell (Luminato Festival), Rupal Shah (Nightswimming) and Michael Wheeler are proud to announce the first class of STAF’s Artist Producer Training Program with community partner, Theatre Ontario:
Sabrina A. Bandali (The Container, SummerWorks 2014), Sehar Bhojani (Montreal premiere of Anusree Roy's Letter's to my Grandma), Troy De Four (The Full Monty, The Broadway Musical, Encore Series Production), Rose Hopkins (The Rabbit Done Died, Artist to Watch & Best of Galleries - Hamilton Fringe 2015), Taliesin McEnaney (international interdisciplinary producer /performer specializing in circus arts), Adiyana Morris (Founder & ED of PIECE OF MINE Festival, recipient of Ontario’s 2015 Leading Women Building Communities Recognition Certificate), Andrea Scott (Better Angels: A Parable, Production of the Year - SummerWorks 2015) and Kevin Wong (Bite Sized, inspiraTO Festival 2015).
Incubation & Creation: STAF’S NEW PROGRAMS
In addition to our Financial Administration services for artists, STAF’s new programming includes:
Artist Producer Training (APT):
With the aim to train a new generation of artists and producers of independent theatre, graduates will create and implement projects and budgets that have the goal of paying a living wage to artists, while gaining skills to sustain a career in the arts, and improving the overall health of the independent theatre ecology. The program includes 3 stages of practical training taught by industry professionals followed by a final mentored practicum.
Annual Resident Companies:
Each September, three project-based companies will make STAF a producing home for one year. In addition to establishing a home-base space in the office and access to our resources, Annual Resident Companies will receive one week of rehearsal at Artscape Youngspace and share a week in Artscape’s newest performance facility, The Sandbox.
In the spirit of strengthening the indie community through collaboration and mentorship, these Annual Resident Companies will lead workshops and help teach selected sessions for APT – passing along their insight, experience and best practices to new producers. 2015/16 Annual Resident Companies are Outside The March, Litmus Theatre & Shakespeare in the Ruff.
Leadership and Community:
Indie festivals are key drivers of innovation in Toronto performance. STAF is working with them to include building leadership capacity and community discussion into their programming. This month STAF was host and Program Facilitator for the SummerWorks Leadership Intensive Program (SLIP). In January STAF will bring ‘Urgent Exchanges’ a series of community discussions to The Next Stage Festival.
Workshops:
STAF is constantly creating new workshops based on the skills we understand independent performance creators and producers to need in the current environment. Recent workshops: Grant Writing, Finances for Artists, Personal Website Creation and Artist as Entrepreneur.
For more information on these programs:
Visit our NEW WEBSITE stafto.org
2015-09-02
Toronto: STAF launches new programming starting September 10