Mentoring program for professional workers
in the technical and production fields of the performing arts
Take your career to the next level: Create an assistantship tailored to your specific needs!
This program is now closed.Thank you to all the participants! |
Program Description
As part of Canadian Heritage's Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF), CITT/ICTS is receiving funding to offer an Assistantship program to professional workers interested in pursuing careers in the technical or production fields of the performing arts.
Through the In-house Assistantship Program (IHAP), recent graduates or experienced independent workers (working contractually and/or working part-time for an organization) seeking to change directions or advance in their careers will have the opportunity to create their own paid assistantship to shadow a professional in a host organization, venue or production to learn that professional’s job functions.
IHAP will fund individual, self-created training assistantships in which professional arts workers interested in careers in production and technical theatre are able to build their own short-term training programs in which they shadow a more senior production professional within a theatre workplace (i.e. in a working theatre venue, or with a theatre production).
To develop these individualized programs, the applicant will work with the mentor and the host venue/company/production to generate a goal for the program, a plan to accomplish that goal, a clear and achievable schedule, and budget that will pay the applicant a living wage and cover any associated costs for the duration of the program.
Program manager: David DeGrow
Program Details
Who can apply?
Are eligible: All independent or self-employed professional theatre makers (that is, theatre makers who have graduated at least two years ago, and who had been part of at least two paid productions) who are pivoting towards technical work; who already work in production and are changing technical disciplines; or who wish to develop their skills or advance their careers in production and technical theatre.
IMPORTANT: Fully employed professionals are not eligible to this program.
This program is open to participants from across Canada. Applicants do not need to have a membership with CITT/ICTS in order to apply.
Creating your assistantship - It's easy!
Professional theatre workers interested in pursuing a career in: technical direction, production management, stage management, or a production discipline (Stage Carpentry, Set Construction, Lighting, Sound, Video, Properties, Wardrobe), will approach and engage a mentor and a theatre venue, company or production. Together, the applicant, mentor and host venue/company/production will develop a work-study program that will accomplish the applicant’s goals. This will include developing a budget that provides the applicant with a living wage as determined by the current wage agreement in force in the venue, city or area of the assistantship.
Each applicant can apply for a funding package of up to $8,000, and each successful applicant will receive the full requested amount for their project. This sum must cover a living wage for the applicant, any honoraria directed to mentors, and any administrative costs on the host venue/company/production's behalf in the running of the assistantship. It should be recognized that the goal of this program is to support the applicant’s learning, and so honoraria and administrative costs should be kept to a minimum.
Additional funds are available to defray costs associated with making these assistantships accessible to Marginalized and Equity-seeking groups, including members of IBPOC, Disabled, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities. This program also seeks to support theatre makers in remote and rural areas. Learn more about it here.
What will not be supported
The CPAWRF is providing significant funding to the theatre industry though a wide variety of programs. The IHAP program is specifically targeted towards assistantships that both improve skills in production management and technical disciplines, and build networks and relationships for the applicant, mentor and the host company/venue/production.
Design-based assistantships should consider the Associated Designers of Canada’s assistantship program, while technical education programs can be supported through IATSE Canada's program.
National Distribution
One goal of this program is to provide support to as much of the country as possible, and ideally to have at least one assistantship in each province and territory. Therefore the distribution of grants across the country will be a consideration in the assessment process.
Project Assessment
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Clarity and viability of the application and proposed assistantship;
- Potential for long-term growth for applicant;
- National Distribution.
Timeline
The program will run from October 17, 2022 to March 31, 2023. ** All assistantships must be completed by March 31, 2023.**
First round of applications:
- Begins on October 17, 2022
- Ends on November 18, 2022
Second round of applications:
- Begins on January 9, 2023
- Ends on January 20, 2023
The application period is now closed. Thank you to all participants!
CITT/ICTS Code of Conduct
Both applicants and mentors will be required to commit to the CITT/ICTS’s Code of Conduct, which can be downloaded here. This document must be signed by both the applicant and the mentor, and be submitted with the application.
CITT/ICTS's Response to Access and Equity Concerns - Access Plan
CITT/ICTS is committed to removing barriers that prevent members of Marginalized and Equity-seeking groups from building careers in technical and production work. To this end, funds are available to defray costs associated with making these assistantships accessible. Equity-seeking groups include members of IBPOC, Disabled, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities. This program also seeks to support theatre makers in remote and rural areas.
About CITT/ICTS
CITT/ICTS is a national arts service organization that actively promotes the professional development of its members and works for the betterment of the Canadian Live Performance Community. CITT/ICTS Members represent multiple fields of interest and expertise in all areas of production for the live entertainment industries, including Technical and Production Management, Stage Carpentry, Lighting, Sound, Video, Properties, Wardrobe, Design, Architecture and Education.
Should you wish to learn more about the organization and the membership, please visit our website here.
This program has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
