Rising Tides is a paid, multi-faceted skill development and mentorship platform designed for IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) perfomring arts administrators and managers. The initiative intends to fill a gap in the Canadian performing arts sector around the training and mentorship of developing and mid-career IBPOC administrators and managers by providing a program specific to the needs of this underserved community. 

Rising Tides was initially launched as a pilot program in 2023, led by PACT, Native Earth Performing Arts, Obsidian Theatre Company, Urban Ink, Green Thumb Theatre, Pacific Theatre, and Nightwood Theatre. 

Through one-on-one pairings, seven pairs of mentees and mentors will engage with each other, focusing on skill development in theatre administration and tailored to meet each participant’s expressed learning goals in areas such as human resources, budgeting, governance, contracting, strategic planning, and production support. These pairings will meet online regularly from September 2024 to May 2025, supported by four full-cohort virtual meetings, culminating in an in-person event at PACTcon in May 2025.

Click here to apply.  Application deadline to be a Rising Tides mentee is Sunday, June 16, 2024, at 11:59pm PT.

If this application is a barrier in any way, please contact Program Manager Zachary Moull at zacharym@pact.ca for alternative ways to apply.

This program is proudly supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, through its Innovation and Development program.

This program is proudly supported by the The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation (Metcalf Foundation) through its program: Booster Fund: Supporting Racialized Arts Workers.

We thank all the participating theatre companies in developing this year’s program including:

Native Earth Performing Arts, Belfry Theatre, Boca del Lupo, Nightwood Theatre, Obsidian Theatre and Persephone Theatre.