#Paprika2025: Making Space, Making Change

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Juliet Jones-Rodney

Recognized as one of the most crucial launching pads for emerging artists in Toronto’s theatre ecology, Paprika Theatre announces its first Festival since making radical changes to programming in the 2024-2025 season. 

Amidst an industry of performing arts organizations and workers who are struggling to make ends meet, Paprika found itself at a crossroads: continue to forge ahead with programming that had long outgrew the staff and organization’s capacity, or reimagine the company’s structure. Earlier this season, the company announced that it would be cutting its annual programming in half in order to reallocate resources to the staff, artists, and facilitators. This change was made strategically to model fair compensation for emerging artists within a society that expects young people, in the performing arts and beyond, to work for free or well under market value.

In September 2024, Paprika announced that it would be reducing programming in order to reallocate resources to staff, artist, and facilitator pay, by running three programs annually instead of six. 

Since the program changes took place, Paprika staff have reported significantly less burn out than in previous seasons.

“In 2025, Paprika radically shifted operations in order to make space—make space for grief, rest, play, joy, learning, action, thoughtfulness, community,” says newly appointed Artistic Producer, Amanda Lin. “By reducing programming by half, we are finally able to give the people of Paprika the money and time to not just exist, but thrive. We’ve seen this impact ripple out on all levels of the organization. Artists’ creations flourish under additional resources, fees are finally approaching Toronto’s living wage, and staff are no longer needing to work overtime to support programming.”

Quality over quantity in Paprika’s training programs

The 2025 Paprika Festival is the first festival to feature the work of artists from three programs rather than six: the Creative Producers, the Creators Unit, and the Indigenous Arts Program. In 2026, the Directors Lab, Design Lab, and Playwrights Unit will resume. By alternating the programs every other year, Paprika has been able to significantly reduce burnout and increase support without having to cut any of the programs.

“Paprika is a scrappy organization—we have always been able to accomplish a whole lot with few resources. We have provided over 1,700 artists with arts training in our almost 25 years of operations, and yet that success has depended on teams of young artists and workers receiving pay that is incommensurate to the amount of hours they put in,” General Manager Julia Dickson reflects. “What talent are we missing out on because they cannot afford to do unpaid labour without a financial safety net?”

Lin adds, “By making this change, we’re recognizing the amount of time and energy it’s taking just to get by these days, let alone create art and make meaningful change.”

Dickson notes that the program changes have already allowed for deeper support for the 2025 Paprika Artists: “Staff are reporting having increased time to spend with individual artists to ensure they receive a fulsome, well-supported professional development experience.”

See the changes in action at the 24th annual Paprika Festival, kicking off May 13th at Native Earth Performing Arts’ Aki Studio. 

Reduced programming has allowed Paprika’s team of emerging arts workers to spend more time on building connections within the Regent Park neighbourhood and beyond to bring exciting workshops and community events to the 2025 Festival.

Artists have also received a 25% boost in their honorariums and an average boost of 28% to their production budgets for their Festival showcases. From May 13 to 17, audiences can attend the Paprika Festival for free or by donation and enjoy the results of the 2025 Paprika Artists’ hard work and collaboration.

Learn more about this year’s programming and book your free or Pay-What-You-Can festival tickets here. 

Paprika Festival 2025 highlights include: 

  • Opening night the creators unit composed of Chloe Cha,Osvaldo Barreda Buschmann, Emma Cuzzocrea and Macarena Coronado Harman will present ...! (The Balloon Show) followed by first year Indigenous Arts Program artist Jane-Leigh Jamieson who will present her dance piece Forget Me Not. 
  • Later Drag Me to Paprika an Alternative drag night hosted by Roz Poutine. Featuring some of the best alternative drag artists in Toronto. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be amazed by the new wave of drag.
  • Wednesday May 14th, the Community Neighborhood Lemonade Stand is back for its second year with PWYC bike repairs, a clothing swap, a chance to get to know your neighbours, and more—with a cup of free pink lemonade in hand, of course
  • Later the Creative Producers program facilitated by newcomer Fatuma Adar will present a double bill of works by Greg Carruthers and Srutika Sabu. 
  • On Thursday May 15th, Paprika’s first Emerging Artist Open Mic! The stage is open to emerging writers, performers, poets, singers, and more. Or, join as an audience member to witness some of the city’s most exciting emerging talent!
  • Then a double bill from this year’s Indigenous Arts Program facilitated by Brefny Caribou. aleria mckay will share homecoming a collection of spoken word pieces, exploring themes of self-love and acceptance through the eyes of an indigenous woman. And another showing of Forget Me Not by first year IAP participant Jane-Leigh Jamieson, supported by Native Earth Performing Arts
  • Friday May 16th experts from The ArQuives will join Paprika to offer a by-donation Button Making Workshop.  Learn about the history of buttons in the context of queer history, resistance, and celebration. Participants will walk away with at least 5 shiny new buttons!
  • Bring your resume, your new audition monologue, your grant applications, and get feedback from industry professionals at Paprika’s Application and Audition Clinic. Multiple stations will be set up in Aki for you to receive support on your next submission on Saturday May 17

Closing out the festival is the Y2K inspired Paprika 2025 Prom. It's a good old-fashioned dance party! Get dressed up, take photos with your friends, invite a cutie to dance, and celebrate the closing of the 2025 Paprika Festival in style. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided, along with a playlist of our favourite Y2K jams

Get Social

Website - www.paprikafestival.com 

Facebook - @PaprikaFestival 

Instagram - @PaprikaFestival 

TikTok - @PaprikaFestival 

#PAPRIKA2025

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For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact: 

Juliet Jones-Rodney (Communications Producer) — juliet@paprikafestival.com