Indigenous Arts Program 2021 – Paprika Festival

The Indigenous Arts Program provides personalized, flexible training and support to young Indigenous performing artists of any experience and skill level. We connect Indigenous youth with Indigenous artists and mentors, as well as a variety of diverse creators from across the country. Participants are provided the tools and guidance to create a fully original piece of performed art (could be theatre, dance, music, poetry, performance art…anything!). Mentors and guest artists help connect participants with community and the Indigenous arts scene in Tkaronto and beyond.

Participants have the opportunity to return for a second year in this program to further develop their training and their original work and deepen their relationships with new collaborators and mentors in community.

MENTOR

PJ Prudat – a Toronto-based, northern Saskatchewan-hailing, proud Métis actor – is a writer of plays, poetry and creative fiction. As an artist, PJ is galvanized by the Indigenous perspective, experience and stories of this land. She is a Resident Artist at the Theatre Centre for their 2020/21 season. PJ has performed as a company actor at both the National Arts Centre English Theatre and the Shaw Festival and has toured shows extensively across the country. She is a former Playwright-in-Rez for Native Earth Performing Arts and a writer in the Natural Resources Creation Group at Factory Theatre. PJ is a recent nominee for the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Award and a Laureate of the Reveal Indigenous Art Award. Her play Réunir (Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company), inspired by the Métis Résistance— was nominated for a SATAward (Outstanding Achievement in Playwrighting). Kitatamihinâwâw.