Creators Unit

This program is supported by Tarragon Theatre as the Creators Unit Lead Program Partner.

About

The 24/25 Creators Unit is for individual artists interested in collective creation and performance. This program is composed of dancers, movers, poets, musicians, puppeteers, actors, performers, drag artists, clowns, designers, and anyone who is interested in being part of a tight-knit creative team. This year, we are inviting creators to collectively devise a piece centred around 1000 BALLOONS. How might we explore blowing up, popping, inflating, deflating, floating, growing, shrinking, sustainability, and celebration?

STARLIGHT will be the facilitator of this program, and will guide a group of four artists in the creation of the entire project, from first ideas to opening night. The ensemble will take workshops with STARLIGHT and guest artists, with a focus on physical theatre, dance, emotionally integrated voice, object work, fashion & styling, drag, and more, depending on the needs of the show. A workshop presentation of this collective creation is shared at the annual Paprika Festival.

We encourage artists who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, Non-binary, Queer, Fat, Disabled, Mad, Neurodivergent, low income, and intersections of those identities to apply! We will be prioritizing applicants from these communities to ensure a diverse group and festival line-up.

Applicants must be available for an in-person audition in Toronto on EITHER Tuesday, Nov 26 – 6-8pm OR Thursday, Nov 28 – 6-8pm. Applicants don’t need to prepare anything, it will be a group audition with some physical training and collaborative creation to see how you all work together.

We will be working a lot with BALLOONS, so we cannot accommodate artists with globophobia, or fears of sudden popping noises.

Facilitator

A Note From the Facilitator

I’m excited that you’re interested in this project — please apply! We designed this application process to be as easy and fun as possible. I’m excited to hear from weirdos, rule breakers, boundary pushers, visionaries, artists that don’t fit into a specific category, who are trying to do something different and innovative and fun and cool. That’s where I’ve always worked and what I’m most excited by.

This is my fourth time leading the Creators Unit, but my first time doing it solo. (Until this year, I’ve worked as xLq with performance partner Maddie Bautista). I come from the physical theatre world, but now my performance practise is a lot more in the worlds of dance, drag, nightlife, community happenings. I’m always trying to make something that’s very fun, challenges the audience and involves them directly.

If this sounds exciting to you, I look forward to reading your application. This is the second time we’ve started with a very specific prompt for the creator’s unit, and last year it worked very well in bringing together a group with a shared passion and curiosity, so we can dive-in deep right away. I’m passionate about training and ensemble building, and artistic rigour that is caring and playful. I will lead the process and ultimately serve as an outside eye/director, but this show, and this process, is yours to create as a group.

love STARLIGHT

Commitment

Approximate time commitment: 18-30 hours per month in group sessions and training days.

Attend weekly group meetings on Tuesday evenings between January 14, 2025 – April 29, 2025, with 6 mandatory additional group rehearsals scheduled between April-May 2025
Create promotional materials for your project in collaboration with the Unit, including a show description and image
Must be available for in-person attendance to company-wide training days (January 12, January 26 online session, February 9, February 26, April 6)
Must be available for company headshots (February 9, 2025)
Coordinating and ensuring the in-person attendance of your artistic collaborators to Technical Theatre Workshop (March 2025, exact date TBD)
Must be available during Festival Tech Week (May 5-10, 2025) and for Festival Performances (May 13-18, 2025)
Independently rehearse your project, and share a public presentation during the festival.

Support You Receive

$1,500 honorarium
4 company-wide training days where you will learn from professional artists about topics such as accessibility, marketing and communication, pitching your work, networking, and more
Tech and up to 3 public performances in a professional theatre venue
Promotion of your project on Paprika’s social media and marketing materials
A section in the Festival Program and a professional headshot
Technical guidance and training for your team before moving into the theatre venue
The support of a Venue Technician, Production Manager, Lighting Designer, Assistant Festival Stage Manager, as well as Box Office, Front of House, and Festival Staff
A $800 production budget for your collective, and assistance sourcing production materials
Professional archival photography and videography of your Festival presentation
Access to free tickets to theatre productions across the city (and beyond!)

Location

Toronto & Online

COVID-19 Considerations

The health and safety of artists, facilitators, and staff is our greatest priority. We encourage all Paprika artists, staff, facilitators and guest artists to maintain regular vaccinations, including additional doses/boosters. Masking will be required for all full-company meetings, and during group sessions, masking will be discussed and decided upon by each program. No one will be discouraged from wearing masks. Paprika will continue to provide KN95 or N95 face masks (or equivalent) upon request. Masking will be required throughout Paprika’s tech week in May 2025.

Accessibility

Paprika seeks to lower barriers for all its programs. This year, we are offering transportation support when requested, food and snacks at program events, as well as a $1,500 participant honorarium.

Company-wide Training Days take place in venues accessible to folks using mobility devices. The Paprika Festival tech and performances will take place at Native Earth Performing Arts’ Aki Studio, which is fully accessible for artists and audiences.

Paprika advocates for gender inclusive washrooms, and will negotiate for gender inclusive washroom signage whenever possible. We use and respect people’s pronouns. Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, LGBTQ2SIA+, Women, Trans, Non-Binary, Newcomer, Immigrant, Fat, Mad, and Neurodiverse people are welcome.

Internet access and a smartphone, tablet, and/or computer are required for participation in Paprika’s programs. Our programs are not accessible to Deaf or Blind artists at this time. Group meetings can be recorded and shared internally to accommodate schedule conflicts and emergencies with prior notice to program facilitators and Paprika staff.

The Creators Unit group meetings are held in a venue accessible to most mobility devices, with the smallest hallway 33” wide and small ¼-½” lips in some of the studio doorways.

For questions and comments about Paprika’s accessibility plan, please reach out to Amanda at amanda@paprikafestival.com.

Application Support

We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions about Paprika programs and answered them here!

We’re happy to arrange an application process that’s best for you. If you have any questions, require additional support or an extension, please email Aaheli (aaheli@paprikafestival.com). We will try our best to respond to emails within 48 hours.

Eligibility

The Creators Unit applications are open to emerging artists who are 18+. There is no age limit to apply!

*APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Click here to view the application questions in a separate document. Note that this is not the application form, but a way to preview the questions!