Design Lab

This program is supported by Cahoots Theatre.

Applications for this program are open until November 2, 2025 at 11:59pm ET

About

The 25/26 Design Lab is a unique digital-hybrid mentorship program for emerging artists passionate about design for live performance. The Design Lab switches design discipline each time it runs, and in the 2025/26 season, the focus will be on Projection Design! This hands-on lab is designed to help you develop your craft, explore new creative processes, and collaborate within a supportive community of artists.

We are seeking two motivated artists to be part of Design Lab 25/26. Under the guidance of professional mentors, you will build the skills and confidence to bring your ideas to life on stage.

What You’ll Do:

Develop Your Craft: Receive dedicated 1-on-1 mentorship to build your ideation, creation, and technical execution skills.
Hands-On Collaboration: Partner with emerging directors and actors to create original projection designs for a live performance.
Skill-Based Workshops: Participate in labs and workshops tailored to the cohort’s interests, covering design approaches, software, and equipment experimentation.
Professional Development: Gain foundational knowledge of the business side of design, including building a network, negotiating contracts, and managing your practice as a freelance artist.
Design Execution: Experience the full design lifecycle—from initial concept through technical integration—and realize your projection design for a live performance, culminating in a festival presentation.

Who We’re Looking For:

This lab is ideal for emerging and aspiring designers who are curious, collaborative, and eager to learn. You do not need prior projection design experience.

We encourage applications from:

Newly graduated design or production students
Artists with a tech or production background looking to expand into design
Digital media artists (video, animation, interactive media, graphic design, illustration) interested in applying their skills to theatre and narrative-driven storytelling

Ideal applicants will have:

A strong interest in storytelling for the stage
A collaborative spirit and a desire to learn in a group setting
Some foundational experience with digital media creation
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite programs (e.g., Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator)
*Access to a computer that meets the following minimum specifications to handle video processing and design software:
Operating System: Windows 10/11 or macOS Monterey (12) or newer.
Processor: Multi-core Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 or equivalent (Apple M1 Pro chip or newer).
Memory: 16 GB RAM (32 GB recommended).
Graphics: Dedicated GPU with at least 4GB VRAM (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 2060 or better).
Storage: 512 GB SSD

*Paprika has one computer that we can lend to an artist for the duration of the program on a first come, first serve basis. If you don’t have access to a computer that meets the specifications listed above, please still apply!

Commitment

Approximate time commitment: 12-16 hours per month in group sessions and training days, with additional design work done outside of program meetings.

Attend approximately two Design Lab group meetings per month on Wednesday evenings between January 7, 2026 – April 29, 2026 (some meetings will be in person in downtown Toronto, and some will be online)
Attend agreed-upon meetings with mentors and your facilitator
Attend in-person attendance to company-wide training days in 2026 (January 11, January 25 online session, February 8, February 22, March 16, April 19, May date TBD)
Collaborate with a Directors Lab artist to create a projection design for the 2026 Paprika Festival – this will include meeting with the Director, attending rehearsals, preparing, and executing your design, all with support from mentors and your Facilitator
Attend your project’s tech day during the Festival Tech week (one four-hour session between May 4-10, 2026 – exact date TBD)
Participate in a Design Lab workshop during the Festival week (one 60 to 90-minute session between May 12-17, 2026 – exact date TBD)

Support You will Receive

$1,750 honorarium
10 hours of mentorship from the professional of your choice
7 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 2 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 $500 budget for equipment and software
Professional archival photography and videography of your Festival presentation
Access to free tickets to theatre productions across the city (and beyond!)

Eligibility

The Design Lab program is open to emerging artists who are 18+. There is no age limit to apply! Artists must be able to eligible to work in Canada.

This program was designed for artists under 30, however, we recognize that emerging artists can be any age. We invite folks over 30 who are new to their craft to apply.

We highly encourage and will prioritize applicants who are from equity-seeking groups — including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, Non-binary, Queer, Fat, Disabled, Mad, Neurodivergent, low income, and intersections of those identities.  We will also be prioritizing applicants who have not received formal training in the program’s main discipline.

Location

📍Toronto/ Online

Health and Safety

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. 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 2026.

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 $1,750 artist honorarium.

Company-wide Training Days take place in venues accessible to folks using mobility devices, with some venues requiring assistance to use the elevator. 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.

Design Lab in-person meetings are held in the following locations:
Cahoots Studio: Fully wheelchair accessible and with one large gender neutral bathroom
Yeon Studio – Render Room: Fully wheelchair accessible with a gender neutral bathroom

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 Amanda (amanda@paprikafestival.com). We will try our best to respond to emails within 48 hours.

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!