This program is supported by Native Earth Performing Arts.
About
The 24/25 Indigenous Arts Program is for emerging Indigenous performing artists of any experience, discipline, and skill level looking for personalized and flexible training. Two artists are offered space to gather with other Indigenous creatives to develop skills to grow their artistic practice.
Artists are provided the tools and guidance to create a draft of an original piece of performed art (could be theatre, dance, music, poetry, performance art…anything!) with public sharing (up to 45 minutes in length) as part of the festival. Mentors and guest artists help connect participants with the community and the Indigenous arts scene in Tkaronto and beyond (including Paprika partner company, Native Earth Performing Arts).
Facilitator
Brefny Caribou
Indigenous Arts Program Facilitator 2024/2025
Brefny Caribou is a performer, writer, and educator of Cree/Irish-settler descent based in Tkaronto. Holding an MFA in Acting from York University she loves telling Indigenous stories and making people giggle. She has worked across Turtle Island on productions of The Tempest (Theatre Rusticle), Otîhêw (Shakespeare in Action), and completed 3 seasons at the Stratford Festival in Little Women (Beth March), and The Rez Sisters (Zhaboonigan Peterson). Most recently she played Susan Blackbird in the Canadian Stage/Belfry production of 1939. Brefny has worked as an Acting Tutorial teacher at Sheridan College since 2019 and is entering her 3rd year facilitating the Indigenous Arts Program at the Paprika Festival. Her writing has been featured in many festivals including Groundswell (Nightwood Theatre), Brave New Works (Theatre Aquarius) and the Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival (NEPA).
Commitment
Approximate time commitment: 12-15 hours per month in group sessions and training days, plus additional time spent rehearsing and creating your production for the festival showcase.
- Attend online group meetings Monday evenings twice a month between January 13, 2025 and April 28, 2025 along with an additional in-person group outings to be scheduled monthly as a group
- Attend agreed-upon meetings with mentors and your facilitator
- 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)
- Develop a creative project to present at the 2025 Festival
- Identify and engage artist collaborators for your project, including but not limited to actors, designers, and a stage manager
- Create promotional materials for your project, including a show description and image, and collecting artist bios and headshots from your creative team
- Independently rehearse your project, and share work-in-process during the festival. We provide the performance venue and mentorship, as well as limited access to rehearsal space. While we are unable to provide props/costumes/set, we can assist in sourcing these materials
- Create a Tech Rehearsal schedule with support from the festival Production Manager and conduct a Paper Tech with your creative team
Support You Receive
- $1,500 honorarium
- 10 hours with professional mentor, and support from your program facilitator and Artistic Producer as you develop your project
- 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
- Up to 25 hours of free rehearsal space, a $2,400 production budget for production materials and artist collaborator fees, and assistance sourcing production materials
- Regular check-ins throughout your process
- 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. The Indigenous Arts Program has an additional budget for accessibility, including funds to reimburse artists who are commuting to Toronto from outside of the GTA.
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.
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 Indigenous Arts Program applications are open to emerging Indigenous 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!