Generator Professional Development Workshop Series
We are thrilled to announce the 24/25 Generator Workshop Series. This series was curated by the 2024 Artist Producer Lab cohort to both support their personal research goals and to share in knowledge with the larger Independent Theatre scene in Toronto. We hope that you can join us for one (or all!) of our offerings.
More details and descriptions will be added to each of the workshops as they are available.
Session One: Trauma Informed Budgeting (In partnership with the TAPA Trade Series)
November 20th, 2024 at TAPA B Street Studio
1100 Bathurst Street
4pm - 6pm
Registration Deadline: November 18th
FREE
Are you looking to better engage with your finances in a way that honors both your personal history, values, and emotional well-being? Join us for a 2-hour workshop on Trauma-Informed Budgeting, where we’ll explore how past experiences and emotional responses impact our financial decision-making.
Session Two: Grant Writing Mock Jury with Wayne Burns (Double Bill with the TAPA Trade Series)
December 11th, 2024 at TAPA B Street Studio
1100 Bathurst Street
2pm - 4pm
Registration Deadline: December 5
This session will equip participants with the tools to write successful grant proposals, focusing on how to communicate a project’s vision, impact, and alignment with funders’ priorities. We are hoping participants will gain insight into what grant reviewers look for by participating in a mock-jury exercise. This interactive element will help participants understand the evaluation criteria and common pitfalls, ensuring they leave with practical strategies for writing compelling proposals. Ideal for artist-producers looking to enhance their grant-writing skills and increase their chances of securing funding for their projects.
Important Note: By signing up for this workshop, you will receive a Google Form with the grant applications to review one week prior to the workshop. Please read through the grants and score them based on the criteria in the form before the workshop. This should take about 1 to 1.5 hours. Completing this in advance will give you a sense of what it's like to be on the jury, and during the in-person session, we'll dive deeper into the review process together.
More about Wayne Burns:
Wayne Burns is an actor, producer and host of the conversation series, Direct Address. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, the recipient of two Theatre Nova Scotia Awards, an ACTRA award nominee, and was chosen as a Breakthrough Theatre Artist by NOW magazine. As a grant writer he has helped artists cumulatively be awarded over $250,000.00 for their work, with his own projects receiving funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the National Film Board of Canada.
Session Three: Values-Based Contracting (In partnership with the TAPA Trade Series)
February 26, 2025
Description:
Contracts are more than just legal documents—they’re opportunities to build trust, foster collaboration, and uphold values. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how to approach contracting with transparency, ethics, and flexibility, ensuring agreements are meaningful and tailored to specific contexts.
Through a blend of practical tips and big-picture ideas, we’ll cover topics such as:
Addressing intellectual property within contracts.
Creating thoughtful commissioning agreements.
Aligning contract terms with values and company culture
Balancing practical “how-tos” with meaningful conversations about ethics and transparency.
The session will include guided discussions, hands-on activities, and opportunities for participants to engage and ask questions.
PLEASE NOTE: To prepare for the session, participants are asked to review the Voluntary Addendum. Available here.
Format Options:
This hybrid workshop will accommodate both in-person and online participants. A dedicated moderator will ensure online attendees can participate fully, with regular opportunities for questions and input.
Spot are limited so please sign up if you are interested!
More About Donna-Michelle St. Bernard:
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard aka Belladonna the Blest is an emcee, playwright and agitator. She has advanced her leadership as a general manager, freelance producer, administrative/governance consultant, facilitator, adjudicator and advocate. DM’s main body of work is the 54ology: The First Stone, Give It Up, The Smell of Horses, Diggers, Cake, Sound of the Beast, A Man A Fish, Dark Love, Roominhouse, Salome’s Clothes and Gas Girls. She has collaborated on the creation of The Only Good Indian and They Say He Fell (Pandemic Theatre), Forbidden and Oubliette (Tapestry Opera), The House You Build (Gordon Tootoosis Nekaniwin Theatre) and 501: Toronto in Transit (Theatre Passe Muraille). For Playwrights Canada Press, she is co-editor with Yvette Nolan of Refractions: Solo and Refractions: Scenes as well as editor of Indian Act: Residential School Plays. DM also contributes to the creative ecology as a director, dramaturge and administrator
Session Four: VALUES-BASED ARTS LEADERSHIP PANEL
March 2025
More information coming soon!
Session Five: Small Organizations & Sustainability
April 2025
More information coming soon!
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