Call for the 2023 Artist Producer Training Program (APT Embedded)


APT Embedded Call

Generator recognizes that producing is a creative practice. We reject the binary that separates ‘boring, efficient office worker’ from ‘passionate, clueless creative’ and embrace the exciting, fertile, and collaborative space where arts management and live performance meet. We prioritize applications from folks from equity-seeking groups, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, Nonbinary, Queer, Disabled and intersections of those identities. We enthusiastically invite submissions from individuals from a diversity of performing arts practices.




APT Embedded Call Posting Formats

Listen to an audio recording of this APT posting here.

View this posting as a PDF with black, orange, and grey font here.

View this posting as a PDF with black font and yellow and green highlighting here.

Download this posting as a Word file with black font here.


APT Embedded

Summary

  • Four participants will work with one of our partner organizations: DanceMakers, Shakespeare in the Ruff, Toronto Fringe, or SummerWorks. more

  • The participant will complete a minimum of 80 hours between May and August 31, specific timelines depend on the organization with which the participant is placed. more

  • Minimum fee to be paid to participants is $2,800 + HST (if applicable) more

  • Application form: https://airtable.com/shrkNDUIpr2eckPVG 

  • Deadline to Apply - April 28, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET more

  • All applicants will be contacted by May 3, 2023 more

  • Successful applicants will then move to the Interview process. Interviews will take place May 10 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM and May 11 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM more

  • This year’s Program Coordinator will be Eva Barrie (eva@generatorto.com) more




Details

APT Embedded is an 80+ hour experience for an artist producer to be embedded directly within an organization for a unique learning experience that is supported both by the host organization and Generator. Four artist producers will be matched with one of our partner organizations: DanceMakers, Shakespeare in the Ruff, Toronto Fringe, or SummerWorks. They will work with Generator and their cohort for about 10 hours, will have at least 70 hours of time within the host organization, as well as have time for self-directed learning and research. All activity will happen between May and August - see specifics under About the Opportunities. Those who participate will gain skills to sustain a career in the arts, create and implement projects and budgets that have the goal of paying better wages to artists, and improve the overall health of the performing arts ecology. We are particularly interested in applicants whose practices work from a social justice/equity framework and who are currently working on self-produced projects. The program is coordinated by Eva Barrie.

The program runs from May 1 - August 31, 2023. Each Embedded artist producer will have a slightly different schedule. See About the Opportunities for the details of each specific schedule. 

There will be several Cohort wide events such as Welcome Potluck, mid-point check-in, and  Closing Potluck - times will be decided by the cohort.

The total fee paid to each participant for completing the Artist Producer Training Program is $2,800 disbursed in two installments one at the beginning of the process and the second upon completion of the practicum. This fee presumes approximately 10 hours in shared learning with your Cohort, optional one-on-one coaching with the Generator team, at least 70 hours embedded in your placement, and additional time on self-learning and research.


How to apply

Submissions will be accepted via a form on AirTable until April 28, 2023 at 11:59pm ET. 

Submissions will be reviewed by and interviews conducted by Generator staff and our partners: DanceMakers, Shakespeare in the Ruff, Toronto Fringe, or SummerWorks

This group will review up to a maximum five minutes of content per applicant. That content may be a written, visual, audio, or video component. Because of the short turnover, the panel is less interested in polished content, but rather wants to know how you think and what excites you. 

In your application, consider touching on some these questions:

  • Who are you?  (Where are you a local? Who inspires you? What excites you about Toronto’s arts community?)

  • How do you define yourself as an artist and where are you at in your career? 

  • Why do you want to take on a producing role? 

  • What excites you about APT Embedded and the opportunities included?

  • What is your relationship to the role of producer?

  • Thinking about your philosophy and values as an artist and a producer… 

    • How do you define your artistic and/or producing practice, in both form and discipline? 

    • What motivates your practice? 

    • What is a project you are proud of?

    • What kind of collaborators are you drawn to? 

  • Reflecting on your positionality, lived experiences, intersecting identities, or any privileges you may experience, what does equity and liberation feel and look like to you? How does it/could it impact your artistic and producing practice? 

Example of formats:

  • 1500 words of writing OR

  • An image(s) OR

  • a 5-minute audio/video recording OR

  • 500 words of writing and a 3-minute video OR

  • A combination of your choosing

    Note: We prefer a link to a video hosting service like YouTube or Vimeo as they are easier to share with our Committee than a Google Drive or OneDrive link.


Also:

  • Attach a resume or CV. If the impending deadline is causing you stress, there is no need to update or enhance your current CV to apply for this project, simply attach the last one you used.

  • You will have the option to complete some voluntary self-identification questions.

  • You are free to offer contact information of a maximum of two references, but it is not necessary.  

  • Anything else you'd like to share?






Notice & Interviews

We aim to be in touch with all applicants by May 3, 2023. Interviews will likely be via online video conference. Applicants selected for interviews will be interviewed at a time on May 10 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM and May 11 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM. The interview committee will be comprised of: Cara Spooner (DanceMakers), Eva Barrie (Generator), Michael Caldwell and Morgan Norwich (SummerWorks), Janice Peters Gibson (Shakespeare in the Ruff), and Tessa Cernik (Toronto Fringe).

Please contact eva@generatorto.com if you have any questions.






Get support and learn before you apply

Book 15 minutes with the Generator team to have your questions answered:

Learn about who you would be meeting with on bios on Team Page

Eva Barrie (APT Program Coordinator) - https://calendar.app.google/Z2w6EAXGPcg4k7oA7

Kristina (Interim Management Support) - https://arrangr.com/kristinalemieux/apt 

Bianca Guimarães (Creative Director: Operations) - https://rb.gy/kfc1y

Patricia (Communications Manager and ArtistProducerResource.com Producer) - https://calendar.app.google/GCjkohbw2cKbRVUd7


Application Support Sessions will be a way for you to meet some of the staff at Generator, ask us about the program, or get support putting together your application. 

Just show up at any point in these times.






Watch our video playlist

This YouTube playlist will guide you through the application process (but please note it was created for 2019/20, so please refer to this Call for Submissions for the most accurate and current information), and introduce you to several Artist Producer Training graduates who discuss their experiences in the program. APT Embedded comes as the next iteration of the previous APT programs. Over the course of the past six years of APT cohorts, the program has transformed the careers of thirty-two Artist Producers.






Assessment Criteria

All applications will be assessed on the following criteria.

1. Artistic Journey 

Does this candidate have an understanding of the work they want to do and how they want it to come about? Can the needs/resources of the Partner Organization support their journey?  Does the candidate’s goal and work excite and move forward the voices and stories Generator and the Partner Organizations are interested in centering?  

2. Producing 

Does this candidate understand, or are they willing to investigate, what their unique producing gifts and challenges are? Do they have enough of a producing background to allow them to collaboratively and creatively investigate the practise of producing? How much access does this candidate have to training opportunities? Do they have producing projects going forward? 

3. Connections

How does this candidate understand their positionality, lived experience, and intersecting identities in relationship to the communities they work with? How does their positionality, lived experience and intersecting identities impact their work? Will this candidate’s participation potentially elevate or support the communities they are working in?

4. Additional Considerations

Is this candidate a member of an Equity-deserving group or groups?  Are there barriers they face which make this training hard to receive? Is it difficult for this candidate to receive training because of systems which oppress their intersections of identities, such as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, racialized, Trans, Nonbinary, Queer, Disabled (visible and invisible), Neurodiverse, and/or MAD? 


Who Should Apply

APT participants tend to have been practicing as producers  before beginning the program. This may mean, for example, a Fringe show or two. They have tried their hand at bringing a show from concept to audience. We are hesitant to apply a time frame to producing experience, as some experiences bring more knowledge and practical skills than others. If they went to a performance training program or completed other post-secondary education (although there is no requirement to have done so), based on experiences from APTers of the past, they have been out of that program for 5+ years. They have already done a lot of work on understanding the complexity of performance in Toronto/Canada and have done or led work in social justice.






About the Opportunities