Development Programs

A presentation slide titled 'Recommender Grant for Theatre Creators' with logos of Ontario Arts Council and Native Earth Performing Arts, featuring red, white, and black colors.

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators

The Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators provides funding through community nominators to support innovative Indigenous theatre projects, enabling creators to develop new works with financial backing and artistic autonomy.

Text reading 'RISING TIDES' over a background of blue and purple wave-like lines.

Rising Tides Mentorship

Native Earth’s Rising Tides is a yearly mentorship and skills-development program for IBPOC performing-arts administrators and managers. A small cohort of mentees will be matched with experienced mentors and take part in cohort sessions. The call prioritizes Northern and Atlantic-region applicants and Indigenous candidates with foundational admin experience.

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Weesageechak Begins to Dance

Weesageechak Begins to Dance is a two-week festival showcasing new works and works-in-development by Indigenous artists across Turtle Island and beyond, hosted in the heart of Regent Park in t’karonto. Every November, Native Earth Performing Arts is proud to welcome new theatrical, dance, music, and multidisciplinary works.

Animikiig Creator’s Unit

Group of eight people, four women and four men, posing together in an art gallery with posters on the wall behind them.

Animikiig Creators Unit is a two-year development program for emerging Indigenous creators. Animikiig offers Indigenous creators who are in the emerging stage of theatrical creation the chance to develop their craft through individualized development plans and resources.

Other Programs

Three diverse women are depicted in a colorful, whimsical illustration set against a backdrop of a rainbow, stars, and a map of the world. They are engaged with reading or writing, and are surrounded by purple clouds.

National Queer & Trans Playwriting Unit

Dedicated playwriting labs empowering queer and trans Indigenous writers with workshops, peer feedback sessions, and dramaturgical support, fostering authentic storytelling and community visibility.

A woman presenting a project on a wall covered with colorful sticky notes to a group of people in a meeting room.

Training for aspiring Indigenous producers covers budgeting, marketing, contract negotiation, and project management, equipping participants with skills to lead successful productions.

Indigenous Producer Training Program

A flyer announcing a call for applicants for 'New Pathways,' deadline April 22, 2024, from the National Theatre School of Canada and Native Earth Performing Arts.

New Pathways supports experimental Indigenous performance by funding artists to explore interdisciplinary practices, collaborate across communities, and present groundbreaking work to diverse audiences.

New Pathways

Get In Touch

Got more questions?

Our Development Programs offer a spectrum of opportunities designed to elevate Indigenous theatre artists at every career stage. From funding visionary creators and hands-on mentorship to specialized units for emerging writers, choreographers, and producers, these initiatives foster innovation, cultural storytelling, and professional growth within a supportive, community-centered framework.

  • Email: art@nativeearth.ca

  • Phone: 416-531-1402

  • Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.