Rising Tides

Call for Applications: Rising Tides

Submissions Due: June 26, 2026

Native Earth is proud to be a partnering organization of the Rising Tides initiative.

Rising Tides is a paid, multi-faceted skill development and mentorship platform designed for IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) performing arts administrators and managers. The initiative intends to fill a gap in the Canadian performing arts sector around the training and mentorship of developing and mid-career IBPOC administrators and managers by providing a program specific to the needs of this underserved community.

About the 2026-2027 Rising Tides Program

This year the program will accept ten pairs of mentees and mentors who will engage with each other on theatre administration and management topics tailored to each participant’s expressed learning goals in areas such as human resources, budgeting, governance, contracting, strategic planning, and production support. These pairings will meet regularly, on average an hour per month, from October 2026 to May 2027.

In addition to monthly mentor meetings, the program will consist of six full-cohort virtual learning sessions as well as occasional optional casual gatherings, and access to support from the program coordinator. Each mentee will be compensated for their time with $2600.00 representing an approximate hourly rate of $100. The program will culminate in an in-person, mandatory event with travel and accommodation support provided for attendance at PACTcon 2027 in Winnipeg, MB.

This iteration of the program will prioritize applicants who are working toward a full-time career in arts administration, as opposed to applicants who want to develop their administrative skills to support their own artistic work. Applicants should already have some foundational experience in arts administration. Applications will be reviewed by a steering committee of IBPOC Arts Administrators.

2026-2027 Steering Committee

How to Apply

The online application consists of some basic personal information, an opportunity to upload a resume or CV, and some questions to help us understand your experience and what you hope to gain as a participant in Rising Tides.  

Apply by Friday, June 26, 2026. 

All applicants will be notified by Friday, August 21, 2026.

For alternative, accessible ways to apply, please contact Rising Tides Program Coordinator Andrea at andread@pact.ca.

Apply Now

About PACT

  • Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) is a member driven organization that promotes and supports the practice of theatre in Canada.

    We believe:

    • People that work in theatre deserve supportive and equitable working environments

    • Theatre practice should encourage creativity, afford risk and accommodate change

    • Theatre makes an essential contribution to the quality of life in Canada

    • The experience of theatre should be accessible to all

    • Theatre companies should be as diverse as the communities they serve

    Who we are:

    • We strive to be cognizant of the needs of our members by offering programs and services that benefit them and Canadian theatre ∙ We are a proactive and responsive organization making prudent use of our resources

    • We foster opportunities where theatre practitioners can come together

    • We are a leader in the national performing arts community and an advocate for live performance

    • We aspire to be an organization that is representative of the breadth of Canadian theatre

    • We are led by the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility and strive to incorporate these principles in everything we do