BIPOC Fellowship Program Open for Performing Arts Practitioners

ThisGen Fellowship 2024 Fellows (L-R): Arthi Chandra, Ashley Au, Lisa Karen Cox, Samay Arcentales Cajas, desirée leverenz, Meghan Cheng, Roshanak Jaberi, and Sarah Uwadiae.

Why Not Theatre in partnership with the National Arts Centre launches ThisGen Fellowship 2024

Toronto, Canada – Why Not Theatre in partnership with the National Arts Centre, is proud to announce the cohort for ThisGen Fellowship 2024. This national initiative is an accelerator for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) women and non-binary* performing arts professionals that provides paid training and mentorship opportunities with world-class artists, national residency gatherings, and peer connection. The program offers a unique opportunity that equips participants with the skills, networks, and resources to expand the kind of work seen on Canadian stages, as well as reimagine the process of making it.

In 2024, ThisGen Fellowship will focus on the collaboration between directors and designers, with eight artists selected for the cohort. “I am thrilled to share the incredible lineup of Canadian and international artists who are part of ThisGen Fellowship 2024,” said Why Not Theatre’s Co-Artistic Director Miriam Fernandes. “ThisGen is unique in the Canadian training landscape, in that it provides the opportunity for Fellows to learn from international arts leaders. This year we have assembled a cohort of designers and directors together to nurture this powerful collaborative relationship and provoke a deeper understanding of the collision between the practices.”

Selected from 87 applicants from across Canada, the ThisGen 2024 Directing Fellows are Arthi Chandra, Lisa Karen Cox, Roshanak Jaberi, desirée leverenz and the ThisGen 2024 Design Fellows are Ashley Au, Samay Arcentales Cajas, Meghan Cheng, and Sarah Uwadiae.

This year’s program starts with an online paid training intensive led by internationally renowned artists, followed by an in-person residency at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa from June 10-14. The fellowship will culminate in a two-week hands-on lab in Toronto where the Fellows will apply their learnings in an exploratory setting.

Now in its fifth year, ThisGen Fellowship has been committed to redefining the future of cultural leadership in Canada by advancing the careers of 40 BIPOC artists. “The connections I made both in Canada and internationally through ThisGen Fellowship were invaluable,” shared Vanessa Sears, a 2022-23 Fellow whose mentorship was with Lileana Blain-Cruz, a Tony-nominated director who invited Sears to New York City to observe rehearsals at The Metropolitan Opera as part of their mentorship exchange. “That, coupled with the practical knowledge and skills passed on from the faculty and shared within our cohort made the experience truly singular and transformative. I am so grateful for my time and my learning with this program. It has truly evolved my directing practice and inspired new artistic goals.”

By introducing Fellows to leading international artists creating groundbreaking work, the fellowship aims to expand imagination around artistic and leadership practices and equip this generation of cultural leaders in Canada with the tools to shape the future of the performing arts.

ThisGen Fellowship 2024 faculty from Canada, the U.K., and the U.S. includes Omar Elerian (directing), Katie Mitchell (directing), Maiko Yamamoto (directing), Gareth Fry (design), Andy Moro (design), Rajha Shakiry (design), Madeline Sayet (directing), Asa Benally (design), Dawn Walton (directing), Simon Kenny (design), Alex Eales (design), Hana S. Kim (design), and Christian Lapointe (directing).

“We are so grateful to be partnering once again with Why Not Theatre on ThisGen Fellowship, said NAC President and CEO Christopher Deacon. “This outstanding professional development opportunity will not only benefit its Fellows: by sharing their knowledge going forward, they will help strengthen and advance the Canadian performing arts. We congratulate the 2024 cohort and look forward to welcoming them to the NAC for their residency in June.”

Click here for more information about ThisGen Fellowship.

*ThisGen Fellowship is a Trans-inclusive program.