Apprenticeship Program for Technical Production, Producing and Design

Apprenticeship experiences will be co-created by the partner companies and the NAC.

The NAC will provide:

• Supplementary training for the apprentices, including workshops on career planning, financial management, networking and interview preparation;
• Support in recruiting apprentices, and designing and delivering the apprenticeship;
• Financial support, including apprentice fee, mentor honorarium, and travel support if required, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Partner organizations will provide:

• A paid apprenticeship position for an early-career professional. The apprentice can be someone you have worked with previously, or someone recruited through a separate call;
• A mentor who will work alongside the apprentice for the duration of the placement;
• A robust placement plan, designed with the specific goals of the apprentice in mind.

Key elements of the apprenticeships 

While each apprenticeship will be designed in collaboration with the partner company and participant, they will share three key elements:

• Placements must take place between February and August 2025;
• Apprenticeships must be 4 to 12 weeks in duration, and can be either part-time or full-time positions;  
• Apprentices must self-identify as equity-deserving individuals and be early in their careers*. 

*For this program, early-career is defined as someone who is not currently enrolled in a post-secondary program and has less than four years of professional experience; who has experience in a related field but is embarking on a new career in technical direction, production management, producing, and/or design; or who is re-joining the workforce and looking to develop specific skills through on-the-job training.

We welcome applications from organizations who meet the following criteria:

• Professional company working in theatre, dance, music, and/or interdisciplinary performing arts for a period of at least three years;
• Is a registered not-for-profit or charitable organization;
• Has the capacity and readiness to host an apprentice.

To apply, complete the online application form before midnight on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

The application form consists of the following questions:

1. Please describe your organization (max 300 words)
2. Who are the communities you serve? Who are your audiences? (max 300 words)
3. What will the potential structure of the apprenticeship be? For example, what would be the apprentice’s primary role, who would be their primary mentor, what project or production might they be placed on, what would be the level and manner of hands-on engagement etc. (max 500 words)
4. If selected for this program, you can either select an apprentice who already has a relationship with your organization, or you can put out an open call in your community to fill the role. Please indicate which option you would select and why. (max 200 words) 
5. Has your organization run apprenticeship placements and/or professional development programs in the past? What were the successes and challenges? (max 300 words or n/a)

The NAC will schedule follow-up conversations with a short list of potential partners, with the goal of confirming this year’s collaborators by early January 2025. Throughout the selection process, we will consider diversity of discipline, gender, ability, ethnicity, language, culture, and geography.

Note: As part of the selection process, companies will be asked to provide two references, which should be freelance contractors or employees who have worked with you in the past two years in an entry- to mid-level position.