We all know developing your craft is an ongoing process that will continue beyond graduating from any theatre program. Perhaps you would like to develop your skills further under a mentorship or apprenticeship. Maybe there are opportunities for professional development in skills that could elevate, or even allow for a theatre career change, within your profession. Here are some key things to know and resources to explore while growing in the theatre and arts industry.

GVPTA shares our latest professional development opportunities and resources on our Professional Development page.

List of Greater Vancouver Mentorship & Professional Development Opportunities:

Arts Club Actor's Intensive

1. What is it?: A multi-week course that takes a back-to-basics approach to tune up the professional actor’s instrument with voice, movement, and acting training. This course culminates in a showcase of participants for an invited audience including directors from the community.
   
2. Open to: Actors with Significant training and/or experience in acting and performing (preferably both), recent or not. Minimum 25 years old.
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Late Summer (see website for posts)
   
4. When: Fall (September/October)
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Equity members: $700, Non-Equity members: $875
   
6. Link: https://artsclub.com/education/actors-intensive
   

1. What is it?: Professional development courses and workshops
   
2. Open to: All theatre artists
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Continuous (see website link)
   
4. When: Continuous
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Varies depending on course. Subsidies are available.
   
6. Link: https://artsclub.com/education/adult-courses
   

1. What is it?: Bard Studio provides free training for theatre professionals at any stage in their career. All classes take place on Mondays at the BMO Theatre centre.
   
2. Open to: Theatre professionals at any stage in their career
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Varies (see website or social media for posts)
   
4. When: Throughout theatre season, from Fall to Spring
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Free of charge
   
6. Link: https://bardonthebeach.org/education/training/bard-studio/
   

1. What is it?: SLaM provides support for early stages of creative development, helping emerging ideas and artistic exploration progress to a solid foundation ready for project funding applications and final development
   
2. Open to: Varies year to year but prioritizes BIPOC theatre creators
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Varies (see website or social media for posts)
   
4. When?: Annually
   
5. Fee or Compensation:  Support is available in the form of a financial stipend, mentorship with an arts professional, professional development opportunities and/or in the form of a residency or use of space.
   
6. Link: https://bocadellupo.com/initiatives/slam
   

The Dance Centre’s Workshops

1. What is it?: Year round workshops to offer dance artists opportunities for growth.
   
2. Open to: All independent performing artists to strengthen both craft (various performing arts and dance professional workshops) and arts administration (intro to grant writing, arts business, marketing etc.)
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Varies (see website for posts)
   
4. Duration: Varies
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Fees varies (some are free, some have registration fees)
   
6. Link: thedancecentre.ca/artist-workshops

1. What is it?: Each season 1-2 emerging talents are selected to train and participate in mainstage and second-stage events, shadow professionals, attend workshops, and manage Stone’s Throw Productions, Pacific Theatre's non-professional counterpart.
   
2. Open to: All roles in theatre (emerging actors, directors, TDs, SMs, producers, etc)
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Spring (see website or social media for posts)
   
4. Duration: Year-long
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Some compensation and benefits
   
6. Link: https://pacifictheatre.org/get-involved/

1. What is it?: Various programs supporting the development of new plays
   
2. Open to: Emerging and professional playwrights and theatre makers
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Varies (see website for posts)
   
4. When: Varies (see application calls for details)
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Varies (see application calls for details)
   
6. Link: playwrightstheatre.com
   

1. What is it?: The intention of the Creative Hub is to reduce barriers for performing arts creators to engage in artistic exploration and creation that is ultimately geared towards a public relationship with audience and community. The Creative Hub is a home for the arts, a mutually-supportive community of artists who feel a sense of connection to Presentation House Theatre and one another.
   
2. Open to: All performing arts creators
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Currently closed, see website/social media for updates
   
4. When: Varies depending on season
   
5. Fee or Compensation:  In kind use of Presentation House space and resources
   
6. Link: https://www.phtheatre.org/creativehub/

1. What is it?: an open opportunity for an emerging, re-emerging, or mid-career performing artist or administrator to receive mentorship and experience from Upintheair Theatre in curation for arts festivals.
   
2. Open to: Emerging and mid-career theatre professionals interested in festival and programming curation and production
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Spring (see website or social media for posts)
   
4. When: Position is a 2 year program
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Paid an artist fee and receive mentorship
   
6. Link: upintheairtheatre.com

1. What is it?: A festival presenting projects, excerpts, and works-in-progress of approximately 25-30 minutes in length
   
2. Open to: Artists who have new or in-progress works
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Mid-September
   
4. When: Varies (see application calls for details)
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Presentation fee (generally $3,000-$6,000 depending on project)
   
6. Link: https://rumble.org/shows/call-for-submissions-tremors-festival-2025/

1. What is it?: A two phased script development program culminating in a professional production
   
2. Open to: Underrepresented, early-career playwrights or devisors ready to take their script to the next level
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Varies (see website for posts)
   
4. When: Varies
   
5. Fee or Compensation: Commission, dramaturgical and workshop development opportunities that lead to a world premiere production of the theatrical piece in Touchstone’s mainstage season.
   
6. Link: https://touchstonetheatre.com/flying-start/
   

1. What is it?: A development program supporting new works by Asian Canadian creators
   
2. Open to: Emerging and mid-career Asian Canadian artists interested in playwriting or dramaturgy
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Varies (see website for posts)
   
4. When: Varies depending on project
   
5. Fee or Compensation: An honorarium/stipend provided to successful applicants plus a workshop and play reading of the developed work.
   
6. Link: https://vact.ca/vact-creation-lab/

1. What is it?: An open offer for mentorship to emerging professionals
   
2. Open to: All young and emerging theatre professionals of every position
   
3. Application Deadline(s): Continuous (see website link)
   
4. When: Continuous
   
5. Fee or Compensation: TBD
   
6. Link: westerngoldtheatre.org/get-involved