Nominations

The Theatre Network Society is a not-for-profit, charitable arts organization that produces contemporary Canadian theatre and shares the stories of Canadian playwrights from our home, The Roxy Theatre, that is owned and operated by Theatre Network.

Theatre Network is dedicated to producing and facilitating the development of work that is both challenging and engaging, We are unafraid to question the world we live in, and provide an unexpected and exciting experience for our audiences. Theatre Network tells Canadian stories by Canadian artists. Our continuing commitment is towards work that tells important stories even if they may be controversial. The Roxy is also home to our sister company Nextfest, as well as to the Miller Art Gallery, which operates three gallery halls within our building.

The affairs of the Society are governed by a Board of Directors that works closely with the Artistic and Executive Director. The Board meets ten times a year on Monday evenings, with additional committee meetings as needed.

Theatre Network is seeking nominations for potential Board Directors to begin in September 2025. Directors will be elected by the membership to a three-year term, for up to two consecutive terms. We are seeking at least three, and up to four new Directors this year to balance the knowledge, capacities and demographics of the Board. Nominations are encouraged from diverse communities, particularly those from Indigenous and/or equity-deserving backgrounds. The Board would also welcome nominations with skills or expertise in fundraising, law, communications, government relations/advocacy as well as past Board Chair or leadership experience. Any potential Board member should be familiar with theatre or share a passion for the arts as well as, have the ability to personally give from a charitable financial perspective to the organization.

Anyone interested in nominating or being nominated should confirm their interest in writing, by submitting a cover letter and resume. The Society will facilitate nomination conversations with anyone who wishes to be considered. The deadline for nominations is June 20, 2025, at 11:59 pm MDT. Interested candidates will be reviewed and interviewed by the Governance and Nominations Committee. Following that process, the Board will present a preferred candidate or slate of candidates to the membership at the AGM in September 2025.

To begin the Nomination process, please send an email to jared@theatrenetwork.ca with the subject: "Theatre Network Board Nomination" along with your letter of interest and resume outlining your past Board experience and expertise.

Announcing the third year of The Prairie Grindstone Prize — a $50,000 literary award that acknowledges a hardworking, engaged prairie writer. 

Nominations for The Prairie Grindstone Prize open on April 1 and will close on May 15 at midnight.

This annual prize, funded by an anonymous donor committee, alternates between the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. This year, the prize will be awarded to an Alberta writer. The Prairie Grindstone Prize recognizes prairie writers of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction with a cash prize of $50,000 that will enable the writer to focus on their work for a year or more.

This is not a book prize. It is awarded in acknowledgement of an author’s body of work and their contribution to the public’s appreciation for and understanding of Western Canada’s landscape, people, history, and culture.

The writer must have been a resident of the province of Alberta for the past five years, have a minimum of four professionally published books, and be an active member of the local writing community.

Authors may not self nominate and recipients will be selected by a jury of peers.

Full nomination guidelines can be found here: www.prairiegrindstoneprize.ca/nominate Letters of nomination and inquiries can be sent to grindstoneprize@gmail.com 

For more information, please contact
Lisa Murphy Lamb, Jury Chair
Jun Lee, Marketing
e: grindstoneprize@gmail.com 

www.prairiegrindstoneprize.ca
IG: @prairiegrindstoneprize
FB: Prairie Grindstone Prize

Did you know that you can apply to join an expert panel for the AFA?

We encourage expert panel nominations from Albertans to ensure the involvement of the arts community in AFA funding decisions. Anyone may nominate a potential expert panel member, including themselves.

To join an expert panel you must:

• First, download the Expert Panel Handbook to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the expert panel.
• Then, complete an Expert Panel Nomination Form.
• Finally, email us your completed nomination form.

Who selects an expert panel?

Expert panels are assembled as needed by Arts Branch staff. Assembled review panels are reflective of the expertise required for each set of applications and to promote adequate representation of diverse perspectives, including:

• artists in various stages of their career
• artists from different locations around the province
• different gender identities
• Indigenous artists
• culturally diverse artists
• Francophone artists
• Deaf artists and artists with disabilities

Compensation for expert panel members

Expert panel members are paid in accordance with established AFA rates for service.

Panel members are paid a reading fee for each application reviewed and a daily rate for participation during the expert panel sessions.

Learn more about expert panels and the adjudication process