Theatre

A Message from AFA Chair Cynthia Moore

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Board of Directors is pleased to have approved its 2025-26 annual budget based on the increased provincial allocation of $34.6 million. I am pleased to share highlights of our plan with Alberta’s arts community. We are grateful for the government’s continued commitment to increase funding for the arts and its second consecutive increase of $4.5 million to the AFA in Budget 2025. 

This year, the AFA will focus on increasing support for arts organizations. Total spending allocated to operational and project grants for organizations will increase by 10 per cent. At the same time, I am pleased to share that increased support for individual artists announced last year will be maintained. The AFA will be sharing information with operational clients about how their funding may be impacted through its regular grant notifications.  

The AFA will begin rolling out new and updated grant programs this year based on the findings of our program review begun in 2022. This year AFA is beginning the process of modernizing its grant programs to provide more targeted and appropriate funding support to arts organizations and individual artists. While the grant review is unrelated to the AFA’s 2025-26 budget, increased funding from Alberta’s government has well-positioned the AFA to effectively update its programs to reflect today’s provincial arts sector.

We will continue to make the AFA Art Collection more accessible to more Albertans, including through additional support for the Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program. TREX providers will be curating additional AFA artworks into more exhibitions, expand their outreach and increase opportunities for new communities to book exhibitions.

I want to express our appreciation for the government’s continued commitment to increase funding for the arts with the second consecutive increase of our budget. Our commitment is to prioritize and invest in artists, art and cultural materials. This work is in line with the AFA’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which is available to read in both English and French on our website. 

We look forward to continuing to support and contribute to the growth of Alberta’s arts sector.

Cynthia P. Moore, Chair
Contact the Chair at afacontact@gov.ab.ca  
 

Application intake for the Alberta Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador grant is now open. The deadline to apply is June 16. The maximum eligible amount you can apply for is $50,000. This opportunity is open to individual artists from all disciplines.

Program guidelines and application materials can be downloaded from the Artist in Residence website at www.alberta.ca/alberta-artist-residence-apply.

This program seeks to inspire innovation in the arts and to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the arts and artists in Alberta.

Artists are encouraged to apply for this grant to become Alberta’s Artist in Residence / Arts Ambassador for a one-year term.

Through this grant, the successful artist will:

• work with communities across Alberta as an Arts Ambassador to promote the importance of Alberta artists and the arts
• communicate and share personal perspectives on the artistic process, the role of artists, and the contributions that artists make to Alberta
• act as an advocate for greater understanding of the realities of artists and the communities in which they work
• complete an art project that promotes the value of the arts in Alberta

The Citadel Theatre, one of Canada’s largest and busiest professional, not-for-profit theatre companies and facilities, has an opening for a part-time (17 hours per week), one year contract, Accessibility Coordinator. Reporting to the Producer, the Accessibility Coordinator is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all accessible performance initiatives and programming. This role is dedicated to creating inclusive and welcoming theatre experiences for all patrons by collaborating with creative and production teams, community partners, and accessibility service providers.

Please note that while the Citadel is committed to offering Relaxed Experience performances throughout the 2025/26 season and aims to make them as inclusive as possible, certain design elements may not be adaptable due to artistic or technical constraints.

Key accountabilities

• Oversee the scheduling, logistics, and delivery of accessible performance offerings such as Relaxed Experiences, ASL-interpreted performances, Audio Described and Captioned performances, and Touch Tours.
    
• Collaborate with external service providers (e.g., ASL interpreters, Audio Describers, Captioners, Consultants) and internal departments (Production, Sales and Marketing, Front of House) to ensure strong communication and accessibility service delivery. 
   
• Audit each production scheduled for a Relaxed Experience performance and provide recommendations for adjustments to Directors and Designers as needed and within the current scope of what Citadel has the capacity to offer.  
   
• Collaborate with Citadel’s Marketing team to ensure clear and consistent patron communication about accessible performances. This includes contributing to social media content, e-newsletters, pre- and post-show emails and surveys, and leading the creation and execution of each production’s Visual Guide.   
   
• Attending all accessible performances to serve as the primary point of contact for patrons and service providers and to ensure staff and volunteers are briefed for each accessible performance. 
  Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, members of the Deaf and disability communities, and accessibility professionals, while leading outreach efforts to promote awareness of Citadel’s accessible performances. 
   
• Coordinate and manage the loan of access materials (e.g., sensory kits, quiet tent materials, audio description equipment) to individual artists and local arts organizations. 
   
• Facilitate training for Front of House and Production staff to build accessibility awareness, promote sensitivity, and support inclusive service delivery. 
   
• Identify opportunities to expand and improve accessibility offerings; gather feedback, track participation, and evaluate the success of initiatives to inform future planning. 
   
• Ensure ongoing alignment with the theatre’s equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) goals. 

Required qualifications

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent  

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience coordinating accessible performances in a theatre setting and/or working in accessibility services more broadly. 

Skills: 

Strong Communication Skills: Strong ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with patrons, staff, artists, service providers, and consultants. 

Organizational and Project Management Skills: Capable of managing multiple accessibility services across various performances, including scheduling, logistics, and follow-up. 

Knowledge of accessible performance approaches and standards within the theatre industry. 
Competency in Microsoft 365 Suite (with a focus on Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint and OneDrive). 

Additional requirements

• A strong passion for live theatre and a commitment to advancing accessibility in the arts. Demonstrated dedication to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and access (EDIA). 
   
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and clear, effective communication abilities. 
   
• Proven ability to think creatively, collaborate with diverse individuals, and incorporate multiple perspectives into problem-solving. 
   
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with a flexible, proactive, and team-oriented approach. 
   
• Flexible scheduling and the ability to work weekends as required.  

We will prioritize candidates who have lived experience with disability. 

To apply

Qualified applicants are encouraged to email their resume and cover letter to Human Resources at humanresources@citadeltheatre.com.

citadeltheatre.com/employment/accessibility-coordinator 

Hourly rate: $30
Part-time, One year contract (17 hours/week) – Flexible scheduling and remote work options available. The ideal candidate will be available to work in-office 2–4 times per month and must attend all Accessible Performances, which typically take place on weekends. 

The 6th Annual Grindstone Comedy Festival comes out swinging with Kenny vs Spenny, Jon Dore, Robby Hoffman & more at four Edmonton venues 
Catch a curated lineup of Stand-Up, Improv and Sketch from across Canada at Grindstone’s 6th Annual Comedy Festival, plus comedy competitions, workshops, parties and more.

Performances from July 2-6 at The Grindstone Theatre, the Howl & Roar Outdoor Stage (100st 81Ave), Maki Maki, and The Orange Hub Theatre.

Tickets starting at $15 at www.grindstonecomedyfest.com 

Shaking it Up: Improvising Shakespeare 

Shakespeare is hilarious. His plays are packed with sharp wit, clever wordplay, and some of the best sex jokes in history. He made poetry sound natural, which is why he’s still the most famous playwright in the world.

If you do improv, you’re going to run into Shakespeare scenes—a lot. This workshop is all about making them fun, easy, and believable. You’ll learn how to decode the language, find the rhythm, and bring out the comedy, so your Shakespearean improv scenes feel effortless and engaging.

Taught by Mat Mailandt, a trained theatre actor and professional comedian (Hamlet: Improvised (2012), Macbeth: Improvised (2025), Second City Faculty, this two-hour session will break down Shakespeare’s tricks and give you practical tools to confidently play in his style.

​Come ready to shake things up, experiment, and have fun with the Bard!

• Dates: June 4, 2025 from 7 - 9 pm 

• Location:  Grindstone Studio (9562 82 Ave NW) 

• Instructor: Mat Mailandt 

• Prerequisite:  Intermediate or Advanced Improvisers 

• Showcase:  There is no showcase for this class 

• Cost:  $150 (there is no early bird for this workshop) 

Dates: Jun 25, 2025 - Jul 30, 2025
Total of 6 sessions
Starts Jun 25
Cost: $381.60
Location: Orange Hub Black Box Theatre (10045 156 St, NW Edmonton)

Learn the fundamentals of improv in a fun and supportive environment. Students will build a strong foundation of self-acceptance, spontaneity, and playfulness as they learn to make up scenes on the spot. This class will focus on the basics of improv and how to get started as a performer. Join long-practicing improviser and teacher Cayley McConaghy for an engaging and high-energy experience.

www.grindstonetheatre.ca/service-page/improv-101b

Dates: Jun 23, 2025 - Jul 28, 2025
Total of 6 sessions
Starts Jun 23
$381.60
Orange Hub Black Box Theatre (10045 156 St, NW Edmonton)

This class is designed to get you feeling confident and comfortable being on stage, expressing yourself, and collaborating with other actors. It has the essential tools you need to start working on text, responding creatively to impulse, and sharing the action with the audience. Your instructor will create an engaging and supportive environment for you to strut your stuff! The class culminates in a public showcase.

www.grindstonetheatre.ca/service-page/improv-101a

Dates: Jun 26, 2025 - Jul 31, 2025
Total of 6 sessions
Starts Jun 26
Cost: $477
Location: Orange Hub Black Box Theatre (10045 156 St, NW Edmonton)

In this class, you’ll learn the basic structure of a short joke, how it works, and how you can write your own. Next, you’ll learn how that very same structure is applied to long-form jokes and comedic storytelling. This class is a good blend of the theoretical (how to write for stand-up), and the practical (how to perform it).

www.grindstonetheatre.ca/service-page/stand-up-101b