More Opportunities for Artists
Find information about open applications for prizes, contests, and other opportunities for artists below.
Adams Prize for Musical Theatre 2024
Sponsored by The Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts, The Adams Prize for Musical Theatre is an annual juried contest for composers/playwrights with a new, previously unproduced musical. The winner receives a bursary ($3500), as well as a free performance slot in the 2024 Toronto Fringe Festival (July 3-14, 2024).
Applications Open: Friday, September 22, 2023
First Deadline: Friday, October 13, 2023
Final Deadline: Friday, October 20, 2023, form closes at 11:59 PM
Winners Notified: By email in late November 2023, announced publicly at the Fringe Lottery Party
Applications will be assessed as they are received. It is highly encouraged to submit your application by October 13th, but applications will be accepted up until 11:59 PM October 20th. For more information, read the Adams Prize Eligibility and Guidelines here.
Questions: Suzanne Wilkie, Associate Producer (suzanne@fringetoronto.com)
New Play Contest 2024
The New Play Contest is an annual juried contest for playwrights with a new, previously unproduced play. The winner receives a bursary, as well as a free performance slot in the upcoming Toronto Fringe Festival (July 3-14, 2024).
Applications Open: Monday, September 25, 2023
First Deadline: Friday, October 13, 2023
Final Deadline: Friday, October 20, 2023, form closes at 11:59 PM
Winners Notified: By email in late November 2023, announced publicly at the Fringe Lottery Party
Applications will be assessed as they are received. It is highly encouraged to submit your application by October 13th, but applications will be accepted up until 11:59 PM October 20th. For more information, read the New Play Contest Eligibility and Guidelines here.
Questions: Suzanne Wilkie, Associate Producer (suzanne@fringetoronto.com)
Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators 2023/2024
Supported by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), the Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators (RGTC) Program enables arts organizations to directly invest in the creative process of artists throughout the province. We are honoured to be participating in this program again in 2023/2024.
Applications open: September 2023
Deadline: January 12, 2024 at 1:00PM EST
In our selection process our mandate is to support projects in development that focus on unique, innovative, and unexpected methods of storytelling that align with the Fringe Festival values. Artists/collectives using any range of creative processes (script writing or otherwise) in the development of new, previously unproduced works.
All applications must be submitted here through the OAC online portal: https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/recommender-grants-for-theatre-creators
For any questions or issues about the application portal, please contact the program administrator listed on the OAC website.
For questions specific to Toronto Fringe, please contact suzanne@fringetoronto.com
See the answers to some frequently asked questions here.
24-Hour Playwriting Contest
Applications for the 2024 24-Hour Playwrighting Contest will open in early Winter 2024.
We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2023 Toronto Fringe 24-Hour Playwriting Contest: Waiting for Her by Brynn Cutcliffe. Congratulations to Brynn, who will receive a bursary and the opportunity to consult with a director or dramaturg, thanks to the generosity of The Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts.
In second place is A Monster by Ronit Rubinstein, and third place is What Ever Happened to Geraldine by Araceli Ferrara. The Selection Committee also wished to give honourable mention to the submissions below. We received over 100 submissions to this year’s contest, and the selection committee was deeply impressed and grateful for the artistry and passion demonstrated by all who participated.
We hope everyone had a good time while writing fast! Big thanks to our Selection Committee, Barbara Fingerote (every theatre ever), Nathaniel Hanula-James (Nightswimming), Morgan Norwich (SummerWorks), Victor Pokinko (Bat Hats Theatre/Bad News Days), Ganesh Thavarajah (writer, actor, producer), and Carly Chamberlain (Toronto Fringe), for their time and care with all the submissions.
Honorable Mention
The Big Game - R/B Mertz
Blubes - Hannah Joubert
Cost of Living - Lisa Aikman
New Math - Brendon Allen
Second Arrow - Polly Phokeev
Sweepers - Tiyawnda McGregor
Welcome back to the 24-Hour Playwriting Contest – with some updates! This year the contest returns, in January and online. On the morning of the contest, participants will receive instructions including four elements to include in their script.
The writing period starts at 9:00am on Saturday, January 28th and finishes at 5:00pm on Sunday, January 29th, 2023. In order to encourage rest and breaks, we are giving 8 extra hours for the contest this year.
The prize for the selected winner will be a $1000 bursary, and the opportunity to meet with a dramturg or director to consult with about their work, thanks to the generous support of the Tony and Pat Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts.
Registration for the contest costs $10. Registration closes at 12:00pm noon on Thursday January 26th, 2023. REGISTER HERE.
Terms & Conditions
- Open to all playwrights/writers who are permanent residents of Canada.
- More than one entry per playwright is not permitted.
- The submitted script must have been written fully in the (extended) 24-hour contest period.
- There is no minimum or maximum duration for your script.
- Submissions are anonymized for the Selection Committee.
The Toronto Fringe is committed to equality, diversity, and prioritizing accessibility. We warmly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour communities, 2SLGBTQ+ identified persons as well as Deaf, Mad and disability-identified persons.
If you require any accommodations please do not hesitate to contact Lucy McPhee at intern@fringetoronto.com.
Nominations for Selection Committees
Toronto Fringe invites peers from our professional community to adjudicate some of our artistic programs, and form selection committees. If you are interested in being considered, or wish to nominate a member of the performing arts community who represents the diversity of lived experiences that are reflected on Fringe stages, you may do so with this form.
Toronto Fringe annually presents the New Play Contest, the Adams Prize for Musical Theatre Contest, 24-Hour Playwriting Contest, and the Next Stage Theatre Festival. New committees are formed for each program each year. Jurors are compensated. Submitting a nomination does not automatically guarantee the nominee will be offered a position on any selection committee.