TENT

TENT = Theatre Entrepreneurs’ Network & Training

TENT (Theatre Entrepreneurs’ Network and Training) was created in 2014 by The Toronto Fringe Festival to address a growing need in theatre training. The theatre climate demands that artists possess the skills and contacts to self-produce if they wish to build a sustainable career, but no training programs existed to address this specific need for emerging artists.

Since its inception, TENT has served over 140 emerging artists: providing free intensive training in the skills vital to making their work a reality (such as managing budgets, marketing, fundraising, grant-writing), and connected them with some of Canada’s leading “Artrepreneurs.”

TENT invests in the future of arts and culture in Toronto by creating, training, and cultivating a community of “artrepreneurs.” We equip emerging artists with the skills and human connections to empower them to create meaningful art on their own terms.

We do this by offering the following over a 12-day intensive program:

Workshops > Develop the necessary skills to pursue your career in professional theatre through an exciting and diverse series of workshops in areas such as promotion & publicity, grant writing, well-being, and more.

Guest Advisers > TENT workshops are led by guest advisors who are respected working artists, producers and managers. The program provides an excellent opportunity to connect with the professional artistic community.

Free Shows > See Toronto Fringe Festival programming at no cost with a TENT Rush Pass.

Bursaries > A limited number of small bursaries will be available for participants, with focus on those from priority neighbourhoods.

Selected past TENT Mentors & Guests have included:

Brendan Healy (Artistic Director – Canadian Stage)
Mel Hague (Associate Artistic Director – Canadian Stage)
Owais Lightwala (Managing Director – Why Not Theatre)
Ravi Jain (Artistic & General Director – Why Not Theatre)
Tanisha Taitt (AD Cahoots Theatre and previous TENT Program Director)
Nina Lee Aquino (Artistic Director – Factory Theatre)
Luke Reece (Producer – Obsidian Theatre Company)
Glenn Sumi (Theatre Critic – Now Magazine)
Marjorie Chan (Artistic Director – Theatre Passe Murraille)
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (Playwright, Program Director)
Weyni Mengesha (Artistic Director – Soulpepper Theatre)
Carly Maga (Theatre Critic – The Toronto Star)
Tom Arthur Davis (Why Not Theatre and previous TENT Program Director)

Please contact Program Director Carly Chamberlain at tent@fringetoronto.com should you have any further questions.