Design Assistants

Company Overview

Thank you for your interest in the Shaw Festival

Discover more about working at the Shaw Festival by visiting our Welcome Website at welcome.shawfest.com

As one of the world’s leading theatre companies and Niagara’s 20 largest employers, The Shaw is dedicated to an ongoing process of increasing diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs, and in all of our hiring for staff, artists, and in the recruiting of board members.

The Shaw is committed to a future when our theatres joyously draw on and include all peoples, fully reflective of the world around us. As such, the Shaw Festival is an equal opportunity employer committed to a barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We encourage and invite applications from applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black or as persons of colour (IBPOC), the LGBTQ2+ communities and those identifying as gender fluid.

In accordance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and in keeping with our wish to ensure a fully inclusive environment, please advise Human Resources if you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process. We will be happy to assist.

We acknowledge and honour the land upon which we gather as the historic and traditional territory of First Nations peoples. In particular we recognize and thank the Neutral Nation, the Mississauga and the Haudenosaunee for their stewardship of these lands over millennia.

Job Description

Position:  Design Assistant (multiple positions), seasonal, full-time
Salary:  $1,025 weekly

Job Description / Duties

The Shaw Festival is seeking applications for seasonal, full-time Set Design Assistants and Costume Design Assistants. These positions are part of the Design Team and report to the Production Director, Design Manager, and Mentors. Design Assistants work on regular season productions with professional designers, and are offered mutually agreed upon opportunities to further their own art and craft through mentorship, artistic incubation, and the fostering of creative relationships.

Design Assistants will take direction from the Designer(s) of the production(s) they are assigned to, and work in collaboration with Shaw’s Production departments. Assistants will have regular check-ins with the Design Manager and Design Mentors who will offer orientation and support throughout the term. Assistants will also attend Design Team meetings and may work collaboratively with other Assistants on design projects for the Shaw Festival. Throughout their contracts, Assistants will have opportunities to participate in salons, skill development, and workshops with other artists.

Design Assistant positions have varying contract lengths and timelines depending on production assignments. Most positions for the 2027 season will begin between January and April and conclude between June and August, and are typically 12 to 20 weeks in length. In some cases, part-time remote work may be possible prior to the start of full-time residency. Assistants may have the opportunity to support multiple productions back-to-back for longer contract lengths.

Please include a statement of availability with your application. This can include any known conflicts or unavailable dates, as well as your earliest availability to begin full-time in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A limited number of 2027 production assignments may require Design Assistant support starting within 2026.

Weekly commitment is based on a 40-hour work week of in-person work in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is understood that the weekly workload will vary according to production needs. Assistants may be assigned to one or multiple shows within the season based on availability, experience, and interests. Production scheduling details will be discussed with candidates selected for interviews.

Successful candidates may have the opportunity to return for additional seasons within the Design Assistant program. These seasons may or may not be consecutive.

Set / Props Design Assistant
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Research and visual reference collection and distribution to appropriate departments related to the set and prop designs of a production
• Interpreting and updating drafting/drawings throughout the production process
• Building set models
• Attending design meetings, production meetings, shop visits, props pulls and all technical rehearsals with the Designer to support the design process
• Attending rehearsal when possible
• Compiling documentation of the production for remount/archival purposes

Costume Design Assistant
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Collection and distribution of research and visual references to appropriate departments and crafts people related to costume designs of a production
• Creating paperwork as part of the design package
• Assisting on fabric and garment shopping trips/internet shopping, and record keeping related to those activities with Wardrobe Coordinators and Designers.
• Attending design meetings, production meetings, shop visits, costume pulls and all technical rehearsals with the Designer to support the design process
• Attending wig and wardrobe fittings with the Designer
• Attending cutter/crafts person discussions with the Designer

Qualifications / Required Skills
Qualifications include:

• Self-motivated
• Problem-solving skills
• Willingness to learn and collaborate
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written
• Strong organizational and time management skills with an ability to multi-task and be flexible
• Experience and/or training in design/production on a professional level with an interest in set and costume design for performance
• Basic model making skills and materials knowledge
• Basic sketching/rendering skills
• Skill and comfort in visual communication
• Research skills
• Computer skills – Microsoft Office and Photoshop skills considered an asset
• Basic period knowledge and interest
• For Set/Props Assistants: Basic drafting skills in CAD or VECTORWORKS
• For Costume Assistants: Basic fabric knowledge and understanding
• Previous experience Assisting professional theatre designers is an asset
• Ontario Class G (or equivalent driver’s license) with a clean driving record required

Additional Information

Please Note
The Shaw Festival includes multiple locations – the Design Studio is located in the main Festival building in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the Prop Shop, Scenic Construction Shop, Scenic Art Shop and Warehouses are located a short drive away in nearby towns. A vehicle is required to access these buildings. Design Assistants will have shared access to a Shaw vehicle which can be signed out as needed.