Rising Tides is a paid, multi-faceted skill development and mentorship platform designed for IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) perfomring arts administrators and managers. The initiative intends to fill a gap in the Canadian performing arts sector around the training and mentorship of developing and mid-career IBPOC administrators and managers by providing a program specific to the needs of this underserved community. 

Rising Tides was initially launched as a pilot program in 2023, led by PACT, Native Earth Performing Arts, Obsidian Theatre Company, Urban Ink, Green Thumb Theatre, Pacific Theatre, and Nightwood Theatre. 

Through one-on-one pairings, seven pairs of mentees and mentors will engage with each other, focusing on skill development in theatre administration and tailored to meet each participant’s expressed learning goals in areas such as human resources, budgeting, governance, contracting, strategic planning, and production support. These pairings will meet online regularly from September 2024 to May 2025, supported by four full-cohort virtual meetings, culminating in an in-person event at PACTcon in May 2025.

• Naz Afsahi, Managing Director at Nightwood Theatre
• Breanne Harmon, Executive Director at Persephone Theatre
• Michael Sinclair, General Manager at Obsidian Theatre
• Himanshu Sitlani, Managing Director at Native Earth Performing Arts
• Boomer Stacey, Artistic Producer at Boca Del Lupo
• Isaac Thomas, Executive Director at the Belfry Theatre
• Melissa Tsang, most recently Managing Director at Urban Ink

Applications to be a Rising Tides mentee for 2024-2025 have now closed. 

Thank you to all those who applied! 

This program is proudly supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, through its Innovation and Development program.

This program is proudly supported by the The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation (Metcalf Foundation) through its program: Booster Fund: Supporting Racialized Arts Workers.

We thank all the participating theatre companies in developing this year’s program including:

Native Earth Performing Arts, Belfry Theatre, Boca del Lupo, Nightwood Theatre, Obsidian Theatre and Persephone Theatre.