AZ-MAP

What is the AZ-MAP Program?

Azimuth Theatre Apprenticeship and Mentorship Program

AZ-MAP is the pilot of an educational opportunity, with instructional pathways and self-guided education centred around the needs of individual emerging theatre performers, giving two participants agency in their education and achieving their professional theatre goals.

The program is a blend of:

• Instructional classes
• Apprenticeship based learning
• Theatre process shadowing
• One-on-one mentoring 
• Artistic and administrative skill development

These skills will set participants up for success in their growing arts practices in their future endeavours.

Goals Of AZ-MAP

• To create community-based education opportunities in the arts 
• To grow the program to actively support subsections of Edmonton’s theatre community that historically have not received equitable resources. 
  • including but not limited to those who are:
    • a part of underrepresented communities (BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, newcomers, and more)
    • mature students
    • students from low-income financial situations
    • neurodivergent students
    • students with disabilities
    • students with dependents 
• To facilitate training based on the needs and aspirations of these individuals and provide them with tools and connections to succeed in this work. 
• To invest in our artists to build strong and long-lasting relationships between Azimuth Theatre, independent artists and our community at large.

amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton, AB

In-person or online 

(The class platform is negotiable and able to shift depending on factors in and out of our control, like Alberta Public Safety Guidelines and Azimuth Theatre’s Health and Safety Policies)

Azimuth Theatre acknowledges that this program and opportunity has been built and posted on Turtle Island, through cables and signals that span many nations intersecting Treaty and Unceded Land. AZ-MAP has been created in Treaty 6 territory, the original home of the Indigenous nations of the Nehiyawak (ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐊᐧᐠ), Nakota-Sioux, Niitsítapi, Dene – Tsuu T’ina, and Métis among others who have and continue to call this land home. Azimuth Theatre strives to incorporate the treaty values of kinship and peace into all aspects of our work and will continue to actively listen and learn. Azimuth Theatre is committed to reviving and practicing the spirit of TATAWAW (“Welcome. There is room”.) We work with mindfulness towards engaging in meaningful relationships, inclusive practices, responsibility and integrity in leadership, a growth mindset, and a belief in abundance over scarcity. We recognize the past and present of this land and our relationship with it and continue to work towards a future of friendship, respect and collaboration. 

What we can offer participants:

Participants will be paid to train and learn while working in an apprenticeship role with the Azimuth Theatre producing team. Azimuth will provide weekly part-time theatre training and mentorship with highly supported administration work, providing folks with the opportunity to learn applicable skills for a life in the arts. 

Contract Fee

$12,000

*Consistent for the length of the contract, paid twice monthly (for a total of $1500 per month, which approximates to 18.75$/hour of scheduled time). 

No classes on stat holidays and instructional break from December 20th, 2021 – January 3rd, 2022

What we will provide (cost covered by Azimuth Theatre)

• Personal Professional Website (2-year Subscription)
• Headshots 
• Access and use of production stills from program participation
• Podcast Feature as part of the Azimuth Theatre Multimedia Branch (coming soon) and Expanse Panel Participation
• Updated Resume (Azimuth will support in the creation of this document)
• Access to Azimuth Theatre Equipment and Resources

• Theatre Basics 
• Writing and Plays
• Dramaturgy and Directing 
• Design and Technical Theatre
• Voice
• Acting
• Clowning
• Collective Creation
• Auditioning
• Business of Theatre
• Inclusive and Anti-Oppressive Theatre Practices
  

Program Details

• Workshops

• • • Focused educational opportunities that will be instructed with the intention of exploring a specific facet of artistic practice, with industry professionals facilitating. These workshops will be open to all Azimuth Staff and the AZ-MAP team to learn alongside participants.

• Instructors

• • Instructors will teach classes based on the focus of the program as described above

• Apprenticeship Time

• • • Participants will work with Azimuth Theatre producers to learn more about the business side of theatre, learning about G Suite, QuickBooks, email, video/self-tape editing, social media and more.
  • Rehearsal Shadowing 
    • Participants will observe theatre processes with various companies at various stages in the creation process and experience the professional industry. First reads, auditions, script readings, tech, opening nights and more.

• Support People

• • • Support People will share space with the AZ-MAP participants outside of instructional hours to provide feedback and listen to the participants as third-party, objective listeners. Support People will share similar intersections as the participants and are meant to provide advice and share wisdom.

• Mentors

• • Mentors will work with participants to shape their artistic practice, providing the hands-on support needed to finesse the skills every emerging artist needs to learn. Mentors are meant to not only provide insight and support but allyship and mutual support beyond the program in the professional theatre community as the AZ-MAP participants build their careers in this industry.

Timeline

32 Week Contract over ~8 months

Program Dates: October 25, 2021 – June 24, 2022

This program will take place part-time, 5 days a week.

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Monday

• Community Day – Check-ins and Performance Lab

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Tuesday through Friday

• General Monthly Overview
  • Week 1 – Workshop Week – available for instructors and participants
  • Week 2 & 3 – Classes and apprenticeship work
  • Week 4 – Shadowing and apprenticeship work

Who is Azimuth Theatre?

For 30 years Azimuth Theatre has adapted to the needs of our community:

• We value agility and courage.
• We encourage compassionate, rigorous and honest conversation.
• We make space for under-represented voices and contribute to the removal of barriers that prevent celebration and education surrounding diversity in our society.
• We seek to foster these attributes in ourselves as well as those of our artists, communities and audiences
  

Explore our website to learn more!

How to apply for the program?

Submit an Application Form

Information needed to complete the form

• Resume relating to you, your art and work 
  • If you want guidance or support in creating your resume and application, we are here to help! 
  • We also have a resume template available for you to use here
• 1 Reference may be called/contacted 
  • This reference does not necessarily need to be performance-related, it can be a teacher, employer, community member. Someone who knows you are and your connection to the theatre!
• Letter, video or audio recording explaining:
  • Who you are
  • Your artistic goals/practice as a performer 
  • Tell us about the artistic experiences you’re most proud of contributing to, and why the AZ-MAP would be a good fit for you. 
    (No longer than 500 words, or 5 mins) 

*If you have any accessibility needs for your meetings or interviews, let us know and this can be arranged at Azimuth Theatre’s expense.* 

If you have any questions or need support with your application you can contact producer@azimuththeatre.com or book a meeting with the Azimuth Theatre Producing team.

Participants

Will This Program Happen Every Year?

We are piloting this program with hopes of extending, developing it further to be an integral part of our annual or bi-annual programming.

If you have any questions or need support with your application

How Will Applicants Be Selected?

• Through an online application (reviewed by our selection jury)
• Online interviews with jury

When do applications close for the program?

AZ-MAP Instructors

September 25, 2021

AZ-MAP Participants

September 25, 2021

AZ-MAP Performance Lab Applications

Accepting ongoing applications

Am I Expected To Only Work With Azimuth Over The Course Of The Program?

We hope that you will be able to focus on your work with Azimuth for an average of 20 hours a week, we know that as artists and collaborators, opportunities will come. If the hours and needs of the program are met, flexibility with other work and contracts can be negotiated.

More Questions?

you can contact producer@azimuththeatre.com or book a meeting with the Azimuth Theatre Producing team.