Critical Futures completed its first year as a paid journalistic writing training program that trained a cohort of 3 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) interested in arts criticism.

The program ran from October 2022 to June 2023 and was a combination of classroom learning and opportunities to review several performances over a condensed period with mentorship. The aspiring critics will hone their professional voice and skills in areas such as:

  • Overview of the current media climate in Canada
  • History of Criticism in Canada
  • Introduction to the Canadian Theatre ecology and the systems of theatre
    production
  • Overview of the roles in theatre (dramaturge, director, designer etc.)
  • Writing reviews, previews, editorials, and features
  • Criticism practices across performing art forms (theatre, dance, circus, etc.)
  • Print vs. Digital tools
  • Different cultural frameworks for interpreting art
  • Ethical artistic practices
  • Building a future career in journalism

Critical Futures is a pilot program produced and managed by Neworld Theatre in partnership with Arts ClubElectric Company TheatreGVPTARumble Theatre, and STIR.