Critical Futures: A Training Program for Emerging BIPOC Theatre Reviewers

Photo Credit: Sewari Campillo

Critical Futures: A Training Program for Emerging BIPOC Theatre Reviewers

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 Club, Electric Company Theatre, GVPTA, Rumble Theatre, and STIR.

Join us at GVPTA’s Making A Scene Conference!

June 19, 2023 – 11:30am-1:00pm (Register for this session)
Session 1: Facilitating Community Discussion Through Art: Neworld’s Critical Futures
This interactive session will include a presentation on Neworld Theatre’s Critical Futures program – a training program for emerging BIPOC theatre reviewers – followed by a conversation with attendees about the role, impact, and contributions reviewers have for their or their company’s arts practice.

Details:

Creative Team

Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li
Stephen Drover
Shanae Sodhi
Reham Cojuangco
Lindsay Lachance
Jiv Parasram
White Woman Smiling with Blonde Hair and she's resting her hand on her face
Janet Smith
Carmen Aguirre
Ashley Lee
Angie Rico
Angelica Schwartz
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