OAC THEATRE CREATORS' RESERVE - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2012

Volcano has once again been selected as a recommender for the Ontario Arts Council's Theatre Creators' Reserve program.

Here's how it works:
- the OAC allots Volcano $8,000
- Volcano calls for submissions from theatre artists
- We review the applications and choose the recipients
- the OAC issues the recipients their cheques

Volcano usually gives out anywhere from one to six grants. Here's what we're looking for: original work that demonstrates a fresh, perhaps formally experimental or multi-disciplinary approach. We often support projects that we have an interest in for our own reasons - namely that we may want to partner with these artists somewhere down the line. We are far less likely to give money to traditional, script-driven plays - unless the project is director-driven in an interesting way.

Let me emphasize that we get a lot of proposals, and it's a ridiculous adjudication. Eight thousand dollars isn't nearly enough to allow us to support all the fantastic projects Toronto theatre and dance and multi-dis artists are dreaming up. So disappointment is likely - on both sides! But if you're still willing to put in the time, here's what we need from you:

Please send us a package by JANUARY 15, 2012.

In this package please include:
- a short letter (0.5 to 1.5 pages). Email it to me at ross@volcano.ca, and send a hard copy to the Volcano office at 251 Crawford Street. The letter should describe what you're doing, who you are, why you're doing this, why we need it, and where you are both in the process and in your career.
- the OAC forms. You can get these at http://www.arts.on.ca/Page86.aspx

That's it. You don't need to send any support material, although if you strongly feel that there are extra materials we should be considering, please check with us after we've received your letter and before you send us anything further. So it's a simple process, and hopefully not an onerous one. One to four applications will be successful (i.e. will receive a sadly small grant from us). We tend to support work we're already familiar with - but we do like to send at least some money to someone we don't know, as well.

Thank you all for your work. Seriously.

The Volcano address is :

Volcano
ATTN: Theatre Creators’ Reserve
251 Crawford St
Toronto, ON M6J 2V7

Happy writing,
Ross

 

VOLCANO'S ROSS MANSON NOMINATED FOR THE SIMINOVITCH PRIZE

The shortlist for the biggest prize in Canadian theatre was announced Monday, October 4. The Siminovitch Prize is worth $100,000, with $25,000 of that directed by the winner toward a worthy up-and-comer. The nominees along with our own Ross Manson are Vancouver director Kim Collier, Ron Jenkins from Edmonton and Alisa Palmer, Soheil Parsa and Jennifer Tarver, all of Toronto. The Siminovitch Prize in Theatre was introduced in 2001 and dedicated to renowned scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, a playwright. Sponsored by BMO Financial Group, Canada's largest annual theatre arts award recognizes direction, playwriting and design in three-year cycles. The Prize will be presented on Nov. 1 at a ceremony in Toronto.