The Kathleen Flaherty Prize

ORGANIZATION: Playwrights Theatre Centre
DEADLINE: Jul. 7, 2026
WEBSITE: https://www.playwrightstheatre.com/programs/kathleen-flaherty-prize/

CALL FOR ARTISTS:
The Kathleen Flaherty Prize is a reimagined artist development program designed to elevate bold new voices in live performance. Open to emerging* artists across British Columbia working in any genre. From theatre and clowning to drag, burlesque, music, and more, this program supports the creation of original work and champions innovation, inclusion, and artistic growth.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must include:

— A show/script idea, outline, fragment, or draft. Fully completed shows are unlikely to be successful, as this is a program for 13 months of development.
— A letter of intent telling us what you plan to do with your idea.
— The resume(s) of the artist(s) involved in the creation.
— A production plan including deadlines for important decisions and processes, such as when and how all the major resources have to be in place (personnel, money, design, promotion, etc.). You are producing your own work, and the Fringe model requires proficiency in independent producing.

Application eligibility:

— Production run time for shows/plays/performances must be under 70 minutes.
— Must have a dedicated producer-collaborator.
— Performance format must follow Fringe’s production guidelines.***
— Artists or production teams must have at least 1 – 2 credits in producing (not limited to performance productions and can include arts and culture events, workshop series, arts festivals, community projects, etc.).
— Artists can apply if they are temporarily in another North American timezone during the 13-month period. However, artists or artistic leads MUST be in Metro Vancouver for the production phase of their project (mid-July to mid-September 2027).
— Artists are responsible for the costs of their travel and accommodation during the agreed-upon workshop and production phases.
***Fringe guidelines require shows to have setup and resets taking no more than 15 minutes, tech that can be achieved within 2 – 3 hours, and limited set and props requirements.

A current PTC membership is required to apply for the Kathleen Flaherty Prize. Not yet a member? Join on our website today!!

FEES/COMPENSATION:
What the Kathleen Flaherty Prize offers:

— 13 months of dramaturgy with PTC Dramaturg, Davey Samuel Calderon.
— Minimum 3 weeks of free rehearsal space to bring your vision to life.
— Production mentorship for the dedicated producer-collaborator or producing teams (including grant writing workshop, production plan development, and fundraising support).
— Artist passes for the 2026 Fringe Festival.
— A free and guaranteed space at a 2027 Vancouver Fringe Festival mainstage venue.
— All told, the KFP is a juicy package valued at $16,000: ($45 Fringe application fee, $850 Fringe participation fee + $2,500 Fringe venue costs + $2,230 in studio space + $4,500 of dramaturgy + $3200 of production mentorship + $2,675 script copying + promotion + fundraising support).

(Above costs are in-kind support and resources, not a cash prize. All production costs not listed above are the responsibility of the prize winner.)