Association for Opera in Canada (AOC) has been awarded $434,000 in training funds from the Ministry of Canadian Heritage of the Government of Canada, through the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF). This funding will create two streams of high-impact, short-term programming in support of skills development for artists, called the Opera Artist Resilience (OAR) Program.

“Since the start of the pandemic, AOC has expanded its reach to serve the needs of opera artists, those most disproportionately affected by cancellations and lockdowns. We are thrilled to launch The Opera Artist Resilience Program, the newest support program for artists, joining other new programs, the Opera Artist Relief Fund, Dues Relief for Artist Members, The RBC Fellowship/Mentorship Program, and the Azrieli Foundation–supported AOC Centering Artists Program, all introduced since March 2020 in response to the pandemic” stated Christina Loewen, Executive Director, Association for Opera in Canada.

OAR will support artists across two streams of paid skills development:

1. 225 Mini-mentorships – These are short opportunities to gain skills and insights with an individual over the course of one or two meetings.

2. 100 Earn and Learn Placements – Embedded within an organization or project, these paid opportunities help artists improve or develop additional employable skills.

The OAR Program will be available to any opera artist working in opera regardless of their membership status with AOC. Each component offers a participation honorarium scaled to the length of the opportunity.  The program will be carried out from now until mid-March 2023.

To support the scope of this project, AOC is delighted to partner with six organizations that have committed to providing just under half the opportunities. These partners span Canada and include Pacific Opera Victoria (BC), re:Naissance Opera (BC), Manitoba Opera (MB), Opéra de Montréal (QC), Boulev’Art Artists’ Management (QC), and Opera on the Avalon (NL).

To learn more click here.

Opera Artists, to register for mentorship and placement opportunities, click here.
For more information: oar@opera.ca

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.