ALERT Junior Producer 2026 Application Form

Office Use Only: Application Status

HFTco invites early-career individuals interested in creating and/or presenting theatre and live events in the Hamilton region to apply for the 2025-2026 ALERT Junior Producer program.

WHAT IS ALERT?

ALERT is a customized training opportunity for emerging producers ("Junior Producer") and companies/collectives with one or more works-in-development ("Resident Company"). The program culminates in a public presentation at the 2026 Hamilton Fringe Festival (July 15-26, 2026).

The ALERT Junior Producer program will consist of three terms:

Foundations (Nov 2025-Jan 2026)
Integration (Feb-April 2026)
Production (May-July 2026)

The first term will give the Junior Producers a chance to learn or refresh theatre-specific producing skills (budgeting, marketing, fundraising, etc). In the second term (Integration), the Junior Producers and the Resident Company participate in customized mentor-led workshops and in-depth conversations with theatre professionals, with topics and themes that fulfil a need specifically identified by the Resident Company. Production, the third term, gives Junior Producers a hands-on role as part of the producing team for the ALERT Resident Company’s public presentation at the 2026 Hamilton Fringe Festival (July 15-26, 2026).

Junior Producers get free entry to all HFTco programming and events in the 2025-2026 season, access to HFTco staff and resources, and will be directly supported by the ALERT Coordinator. Junior Producers receive an honorarium of $800 upon completion of the program. Meeting and training sessions will be held bi-weekly on Friday mornings in the Foundations term. Meeting times in the Integration and Production terms will be scheduled in consultation with the Resident Company.

WHO SHOULD APPLY TO BE A JUNIOR PRODUCER?

If you are, or are interested in:

creating or producing original work (including your own work),
gaining the skillset to be hired as an indie theatre/live arts producer in the future,
curious about live event production and project management,
an emerging arts administrator or aspiring arts manager,
craving connection and community with Hamilton’s artists and arts and culture leaders,
and/or an artist looking to learn about the other side of the audition table.

Applicants should:

Be over 18 years of age
Define yourself as “emerging”, “early stage”, or “new in craft” in that you will clearly benefit from participation in the ALERT program
Be based in the Greater Hamilton Area (ie. less than 40km beyond Hamilton)

APPLICATION METHODS

Please answer all questions below, either in written format or with an audio recording. Applications can also be completed via video submission by uploading via WeTransfer to alert@HFTco.ca.

Please contact Managing Director Franny McCabe-Bennett (franny@HFTco.ca, 289-698-2234) with any questions about the program or the application process.

Submission deadline: November 1st 2025 @ 11:59PM

The ALERT program is supported by the incite foundation for the arts and the Hamilton Community Foundation.

Full Name*

First NameLast Name

Current Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry

Email Address*

Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number

Any other way(s) you'd like to be contacted?

Please outline your reasons for applying to the 2026 program, and what you hope to gain from joining ALERT:

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Please outline your reasons for applying to the 2026 program, and what you hope to gain from joining ALERT:

Please share your most impactful experience of participating in or witnessing a live event (it could be a school play, walking past children playing and singing in a park, a concert, an art exhibit, etc).

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Please share your most impactful experience of participating in or witnessing a live event (it could be a school play, walking past children playing and singing in a park, a concert, an art exhibit, etc)

Please share any thoughts about what you want to see in the arts community in Hamilton now, and in the future.*

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Please share any thoughts about what you want to see in the arts community in Hamilton now, and in the future.

You are invited to share accessibility requests and/or clarity around how you process information.

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] You are invited to share accessibility requests and/or clarity around how you process information.

Examples of access requests/FYIs: I may need to ask you to speak slower or repeat information. Having interview questions in advance will help me prepare. I may need to abruptly excuse myself to use the washroom. I need at least a week’s notice before scheduling a meeting as I am a caregiver and need to arrange for help. I need to interview in a space that can accommodate a wheelchair. I may need to meet remotely for an interview. I need to eat during sessions. I may have to spontaneously reschedule due to a migraine.

Upload Resume or CV (max 3 pages). Note: format is not as important as content, bullet points in a word document is just fine! Feel free to highlight any work outside of the arts that you think has value as related to the program goals*

Upload a File

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Audio-described Resume or CV: clearly state your name, any relevant training, education, professional/personal/volunteer experience (max 3 minutes). Feel free to highlight any work outside of the arts that you think has value as related to the program goals.

Interviews for this position and the first workshop session are scheduled for the end of November 2025. Please let us know if you have any known conflicts during the last two weeks of November:

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Interviews for this position and the first workshop session are scheduled for the end of November 2025. Please let us know if you have any known conflicts during the last two weeks of November:

Scheduling Note: The ALERT program members will meet roughly every two weeks. It is important to be present at these meetings. Note: some sessions will be held remotely/online, some sessions will be in-person rehearsals and events, particularly in June and July.

Are you available to meet every other Friday morning in the months of November, December, and January (Foundations term)?*

YesNo

If not, what day(s) of the week & time(s) of day are you consistently available to meet (Foundations term)?*

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] If not, what day(s) of the week & time(s) of day are you consistently available to meet (Foundations term)?

Please let us know if you have any known conflicts (day and evening) between February 1 and July 31, 2026 (Integration and Production terms):

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Please let us know if you have any known conflicts (day and evening) between February 1 and July 31, 2026 (Integration and Production terms):

Is there anything else you want to share or think it would be helpful for us to know?

[AUDIO SUBMISSION] Is there anything else you want to share or think it would be helpful for us to know?

Where did you hear about this application? Select all that apply.*

Do you want to join our mailing list?*

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ALERT 2026 Application Form

Applicant Contact Info

Program-Specific Questions

Scheduling Info

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