Nightwood Theatre is proud to be a partnering organization of Rising Tides, and our Managing Director, Naz Afsahi-LeBlanc, is a member of its Steering Committee.
Rising Tides is a paid, multi-faceted skill development and mentorship platform designed for IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) performing arts administrators and managers. The initiative intends to fill a gap in the Canadian performing arts sector around the training and mentorship of developing and mid-career IBPOC administrators and managers by providing a program specific to the needs of this underserved community.
Rising Tides was initially launched as a pilot program in 2023, led by PACT, Native Earth Performing Arts, Obsidian Theatre Company, Urban Ink, Green Thumb Theatre, Pacific Theatre, and Nightwood Theatre.
Through one-on-one pairings, five pairs of mentees and mentors will engage with each other through monthly meetings that focus on skill development in theatre administration tailored to each participant’s expressed learning goals. These goals include topics on alternative leadership and programming models, budgeting, governance, contracting, strategic planning, audience development, and marketing. In addition to meeting regularly throughout the year, mentees will also participate in four plenary sessions between September 2025 and April 2026. Finally, in April 2026, the cohort will meet in-person at PACTcon 2026 for fellowship and additional programming.
2025-2026 Steering Committee Members
- Kira Allen, Executive Director at b current Peforming Arts
- Naz Afsahi-LeBlanc, Managing Director at Nightwood Theatre
- Breanne Harmon, Executive Director at Persephone Theatre
- Himanshu Sitlani, Managing Director at Native Earth Performing Arts
- Isaac Thomas, Executive Director at the Belfry Theatre
- Melissa Tsang, most recently Managing Director at Urban Ink