Design in Action: ADC National Assistant Design Program

Professional Development

Assistant Design Program is open for applications for 2027

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Program Description

Design in Action: ADC’s National Assistant Designer Program is a program that supports Full ADC659 Designers in hiring emerging or early-career designers as assistants on professional live performance productions

  • Full ADC659 Designers across the country are encouraged to apply to hire an Assistant Designer.
  • This program provides assistants with $27.50/hour up to a maximum of $3300 or 120 hours per Assistantship.
  • ADC welcomes and encourages all to apply including those who identify as Indigenous, black, person of colour, 2SLGBTQIAP, deaf, persons with disabilities, women, or intersections of any of the above. 

Applicant Eligibility

  • Applications must have a demonstrated commitment to a career in theatre.
  •  The assistant is not currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary program or institution.
  • The assistantship is not currently being funded by another grant and/or program.
  • The designer must apply with an assistant identified. 
  • Assistant must be eligible to work in Canada.
  • Each applicant pair may apply to either the Mentorship Program or the Assistant Design Program, but not both. Applicant may submit only one application per program. Multiple applications will not be accepted, and only the first submission will be considered.
  • If you have any questions or require accommodations to apply and/or would like to submit your materials in an alternative format, please contact denyse@designers.ca and we will be able to support you through email, phone or video call. 

Dates to Remember

  • Applications open: October 11th, 2026
  • Applications close: December 6th, 2026
  • Successful applicants announced by: December 31th, 2026
  • Training must be completed between January 1, 2027 to August 31, 2027

To Apply:

Below is a list of the questions you will need to answer in the application form:

  • Name, email address, mailing address, phone number, website of Designer 
  • Name, email address, mailing address, phone number of Assistant
  • Is the assistant an ADC member?
  • Does your assistant self-identify with any of the following groups? Indigenous, Black, designers of Colour, 2SLGBTQIAP, and Deaf, Mad, and Designers with Disability.
  • If you answered yes to the above, please describe how they self-identify.
  • Why do you need an assistant for this time period?
  • Please provide a brief description/breakdown of how you will use the assistant design hours?
  • Hours needed for Assistant (Max. 120). Please note that you may not receive all the hours that you ask for.
  • Dates of Assistantship
  • Show/s to be worked on? (Please include the title of the show, the theatre company, and the opening night date.)
  • Show/s webpage if available.
  • Resume of Designer 
  • Resume of Assistant

    Résumés should be a pdf that does not exceed one page in length (Max 10MB). 

    Submit a complete application here, with all documents by 11:59pm (Pacific Time), July 15th, 2026. If you have any questions please contact denyse@designers.ca.

    Evaluation Process:

    • The applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. All applicants will be contacted by email with results regardless of success.

    The successful candidate and assistant will agree to the following: 

    • Successful applicants will be required to submit a final report. Final payment is contingent on receipt of the final reports, which is due one week after the end of the work period. Parts of the final report may be used in publicity material.
    • Funding Acknowledgement, all programs and promotions that include the mentee’s name must acknowledge the following: “The services of [Assistants name] were made possible through Design in Action: Associated Designers of Canada’s National Assistant Design Program”