CEAD - Centre des auteurs dramatiques

What CEAD - Centre des auteurs dramatiques does

CEAD (Centre des auteurs dramatiques) is a Quebec-based non-profit organization founded in 1965 that serves as the central representative body for French-language dramatic authors (playwrights) in Quebec and Canada. Operating from Montréal with a staff of 10, CEAD maintains a searchable Répertoire of authors, dramatic texts, and translations, runs a Centre de documentation that sells published works (priced C$11.95–17.95 per text with a 10% subscriber discount), and administers copyright and royalty management for member playwrights. The organization is funded through institutional arts grants (notably the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Conseil des arts du Canada), its affiliated Fondation du CEAD and the Michel Marc Bouchard Fund, member subscriptions, modest per-unit book sales, and individual donations collected via the Zeffy platform.

CEAD's product and program surface spans six interlocking areas: (1) the Répertoire — a searchable catalog of member works; (2) the Centre de documentation — a sales and reference library; (3) dramaturgical development activities, including script work, readings, and artistic accompaniment; (4) dissemination programs including Première Lecture (public reading series), Divans-lits (nomadic readings), La Salle des machines (experimental works, 2021–2022), and SureFire (new texts, 2024–2025); (5) awards and prizes including the Prix Gratien-Gélinas and Prix Michel-Tremblay; and (6) international promotion through the Focus Québec Avignon delegation program (with a 2026 edition). The affiliated Fondation du CEAD administers the Michel Marc Bouchard Fund and the Fond Gratien Gélinas, providing financial support for member playwrights.

The business model is a hybrid arts-sector non-profit. Revenue derives from public arts funding, private foundation grants, member subscriptions, and book sales; there is no venture, equity, or commercial capital structure. Customer segments include dramatic authors (primary members), theatrical companies and publishers (who license and produce works — including Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe, Théâtre français du CNA, and Baraka Théâtre), and the general public and educators who purchase texts and attend events. Geographic scope is primarily Quebec and Canada, with selective international outreach through Focus Québec Avignon and translation listings.

Name

CEAD - Centre des auteurs dramatiques

Legal name

Centre des auteurs dramatiques

Website

https://cead.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CEAD is a Montréal-based non-profit founded in 1965 that represents and supports French-language dramatic authors in Quebec, maintaining a searchable repertoire of plays, a documentation center, dramaturgical development, awards (Prix Gratien-Gélinas), and international promotion via the Focus Québec Avignon delegation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CEAD represents and supports dramatic authors (playwrights) in Quebec and French-language Canada. Its core offering is a centralized repertoire of dramatic texts along with member services including dramaturgical development, text deposit, copyright/rights management, and professional representation. It also operates a documentation centre that sells published texts, runs reading and dissemination programs, and administers prestigious theatre awards.

Product overview

CEAD (Centre des auteurs dramatiques) is a Quebec-based organization supporting French-language playwrights. The core offering is a comprehensive repository/database of dramatic texts by member authors, accessible through a searchable catalog of authors, texts, and translations. Supporting services include a documentation center/library for purchasing published works, dramaturgic development activities, and dissemination programs including reading series (Premiere Lecture, Divans-lits), the SureFire program for new texts, La Salle des machines for experimental works, and the Focus Québec Avignon delegation program. The organization also administers prestigious theatrical awards including the Prix Gratien-Gélinas and Prix Michel-Tremblay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Répertoire (Playwright Repository)
• Centre de documentation (Documentation Centre)
• Activités dramaturgiques
• Activités de diffusion
• Focus Québec Avignon
• Prix et concours (Awards and Competitions)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Théâtre Denise-PelletierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProductions Menuentakuan collaborated with Théâtre Denise-Pelletier to create the production of Muliats by Marco Collin and Natasha Kanapé Fontaine, performed at the Fred-Barry hall in February 2016.
• Théâtre Jean-DuceppeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe play Enfant insignifiant! by Michel Tremblay premiered at Théâtre Jean-Duceppe on December 13, 2017.
• École nationale de théâtre du CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDominick Parenteau-Lebeuf teaches in the dramatic writing program at the École nationale de théâtre du Canada since 2007. Her plays Poème pour une nuit d'anniversaire and Le bal des vingt-cinq chandelles were created at the École nationale de théâtre.
• Théâtre du Nouvel-OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the collective text Univers with Théâtre l'Escaouette and Théâtre français du Centre national des Arts in Moncton in 2001.
• Théâtre l'EscaouetteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the collective text Univers with Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre français du Centre national des Arts in Moncton in 2001.
• Théâtre français du Centre national des Arts (Ottawa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmma Haché was an associated author at Théâtre français du Centre National des Arts from 2008 to 2012. Also co-producer of the collective text Univers and of Portrait chinois d'une imposteure with Théâtre français de Toronto.
• Théâtre français de TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Dominick Parenteau-Lebeuf's Portrait chinois d'une imposteure with Théâtre français du Centre national des Arts, February 2004. Dominick Parenteau-Lebeuf was the first author invited in residence.
• Baraka ThéâtreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaraka Théâtre produced multiple works by Dominick Parenteau-Lebeuf, including Poème pour une nuit d'anniversaire (1999), Filles de guerres lasses (2005), and Dévoilement devant notaire (2002).

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SACD (Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques): The French national collective management organization for dramatic authors, composers, and publishers — operates as a much larger and more internationally powerful counterpart to CEAD, managing rights, royalties, and author representation in France and beyond. Directly comparable in mission and service mix (rights management, author services, repertoire), but at a far larger scale and broader geographic remit.

Emerging players

• UNIMA-Québec: Quebec chapter of the international puppet theatre association, supporting creators in a related live-performance discipline. Comparable as a Quebec performing-arts authors/creators collective, but with a narrower scope (puppetry) and overlapping ecosystem with CEAD's playwright membership.
• Playwrights' Workshop Centre: Canadian playwright development organization providing dramaturgical support and new-play development services. Comparable to CEAD's dramaturgical development activities for member playwrights, but with a Western Canada / English-language focus rather than Quebec francophone.

Direct peers

• Playwrights Canada Press: Canadian publisher specializing in dramatic texts by Canadian playwrights — the most direct English-language Canadian counterpart to CEAD's documentation center and repertoire, publishing and selling play scripts nationally. Same core activity of theatrical-text publishing for a national market, but English-language focus.
• Dramatists Guild of America: National professional association representing playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in the United States. Closely comparable in mandate: collective representation of dramatic authors, advocacy, contract support, and resources for theatrical writers — the most direct English-language analogue to CEAD's role.
• Éditions Leméac: Long-established Montreal publisher with a significant catalogue of Quebec dramatic literature and theatrical texts. Directly comparable as a Quebec-based publisher of French-language plays and dramatic writing, operating commercially rather than as an authors' collective.
• SARTEC (Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma): Quebec-based professional association representing French-language screenwriters and authors for radio, television, and cinema. Highly comparable structurally: a Quebec authors' collective with rights management, member services, and advocacy mandate, but focused on audiovisual rather than stage dramatic writing.
• Centre des auteurs jeunesse (CAJ): Quebec collective representing authors of youth and children's literature, including dramatic texts for young audiences. Closely mirrors CEAD's structure (collective representation, repertoire, member services, awards) but focused on youth literature rather than stage drama; some member overlap with CEAD's youth-dramatic-writing activities (e.g., Prix Louise-Lahaye).
• Editions Théâtrales: French publisher specializing in theatrical texts and dramatic literature for the French-language market. Directly comparable to CEAD's publishing and distribution activity for stage plays, though operating as a commercial publisher rather than an authors' collective.

Regional players

• La Maison du théâtre: Montreal-based theatre resource and archival center documenting Quebec theatrical heritage. Adjacent rather than competing: comparable cultural mandate around Quebec theatre but focused on archiving, documentation, and public access rather than active author representation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LeCEAD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CommunicationsCEAD
• Facebookfacebook.com/178312752996
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cead---centre-des-auteurs-dramatiques

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CEAD - Centre des auteurs dramatiques