Alberta Playwrights' Network

What Alberta Playwrights' Network does

Alberta Playwrights' Network (APN) is a Calgary-based nonprofit society and registered Canadian charity (CRA #13087 4829 RT001) founded in September 1985 by Stephen Heatley, Conni Massing, Lyle Victor Albert, and Raymond Storey with funding from Alberta Culture. It supports Alberta-based playwrights at all career stages through a portfolio of dramaturgy services, workshops, mentorship, monthly readings, and competitions. The organization operates with three staff members (Executive Director Louise Casemore, Managing Director Jenn Taylor, and Communications Associate Ellen Kartz) and is governed by a board of directors, with no parent company, external investors, or subsidiaries.

APN's core offerings include one-on-one dramaturgy (ACT ONE at $100), workshop sessions with professional actors (WORDSHED at $175), the Emerging Playwright Mentorship Program ($300), and educational Learning Sessions ($125). Its flagship event is the annual Alberta Playwriting Competition, now in its 61st consecutive year and co-presented with Theatre Alberta, awarding the Sharon Pollock Award ($5,000 cash prize) for the most outstanding un-produced Alberta play. Additional programming includes Script Salon (monthly readings in Edmonton since 2014, with over 58% of read plays going on to full production), the 1000 Monkeys Project (sending five 10-minute plays to Calgary Fringe), EdmonTEN (five plays showcased at Workshop West's Springboards Festival), and YOUthRiot (a free program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth aged 14-21).

The business model combines individual membership fees ($65 Individual, $35 Student/Senior, $75 Organizational), per-service fees, competition entry fees ($52.50 online), publication sales ($19.95 for "Scripting A Province & Theatre 100"), and donations channeled through ATB Cares with a 15% corporate match. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: members join online via a Squarespace storefront or by e-transfer, and APN reaches audiences through its website, weekly e-newsletter, social media, in-person events (Script Salon, workshops, festivals), and partnerships with Theatre Alberta, Playwrights Guild of Canada, Calgary Fringe Festival, Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre, Third Street Theatre, The Chinook Fund, and Canada Council for the Arts. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and there are no funding rounds recorded.

Name

Alberta Playwrights' Network

Legal name

Alberta Playwrights' Network Society

Website

https://albertaplaywrights.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alberta Playwrights' Network (APN) is a Calgary-based nonprofit society and registered charity that supports Alberta playwrights through dramaturgy services, workshops, mentorship, competitions, and monthly readings, serving 500+ members across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Development Services / Playwriting Support

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Playwriting & Scriptwriting Workshops (Stage) (EDAMAMAD), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Playwright development services
• Dramaturgy and script workshops
• Playwriting competition
• Arts mentorship programs
• Theatre community support

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide access to all APN programs and services including ACT ONE dramaturgy, WORDSHED workshops, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities. Three tiers are offered: Individual ($65), Student/Senior ($35), and Organizational ($75).
2. Alberta Playwriting Competition Entry Fees: The annual competition charges a $52.50 entry fee for online submissions ($50 processing fee plus $2.50 service charge). The competition awards the Sharon Pollock Award ($5,000 cash prize) for the most outstanding un-produced Alberta play.
3. Programming and Workshop Fees: Paid services include ACT ONE one-on-one dramaturgy ($100), WORDSHED workshop sessions ($175), Learning Sessions ($125), and the Emerging Playwright Mentorship Program ($300).
4. Publications Sales: Sale of Scripting A Province & Theatre 100 book ($19.95) documenting 25 years of APN history and 100 theatre pioneers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alberta Playwrights' Network is a nonprofit arts service organization that supports Alberta-based playwrights through membership-based development programs, including one-on-one dramaturgy (ACT ONE), workshop sessions with professional actors (WORDSHED), an annual provincial playwriting competition, mentorship programs, and community events like Script Salon readings and the YOUthRiot program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

Product overview

Alberta Playwrights' Network (APN) is a membership-based arts organization providing services and programs for playwrights and theatre creators in Alberta. The core offerings include dramaturgical services (ACT ONE one-on-one dramaturgy and WORDSHED workshops), the annual Alberta Playwriting Competition (featuring The Sharon Pollock Award of $5,000), the Emerging Playwright Mentorship Program, EdmonTEN and 1000 Monkeys Project for 10-minute play development, and Script Salon monthly readings with podcast distribution. Additional programs include YOUthRiot for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and resources including Surveying The Landscape research and the Scripting A Province & Theatre 100 publication. Membership tiers (Individual at $65, Student/Senior at $35, Organizational at $75) provide access to all programs and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACT ONE: One-on-one dramaturgy service where playwrights receive feedback and analysis from professional dramaturgs
• WORDSHED
• Script Salon
• YOUth Riot
• 1000 Monkeys Project
• EdmonTEN
• Alberta Playwriting Competition
• APN Emerging Playwright Mentorship Program

Products and services

• Individual Membership One-year membership providing individual Alberta playwrights access to all APN programming and services including ACT ONE, WORDSHED, training workshops, artist advocacy, networking, and voting privileges at the AGM. Priced at $65 annually.
• Student/Senior Membership Reduced-price one-year membership ($35 annually) granting students and seniors the same access as Individual Members to all APN programs and services.
• Organizational Membership One-year membership ($75 annually) for theatre organizations and companies, providing the same programmatic access as Individual Membership.
• ACT ONE One-on-one dramaturgy service where playwrights submit a completed draft script and receive feedback, support, and analysis from a professional dramaturg along with a personalized development strategy. Priced at $100.
• WORDSHED Play development workshop program where members submit plays that are read by an APN dramaturg, followed by a 3 to 3.5-hour session with up to 4 professional actors hearing the work aloud under professional direction. Priced at $175.
• Prologue (Learning Sessions) Educational learning sessions for playwright development at $125 per session.
• Alberta Playwriting Competition (APC) Annual competition now in its 61st consecutive year recognizing the most outstanding un-produced Alberta play with The Sharon Pollock Award ($5,000 cash prize) and Novitiate Prize for emerging playwrights. Co-presented with Theatre Alberta. Entry fee: $52.50 online.
• APN/Hit&Myth Emerging Playwright Mentorship Program Mentorship program pairing emerging playwrights with professional playwright mentors. Runs from March to August with a minimum of 8 individual mentor meetings, two group meetings, and a public presentation. Program fee: $300.
• 1000 Monkeys Project Open competition for Calgary and area playwrights to submit new 10-minute plays. 5 plays are selected annually for public staged readings at Calgary Fringe on August 3rd, with selected playwrights paid $150.
• EdmonTEN Annual showcase of 10-minute plays from Edmonton writers. 5 plays are selected for professional rehearsal and public reading at Workshop West's Springboards Festival, with each playwright receiving $250.
• Script Salon Monthly play reading series in Edmonton on the second Sunday of each month at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, featuring new plays by Alberta playwrights read by professional actors. Over 58% of plays have gone on to full productions.
• Script Salon Podcasts Podcast recordings of selected Script Salon public readings, including works by Carolyn Ziegler, Katherine Koller, and Conni Massing.
• YOUthRiot Free creative writing program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth aged 14-21. Running for eleven years, participants meet bi-weekly over four months (November to February) via Zoom with guest artists, culminating in a showcase presented by professional actors and directors.
• Surveying The Landscape Comprehensive research report on the new play ecology in Canada, created after two years of research and peer review. Includes a full report, executive summary, and a database of producers, festivals, and organizations devoted to new Canadian play development.
• Scripting A Province & Theatre 100 Book documenting 25 years of APN history compiled by Trevor Rueger, along with Theatre 100 honoring 100 pioneers who shaped Alberta's theatrical landscape. Price: $19.95.
• Arts Advocacy APN provides letters of support for members and answers questions related to arts advocacy including grant opportunities, mentorship, competitions, and festivals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 58% of plays read at Script Salon go on to full productions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and historical.

• Theatre AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-presents the annual Alberta Playwriting Competition with APN. The competition winner is announced at the Alberta Literary Awards Gala presented by Writers' Guild of Alberta. APN also offers joint membership opportunities with Theatre Alberta.
• Calgary Fringe FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026APN's 1000 Monkeys Project sends 5 selected 10-minute plays to Calgary Fringe for public staged readings on August 3rd annually. Selected playwrights receive $150 for their work.
• Workshop West Playwrights' TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EdmonTEN showcase winners receive professional rehearsal and public reading as part of Workshop West's Springboards Festival. The organizations co-present readings and programming.
• ATB FinancialminorOthers · 1 January 2026ATB Cares platform allows donations to APN. ATB Financial matches donations by 15%. APN is a registered CRA charity (#130874829RT001).
• Third Street TheatrehistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016YOUthRiot was originally conceived and presented with Third Street Theatre in 2015. APN partnered with Third Street for the second presentation in 2016, then took over full production and administration in 2017.
• Playwrights Guild of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Sponsored and supported Script Salon monthly play readings in Edmonton since 2014. Playwrights Guild of Canada also facilitates the Canadian Play Outlet for published plays.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Manitoba Association of Playwrights: Manitoba's playwright service association providing development, advocacy, and networking for prairie-region writers. Directly comparable in mission and scale to APN as a provincial playwright support body.
• Playwrights' Workshop Montreal: Montreal-based playwright development organization offering dramaturgy, translation, and workshop programs. Directly comparable as a regional playwright development service org in a different Canadian market.
• Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre: Provincial playwright service organization in Saskatchewan offering script development, workshops, and competition programming. Closely comparable in scale and mission to APN, serving a smaller Canadian province.

Broad incumbents

• National Theatre School of Canada: Canada's national training institution for theatre, including playwriting programs. Comparable as a higher-tier training and education body whose Banff Centre Playwright's Lab has direct ties to APN leadership.
• Playwrights Guild of Canada: National Canadian playwright service organization that co-supports Script Salon and operates the Canadian Play Outlet. Directly comparable as a playwright advocacy, development, and resource organization operating at a broader geographic scale.
• Banff Centre Playwrights Lab: National playwriting residency program where APN's Executive Director previously served as Company Manager. Comparable as a high-end Canadian new-play development program serving a national cohort.

Direct peers

• Theatre Alberta: Provincial theatre service organization that co-presents the Alberta Playwriting Competition and offers joint membership with APN. Highly comparable as a fellow Alberta-based theatre resource/advocacy body.
• Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre: Edmonton-based play development and producing organization that co-hosts EdmonTEN and Springboards Festival. Closely comparable as an Alberta theatre company focused on new play development.
• Writers' Guild of Alberta: Provincial writers' organization that presents the Alberta Literary Awards Gala at which APN's competition winner is announced. Highly comparable as an Alberta-based literary advocacy and award body.

Others

• Playwrights Canada Press: Canadian publisher specializing in new Canadian plays, connected to APN's Canadian Play Outlet pathway. Comparable as a downstream channel for APN-developed scripts to reach publication and production markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Albertaplaywrights
• Xx.com/APNPlaywrights

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Alberta Playwrights' Network