About TAEA
The past few years have been incredible for the Association. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!
To continue providing the best programs for teachers and students, we have spent months redefining who we are and what we do.
We have also worked hard on how we can serve the arts community even better.
This new and exciting identity, the THEATRICAL ARTS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, is a reflection of the ambition we see across our community.
Our Mission:
Advancing drama and theatrical arts education for teachers and students
Our Vision:
Serving Teachers and helping Students wishing to pursue their journey in the arts
Serving:
TEACHERS
By supporting teachers and providing resources, professional development and networking opportunities.
STUDENTS
By providing every Canadians middle and high school student with access to the theatrical arts, taught by qualified educators
THE ARTS COMMUNITY
By creating pathways for Canadian students to take the next steps on their journey in the arts
Values:
OPPORTUNITY
Be considerate, collaborative, confident and
creative
INCLUSIVITY
Every youth is provided with the opportunity to
experiece the arts
EXCELLENCE
Work hard, take risks, have fun and embrace
positive change
Our Story
Meeting Educational Needs
In 2019, seven British Columbia drama teachers, having come to the conclusion that theatre education was shaping the lives of their students, noted that there was no national non-profit organization in Canada dedicated to educational drama and theatrical arts for middle and high school students.
That year, they formed a volunteer working committee to study the issue and launched the first theatre festival, which brought together about 200 students and drama teachers from across the province. The group also launched a series of teacher conferences where educational needs were expressed.
Inspired by the work accomplished by other theatre festivals and all the stakeholders in the field, motivated by the needs of post-secondary institutions and the professional sector, the Theatrical Arts Education Association of Canada (TAEA) was born. Its purpose is to advance theatre education by honouring students’ achievements in the arts and enriching their theatre education experience; to support teachers by providing professional development, networking opportunities and resources.
Responding in Times of Crisis
In 2020, under the backdrop of the pandemic, the TAEA responded in a time of crisis to bring isolated young Canadians together. Having drama students and teachers from across Canada coming together was well received and much appreciated.
The initial group of 7 teachers grew to a group of 24 volunteers from British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Québec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Alberta that formed the Association’s Board of Directors.
The Association also launched the first national virtual festival with 100 participants. Furthermore, in response to student demand, the Association introduced an audition portal for vocational and post-secondary schools and a career portal for students to get their self-tapes looked at by professional acting agencies.
At the same time, teacher programs expanded to include in-person conferences in Vancouver and Montreal, attended by over 160 teachers.
A National Association Serving Teachers, Students and the Arts Community
Today, the Association has 20 Regional Theatre Festivals operating in 9 different provinces across the country with an online event for those schools that do not have a regional close to home. These regional events in November, December and January link to the Canadian National Theatre Festival – West in Metro Vancouver B.C. in April and the new Canadian National Theatre Festival – East in Ottawa, Ontario in May 2024.
The 4th annual Canadian National Drama Teachers Conference presented in October 2023 simultaneously in Vancouver BC, Toronto ONT, Calgary ALB, Montreal QC, Victoria BC, Kamloops BC, Corner Brook NL, Rothesay NB and on live zoom, hit record attendance numbers. Over 200 participants from across Canada gathered to network and learn the latest tools and techniques to bring to their students.