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, Artists, and the Arts Community

As Canada’s emerging National Arts Service Organization (NASO) for theatre, the Theatrical Arts Education Association (TAEA) strengthens the ecosystem by serving teachers, students, artists, and the wider arts community.

Today, TAEA supports 30 Regional Theatre Festivals operating across 10 provinces, with an online festival option for schools in regions without a local hub. These festivals, held each November through February, connect directly to the Canadian National STAR Fest – West happening in five different locations across Canada each year in May.

In October 2024, the 5th annual TAEA National Conference reached record attendance. Presented simultaneously in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Victoria, Saskatoon, Ottawa, St John’s, Rothesay, and online via live Zoom, the event drew over 300 artists and teachers participants from across the country. Teachers, artists, and sector leaders coming together to network, learn, and share the latest tools, techniques, and resources—advancing not only theatre education but the professional theatre sector in Canada as a whole!