Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE)

Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) is a non-profit theatre company located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. In addition to producing seasons of contemporary theatre, PTE plays a funding and capacity-building role in the arts ecosystem by offering financial awards, structured artist development programs, and in-kind support such as mentorship, rehearsal space and professional connections. Its work primarily benefits Manitoba-based theatre artists, emerging arts managers, and smaller performing arts organizations.

A key direct funding initiative is the Cherry Karpyshin Arts Management Prize. This annual prize is awarded to a Manitoban, early-career or aspiring arts manager. The recipient receives recognition from PTE’s leadership and a cash award of $2,500 to advance their career in arts management, along with a requirement to report on the impact of the support one year later. The prize is supported in part by private sector partners and honours the legacy of PTE’s former General Manager, Cherry Karpyshin.

Beyond this prize, PTE runs several artist support programs that, while not always described in strictly monetary terms, function as substantial forms of artistic support. The PTE/MAP Playwrights Unit, delivered in partnership with the Manitoba Association of Playwrights, brings together a cohort of playwrights for a two-year period. Participants receive dramaturgy, mentorship, workshops, readings, peer support and community-building, plus access to PTE’s resources, including invitations to performances and guidance from production and administrative staff.

PTE also hosts artist residencies, such as a Playwright in Residence, an IBPOC Company in Residence, and formal directing mentorships. These residencies provide space, institutional affiliation and ongoing artistic dialogue to individual artists and ad hoc groups working within Winnipeg’s performing arts community. Education-focused initiatives, like the partnership with RISE Musical Theatre Company, create free intensive training opportunities for underserved and IBPOC communities, expanding access to high-quality instruction and networks.

PTE’s programs target a wide spectrum of arts workers: playwrights, directors, actors, designers, early-career arts managers and community-based theatre makers. The organization explicitly prioritizes inclusivity and support for under-represented communities, including IBPOC artists and participants, and maintains open communication channels for local artists to connect with the Artistic Director and staff.

Through its combination of ticketed programming, donor-supported funds, endowment contributions and the PTE Foundation Trust, Prairie Theatre Exchange channels financial and non-financial resources back into the theatre community. By pairing a cash prize in arts management with residencies, units and professional development opportunities, PTE helps cultivate new work, strengthen local organizations and build long-term leadership capacity in Manitoba’s cultural sector.

Prairie Theatre Exchange traces its origins to 1972 and has evolved from a producing theatre into a multi-faceted hub for artistic creation and sector development. While continuing to offer mainstage seasons for audiences, it has steadily expanded its role as a supporter of artists and smaller companies, reflecting its vision to be vital, relevant and responsive to the community it serves.