Immigrant Apprenticeship
About the Program
This Apprenticeship Program was developed to address this need and gap in our performing arts ecosystem. A paid, professional opportunity for some of Canadian society’s most marginalized communities and artists—those hailing from the Immigrant, Newcomer, and Refugee communities—giving them a direct, hands-on bridge to develop both their job and career skill sets, as well as providing them with invaluable experience. This helps them in immeasurable ways—hireability, job security, and food security—as well as providing them with tools and a pathway to help themselves.
As any first or second-generation immigrant will tell you, immigrating is hard. Moving to a place where you have no friends, family, or in-built networks through school or professional experience is an extremely challenging endeavour in any professional industry. In the performing arts, it’s an even greater challenge; who you know and what you've done in Canada matters to an inordinate extent.
Our immigrant communities are not as generationally wealthy as other communities. We all rely greatly on the generosity of those in our community and those who want to be leaders in supporting our communities.tworking and professional experience in a Canadian context.
Current Apprentice
Honey Hoseiny
Honey Hoseiny, a passionate 34-year-old artist from Iran, has brought his creative journey to Toronto. With a background in puppetry, theatre, and interdisciplinary art, he's eager to connect with fellow artists and contribute to the city's vibrant creative scene. Holding degrees in Puppet Theater and Dramatic Literature, Honey has a history of captivating audiences through acting, puppetry, and multimedia directing.
As a co-founder and Executive Director of Simiya Group, he's no stranger to innovative endeavours. Simiya Group is a platform where art and technology converge, showcasing Honey's dedication to pushing creative boundaries. His interactive works, which artfully blend visual arts and technology, exemplify his commitment to exploring new artistic dimensions. A skilled project manager, Honey ensures projects reach their full potential through meticulous attention to detail. As Honey Hoseiny weaves his narrative into Toronto's artistic fabric, expect fresh perspectives, exciting collaborations, and a continued commitment to expanding the horizons of artistic expression.
past Apprentice
Mahsa Ershadifar
Mahsa is a multilingual performer, assistant director, stage manager and translator. She has been a past apprentice at Modern Times Stage Company. Mahsa’s passion for the arts began with her collaborating extensively with Aida Keykhaii and Mohammad Yaghoubi and the NOWADAYS Theatre Company, working on a wide range of projects including, but not limited to: The Only Possible Way (Canadian Stage, 2019), Swim Team (The Theatre Centre, 2019), Winter of ’88 (Next Stage Festival, 2020), Dance of Torn Papers (Fringe 2020), On The Shoulders of Antonio (2020), Heart of A Dog (Next Stage Festival, 2021).
Mahsa has been a board member at NOWADAYS THEATRE COMPANY since 2020. Recent credits include As I Must Live It (Theatre Passe Muraille/Modern Times Stage Company), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Crow’s Theatre/Modern Times), Anahita’s Republic (Factory Theatre/Bustle and Beasts), Migraaaants (TwoThousandFeetUp/Theatre Passe Muraille), and a participant in the Creator’s Bootcamp at Soulpepper’s Her Words Festival.
