The Kathleen Flaherty Prize is a reimagined artist development program designed to elevate bold, new voices in live performance. Open to emerging artists across British Columbia working in any genre — from theatre and clowning to drag, burlesque, music, and more — this program supports the creation of original work and champions innovation, inclusion, and artistic growth.

The Kathleen Flaherty Prize offers:

• 13 months of dramaturgical support with PTC Dramaturg Davey Samuel Calderon
• Minimum 3 weeks of free rehearsal space
• Production mentorship for producers or producing teams — including grant writing, production planning, and fundraising support
• Artist passes to the 2026 Vancouver Fringe Festival
• A guaranteed spot on the Fringe Mainstage in September 2027 — no lottery, no fees!

This prize is valued at $16,000.

All production costs not listed above are the responsibility of the prize winner.

Whether your project is rooted in storytelling or spectacle, this is your chance to develop it with guidance and resources from the Vancouver Fringe Festival and Playwrights Theatre Centre, two leading organizations in BC’s performing arts scene. Applications are due July 7, 2026 11:59 PM

Past winners include:

• LIVE IN HELL by Marita Michaelis, Lauren Han, Alexandra (Ali) McDougall (2025-2026)
• God’s A Drag by Jessica Lemes da Silva (2023-2024)
• The Frontliners by Zahida Rahemtulla (2021-2022)