| HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | In the 1980's, a group of community, professional and educational theatre volunteers formed the Alberta Conference for Theatre (ACT). The main function was to replace the Theatre and Drama Association of Alberta and to provide a structure for the delivery of Workshops by Request. Subsequently, ACT's Board broadened the organization's mandate to become a Provincial Arts Service Organization (PASO), serving the community and professional and educational theatre constituencies.
In 1996, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts initiated PASO, a plan by the Government of Alberta, to fund arts in Alberta. PASO represents nine disciplines such and dance, theatre, and visual arts. The Alberta Conference for Theatre changed its name to Theatre Alberta Society in 1992. In the early 1990s the organization assumed responsibility for the management of the former Alberta Culture playscript library, and in 1992, Theatre Alberta took over the delivery of Drama Works, an adult summer theatre program.
In 1995 Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT) Alberta requested that Theatre Alberta deliver all theatre Workshops by Request - personally designed workshops -- including the CITT technical workshops. In the fall of 1995 Theatre Alberta allied with both CITT Alberta and Alberta Playwrights' Network (APN), and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) confirmed Theatre Alberta PASO. Following the alliance, Theatre Alberta handled and coordinated the application process for an annual operating grant distributed amongst the three organizations.
In 1996, AFA contracted Theatre Alberta to ensure the delivery of Artstrek. Artstrek, a residential summer theatre program for teens, occurs every year at the Red Deer Alberta Campus. Theatre Alberta currently maintains a number of programs: Playscript Library, Workshops by Request, Dramaworks, Artstrek, Playworks Ink, Playwriting Programs, Annual Playbill, and Safe Stages. Additionally, Theatre Alberta publishes a quarterly newsletter "Theatre Alberta News." Individuals and organizations such as professional and semi-professional theatres, community and musical theatre groups purchase yearly memberships. |
| SCOPE AND CONTENT: | Fonds consists of executive records including board meeting minutes and board procedures, financial reports, and correspondence as well as operational records including committee files, government relations files, and project and program files of Theatre Alberta from general meetings, executive committee meetings, Artstrek, Dramaworks, Dramaways, and Annual Conferences dating from 1987 to 1993. |