Established in 2001, the Paprika Theatre Festival is a youth-led professional performing arts organization. We run year-round professional training and mentorship programs that culminate in a performing arts festival of new work by young artists. We generate opportunities for young artists to lead their own creative process with the support of their peers and professional mentors. We set the stage for young artists to have their voices heard in a setting that is supportive and also dependent on critical response. We ensure that young artists are well equipped to find employment in diverse cultural industries and to become our successors. The Paprika Theatre Festival has grown from a festival of five short plays to a festival with year-round programming featuring a diversity of productions, playwrights-in-residence, a resident company, a creators’ unit, a youth advisory board, a cabaret series, ongoing mentorship, monthly training days and a vibrant connection to the professional arts community. In our 20 seasons to date, we have supported the artistic work of over 1,000 individuals and launched over 100 professional careers. Our goal is to generate a supportive yet rigorous community that inspires young people to create the highest caliber of artistic work. We strive to bring a generation of young leaders into our cultural industry as practitioners, social entrepreneurs and advocates for social change through art. @PaprikaFestival | #PaprikaForever