Youth Engagement Projects

CALL FOR EMERGING WRITERS - TELLING IT BENT 2026

Telling it Bent is an interdisciplinary writing workshop for queer, trans, Two Spirit and questioning BC youth ages 14 to 25. Throughout the program, participants will explore poetry, playwriting, and interdisciplinary creation through a queer, decolonial, future building lens. Participants will build connections with other young queer creatives, liberate their sense of imagination and play, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their artistic practice, and the possibilities of the stories they can tell. Telling It Bent 2026 will focus on creating one person or small cast pieces, and participants will perform each other’s work. The program will culminate in a Final Showcase as part of the Cultch’s IGNITE! Youth-Driver Arts Festival.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

• TIMELINE: Jan 19th - May 16th, 2026 (final showcase dates TBC)

• DAY: Once a week on Mondays

• TIME: 4:00pm - 6:00pm PST

• WORKSHOPS: Total of 13

• LOCATION: Mount Pleasant Community Centre

• Participation is FREE.

FINAL SHOWCASE:

The Showcase will be presented in partnership with IGNITE! Youth-Driven Arts Festival at The Cultch in May 2026. Date TBC. The Showcase will be presented live, with 2 in-person rehearsal dates, also in May. Each participant receives a 5 minute performance slot.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Please send us an email with the subject line “TIB Submission,” including a short paragraph about you:

• What is your age, cultural background and preferred pronoun?

• Why are you interested in the program?

• What is your previous writing experience?

• What do you hope to gain from participating in Telling It Bent?

• Please include any access needs you may have.

• If email is not accessible to you, send the frank theatre co. a message on Facebook Messenger

• If a written submission is not accessible to you, we will accept applications in the format of a voice recording or video submission. Additionally, a video call is available upon request

Please email your submission by December 11th at 11:59pm PST to: Managing Producer Karter Masuhara at karter@thefranktheatre.com, CC Program Facilitator Anjalica Solomon at anjalica@thefranktheatre.com

VALUES:

TIB uses anti-oppressive and decolonial approaches to teaching and storytelling, and is led by QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, POC) Mentors and Facilitators. We strive to make our program accessible to all queer and questioning youth, including D/deaf youth, youth with lived experiences of disability, neurodivergent youth and youth on the mental health spectrum; and will endeavor to meet the access needs of the selected participants. We especially encourage submissions from QTBIPOC, with two spots reserved for Two Spirit/Indigenous youth.

We will select 8 participants.

ELIGIBILITY :

Participants must be:

• Between the ages of 14 and 25, based in BC

• Identify as Queer, Trans, Non-binary, Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Intersex, on the Asexual spectrum and/or Questioning

• Must have access to a computer to participate in online video workshops

• Please note the frank theatre is reserving 2 spots for Two Spirit / Indigenous youth

• For further information: email karter@thefranktheatre.com

We will be in touch with applicants by December 19, 2025

MENTORS:

SCREENWRITING MENTOR:

Karter Masuhara: Non-binary artist and arts manager. They have worked for a variety of artistic companies in administrative and communication roles with a focus on creating opportunities to uplift diverse voices. As an artist they have written and directed an award-winning short film, Where to Piss, which has been entered into multiple film festivals globally. They have also written and self-produced their own play, Before They Cut Down Our Tree, which was presented at the 2023 Vancouver Fringe Festival. They have a Masters in Screenwriting from Leeds Beckett University.