We are grateful to be living and creating near the Akokiniskway River on Treaty 7 territory, the ancestral home of the Blackfoot nations, including Siksika, Piikani and kainai, the Tsuut'ina and Stoney Nakoda First Nations. We hope to follow in their footsteps with grace and understanding as we share in the age-old tradition of storytelling in honour of our Creator.
Rosebud School of the Arts is a guild school that provides post-secondary theatre training within a community of professional working artists. Students receive personalized guidance, mentoring, and practical training to prepare them for a career in the performing arts.
Rosebud School of the Arts is a non-profit charitable educational institution recognized by the Alberta Legislature through the passage of the Rosebud School of the Arts Act (RSA 1988) as an institution of higher learning in both the theoretical and practical fields of the Fine Arts for the betterment of society as an expression of Christian values. The school works alongside Rosebud Theatre, a professional theatre company that welcomes over 40,000 patrons a year. Rosebud Theatre shows are performed and produced by a resident company of artists who also provide apprenticeship opportunities for students from Rosebud School of the Arts.
Rosebud is located about an hour east of Calgary, Alberta, nestled in a valley, along a winding river that flows through fields and badlands. This rural setting allows students to focus on developing their own unique, passionate voice that will ultimately contribute in a meaningful way to theatres in Alberta and across Canada. Our goal is to produce story-tellers willing and able to explore material covering the variety of mandates expressed by the wide spectrum of theatres within our province and beyond. 
The complete Professional Theatre Training Programme at RSA is comprised of a 1-year Certificate in Theatre Foundations Programme and a 3-year Mentorship Programme. Many of our students arrive intending to complete only the Certificate Programme – which is a great opportunity to decide if the theatre life is right for you. Others commit with certainty to the full 4-year training, ultimately leaving to pursue professional placements with reputable companies in Canada and elsewhere.
Students who are thinking about a year off from school before committing to a degree program elsewhere, will find the eight-month Theatre Foundations Programme to be a great option. Here, students are given time to reflect, explore and create – while gaining confidence and skills that will serve in all aspects of professional development, no matter which path they select.
What sets us apart?
- Each year RSA students travel to New York City, London, U.K., or Canada’s West Coast to immerse themselves in theatre, workshops, and tours.
- Advanced students apprentice with the acclaimed team of professionals at Rosebud Theatre.
- Small class sizes and one-on-one coaching for advanced students provide unique opportunities for skill development and mastery.
- We provide arts training within a community of faith-based artists where students are inspired to become catalysts for transformation in our world.
Our Programmes
The Rosebud School of the Arts Certificate Programme – 1 year
Spend eight exciting and rewarding months immersed in Rosebud’s theatre culture! Engage in conservatory style training focused on acting, movement, voice and body work. Uncover your own authentic voice in an environment where individuality is highlighted. Our process values process over product. Here you’ll find a safe environment to explore the rigors and rewards of the broad field of theatre.
We require intellectual discipline in reading, writing, and oral interpretation to strengthen our relationship with Language. We will guide and challenge you as you develop a healthy understanding of your artistic talents, a thirst for life-long learning, and foundational theatre-skills.
The Rosebud School of the Arts Mentorship Programme – 3 years
This intensive training will provide you with experience in various theatre disciplines. Work with us to prepare for your career in theatre or music by training under the guidance and mentorship of skilled instructors and talented professional artists. Our Programme offers four disciplines; Acting, Theatre Arts, Technical Theatre or Music Performance. Upon completion of this programme, you will be inducted into the Rosebud School of the Arts Guild as a Fellow of Rosebud School of the Arts (F.R.S.A.).
Interested? Learn more by attending an Open House or get a taste of what’s ahead, by attending an RSA weekend.
RSA Open House: Attend our free Open House and get a taste of what the Rosebud School of the Arts has to offer. Attend a brief presentation and tour designed specifically for prospective students. Parents and friends are also welcome. RSA staff will be on hand throughout to answer any questions you may have.
Contact our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about our next RSA Open House for the 2021/2022 school year.
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RSA Weekend: Come and experience Rosebud. Participate in classes and hang out with students, instructors and community members. Take in a show at Rosebud Theatre, work in hospitality, experience small town life, and reflect on the direction your life is meant to take. By the end of the weekend, you will have a good sense of whether or not Rosebud is the right place for you.
Upcoming RSA Weekend Dates: March 17 - 20, 2022 | April 21 - 24, 2022
“The RSA Weekend was an opportunity to get immersed in the school and discover if I was ready for this stage in my life. I found it to be an exciting opportunity to meet instructors, and students. It made me comfortable for classes in the fall and it helped shape my decision to attend Rosebud School of the Arts." (Amy Pohl - Mentorship Student)
Contact our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book your RSA Weekend!
Ready to apply? We are now accepting applications for 2021-2022!
Download: Application Form | Download: RSA Weekend Introduction Letter
Talent Assessment: For the talent assessment, please prepare a one to three-minute monologue and a song. Please do not perform a piece you’ve written yourself. The song will be sung acappella; no accompaniment is provided.
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