The Prologue Club
The Prologue Club
The Prologue Club is a student-led initiative that encourages students across Ontario to develop and utilize leadership skills through the selection and planning process of bringing performances and workshops to their schools. Through participating in a Prologue Club, students will connect with their peers and gain skills in arts management, such as budgeting, public speaking, programming, and project planning, resulting in improved leadership skills through the arts and the enrichment of their school community with performing arts experiences.
This program invites students to participate in the process of selecting artists to bring to their school to perform. This program is not focused on training students in the performing arts, such as preparing students for their school play.
The first Prologue Club was created by Kate Cullen, a teacher at Kimberley Junior Public School in Toronto, who sought to support youth leadership and empowerment through the Arts. She said, “I would encourage any teacher who has an interest in the arts to set up their own Prologue Club. It is a powerful way to give students a voice, to teach them about various careers in the arts, it fosters self-confidence, and they have a lot of fun – as will any teacher who takes on this very worthwhile project!”
Teacher Information Session:
Are you interested in learning more about the process of starting a Prologue Club at your school? Attend the teacher information session on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from 4-5PM.
Please RSVP for the session by filling out this form and a Google Meet link for the meeting will be emailed to you. Please RSVP by September 22, 2025.
If you cannot attend the teacher information session but you have questions, please contact Emma Pagacz, Special Project and Sales Manager at [email protected].
Process:
Schools selected to participate in a Prologue Club will receive the following:
- Performance/ Workshop selection: With the guidance of a lead educator, students will decide on a Prologue artist to bring to their school for a performance or workshop during the school year. Each Prologue Club will receive $500 towards the cost of a Prologue performance or workshop.
- Prologue Club Toolkit: Teachers and students will receive a Prologue Club Toolkit to take them through the steps of starting a Prologue Club at their school.
- Professional Mentorship: Each Prologue Club can schedule a mentorship session with a Prologue staff member or artist to explore an area of interest, such as marketing, programming, and fundraising.
How do I start a Prologue Club at my school?
- Fill out the Prologue Club application form by Friday, October 17, 2025.
- Schools will be notified if they have been selected to participate in a Prologue Club for 2025-2026 in late October 2025 and selected schools will be sent a Prologue Club Toolkit to start their club.
- Prologue Clubs will run from November 2025 – June 2026. Performances must be booked through Prologue Performing Arts by March 6, 2026 but they can be scheduled to take place until June 2026.
Ways to Incorporate a Prologue Club:
- Start a Prologue Club and incorporate it into a project during class time
- Incorporate a Prologue Club into Student Council
- Incorporate a Prologue Club into an existing extracurricular, such as the Drama Club or Music Club
- Start a Prologue Club as a new extracurricular
Requirements:
- Teachers at any school, elementary or secondary, across Ontario are eligible to apply to start a Prologue Club at their school.
- Each Prologue Club must have a minimum of 5 students from grades 4-12.
- Selected schools must use their performance subsidy by June 2025. Subsidies cannot be carried over to the next school year.
- Proof of an active Prologue Club must be demonstrated in order to receive the performance subsidy when booking a performance.
- Participating schools are required to submit performance or club photos and complete a feedback form one week after their scheduled performance in order to receive the $500 performance subsidy. Submitted photos will be used by Prologue on social media and other communication channels so please ensure that the appropriate permissions are in place. Photos should not contain any student faces. If the photo requirement is not possible at your school, please reach out so we can find an alternative.
- Priority will be given to schools that demonstrate facing barriers to accessing performing arts opportunities or need for the program within their school community.
*Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a subsidy for a Prologue Club. All applicants will be notified if they have been accepted to start a Prologue Club at their school for the 2025/2026 school year.
Please contact Emma Pagacz, Special Projects and Sales Manager, at [email protected] if you have any questions.
The Prologue Club poet [Britta B.] visit was a truly unforgettable experience for otur Grade 7 students …award-winning spoken word artist Britta Badour visited our classroom for a dynamic performance and poetry workshop. Her energy, storytelling, and powerful messages deeply resonated with students and brought our Language Arts learning to life in a memorable, engaging way.
Through Britta’s performance and the students’ involvement in organizing the event, our class explored the creative potential of poetry, built confidence in communication, and gained exposure to careers in the arts. The Prologue Club has been a powerful platform for student voice and leadership- one that I hope to run again in the future to continue providing authentic, enriching arts experiences for young students.
– Dhilini (teacher extraordinaire), Unionville Meadows Public School