CBC on Wednesday announced applications are now being accepted for the third round of AccessCBC, a national program that provides pre-development training, mentorship and financing support to Deaf and disabled creators.
CBC is once again collaborating with the Disability Screen Office (DSO) for the third edition of the program, which is adding a new podcast stream alongside the returning scripted comedy/drama, unscripted and kids programming streams.
The podcast stream will offer one selected individual a chance to work on CBC Podcasts’ Sickboy, to hone their audio production skills and help create up to four episodes of the series, CBC said in a press release.
The scripted stream will provide an opportunity for up to two selected teams who are looking to develop a drama or comedy series — each consisting of at least one producer or writer who are Deaf and/or have a disability — to participate in a pre-development training phase and mentorship. CBC executives will work closely with the creative teams and provide coaching and feedback on their concepts, “ensuring they leave with practical experience as well as a polished pitch document,” CBC’s press release said.
The kids stream will offer up to two selected individual participants or teams — consisting of at least one producer and one writer who are Deaf and/or have a disability — a similar pre-development training phase and mentorship. The specific focus will be on short-form series (11 minutes and under), either animated or live action, for kids aged 4-6 or, secondarily, 6-10 years old, and across all genres, including arts and crafts, science and sports.
The approach for the unscripted stream will once again focus on the CBC Creator Network and provide opportunities for Deaf and/or disabled creators who are currently working with CBC to produce short digital content. They will work closely with a CBC producer who will mentor and guide them through the production process.
Program guidelines are available now on the AccessCBC website, and applications for the scripted, kids and podcast streams are open now through Friday, June 20.
“We remain committed to developing content featuring perspectives and experiences that reflect all Canadians, in formats all audiences can access,” said Sally Catto, general manager of entertainment, factual and sports at CBC, in the public broadcaster’s press release. “By continuing our collaboration with the Disability Screen Office, we are able to expand our support for emerging Deaf and disabled creators in an ongoing effort to remove barriers, ignite careers, and offer more inclusive, engaging, and authentic content across CBC platforms.”
“We are proud to once again partner with CBC on AccessCBC, a program that continues to open doors for Deaf and disabled creators across Canada,” said Winnie Luk, executive director of the DSO. “This third round not only builds on the momentum of the past two years, but also expands into new creative territory with the addition of a podcast stream, reflecting the diversity of voices and formats where disabled talent can thrive. At the DSO, we’re committed to creating meaningful pathways into the industry, and AccessCBC is a strong example of how collaboration can foster equity, opportunity, and authentic storytelling in the Canadian screen sector.”
