Artists, creators invited to apply for The Sugar Mama series

By KENDALL KING on February 21, 2023.

Alberta artists, actors, performers, comics, musicians and other creators are invited to apply to become part of the cast of an upcoming documentary series titled The Sugar Mama.--SUBMITTED PHOTO

kking@medicinehatnews.com

An upcoming documentary series is offering artists from across Alberta the chance of a lifetime, says Medicine Hat-born consulting producer Andrew Jenkins, ahead of the Feb. 28 casting deadline.

Set to film in Alberta this spring, The Sugar Mama series will follow 12 artists from a variety of disciplines as they embark on a two-week creative retreat financed by an anonymous, art-loving donor known only as ‘The Sugar Mama.’

While The Sugar Mama will gift one lucky participant $100,000 at the end of the retreat to put toward their given creative pursuit, Jenkins says the series’ primary focus is giving, gratitude and growth, rather than competition.

“We hope that it’s a journey of personal and professional growth and development,” Jenkins told the News. “These 12 creatives will gain profile and exposure, they will receive mentorship and, sharing this experience together (within) a network of support, they will get the opportunity to develop a community between them.

“Our hope is some of them can even overcome struggles and adversity that they’re all in, and develop resilience and possibly even transformation.”

Jenkins says the theme was inspired by The Sugar Mama’s own life. While the The Sugar Mama, whose identity may be revealed throughout the series, is described as being a ‘successful MÃ©tis business owner’ and ‘matron of the arts,’ she has faced adversity, having once been nearly $500,000 in debt following a divorce.

“After overcoming hardship, my life took a wonderful turn,” The Sugar Mama said in a statement. “I absolutely love working with the next generations of creatives who have helped me regain my spirit. I’m excited to see who will join us on this journey.”

Castingis open until Feb. 28, with applications found online at sugarmama.tv/casting.

Applicants must be 18 years or older, must reside in Alberta and must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

All interested creatives are encouraged to apply, including those belonging to underrepresented communities, like the 2SLGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC communities.

While there’s no guarantee creatives from Medicine Hat or the southeast region will be included in the final cast, Jenkins says, regardless, he is glad to be involved in a series which showcases and celebrates talented individuals who reside in his home province.

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to participate in this,” said Jenkins, who was born in Medicine Hat and raised on a farm near Bow Island. “There’s a lot of really talented people in Alberta, doing some really remarkable things … So, I’m excited to share this with my friends and family and the locals in Medicine Hat.”

A time frame has not yet been set for the series’ release, but updates can be found on The Sugar Mama’s Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn accounts.