Call for Applications: 2025 Local Arts Residency at the Kingston Grand Theatre

The Local Arts Residency at the Kingston Grand Theatre is seeking applications from Kingston-based emerging or mid-career professional artists or collectives working in theatre, dance, music, circus, comedy or inter-disciplinary practices.  

“For the past five years, the Local Arts Residency program at Kingston Grand Theatre has given local performing artists and artist collectives the space, time and support to explore and bring their unique and creative ideas to life,” says Danika Lochhead, Director of Arts & Culture Services at the City of Kingston. “This artist development initiative is delivered through our performing arts portfolio and helps to activate Kingston Grand Theatre as an artistic, community hub.”  

Returning to its original format of four residency spots, artists-in-residence will have access to the Baby Grand black box theatre for five days each, professional support in technical production and an honourarium of $1,000. The residencies will take place on the following weeks: July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25, and July 28-August 1.  

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 15 by 5 p.m. 

To learn more or apply for a residency spot, visit the City’s Local Arts Residency page. 

Testimonials from past Artists-in-Residence 

"The Kingston Grand Theatre Local Arts Residency is an invaluable investment in Kingston’s arts community. As artists, so much work happens “behind the scenes” — on evenings and weekends, in between gigs and contracts. A residency is devoted work time and the stepping stone we needed. During our time there, our project took a big leap forward, and the video footage that was captured became important material we included in our grant applications. We are so pleased to share that we premiered the play right here in Kingston at the Baby Grand in September 2024 and toured the production to the Great Canadian Theatre Company in January 2025. It's been a long and gratifying journey; we're so thankful to all our local supporters, including the Grand Theatre Residency program, who helped make the impossible possible!" 

-Sophia Fabiilli & Zoë Sweet (2022 Artists-in-Residence) 

"Last summer, I had the opportunity to take part in the City of Kingston Local Arts residency with one of my best friends. We created a dance piece that was deeply rooted in Black identity. It celebrated our experiences and the challenges of navigating the artistic world as Black individuals. That week was one of the best of the year for me—not only because we created work that was unapologetically Black but also because we did it in collaboration and within community.  

Finding opportunities to explore both new and familiar artistic mediums with people have become incredibly important to me. The chance to create in a space where BIPOC artists can come together, immerse ourselves and collaborate was incredibly fulfilling." 

-Shanique Peart (2024 Artist-in-Residence)