The Local Arts Residency at Kingston Grand Theatre helps local artists by providing space and support to bring creative ideas to life. It started in 2021 to support artists during the COVID-19 pandemic and now continues to run every year. Through the residency, artists can explore new ideas, create, self-direct their research and time, and nurture new directions in their work.     

The City of Kingston's Arts and Culture Services department manages the Residency, operates the Kingston Grand Theatre and oversees the Grand OnStage program.   

Videos of all artists-in-residence provide a behind-the-scenes look at the artists and the work they created and explored. You can view Residency videos on the Kingston Grand Theatre YouTube channel. (Videographers include Josh Lyon, Allen Bergeron, Jay Middaugh, and Céline Klein).

 

Michael Duguay, 2021 artist-in-residence with Jason Mercer
Michael Duguay, 2021 artist-in-residence with Jason Mercer. Photo by Josh Lyon

The deadline to submit a Local Arts Residency application has passed. Please check back soon for more information about the artists selected for the 2025 program.

 

2025 Call for Applications 

Applications for the 2025 Local Arts Residency are now open. Kingston-based new or mid-career professional artists or collectives working in theatre, dance, music, circus, comedy, or inter-disciplinary practices are invited to apply.

 

Residency Details

Artists-in-residence will receive:  

  • In-kind use of a professional workspace featuring state-of-the-art equipment in the Baby Grand, a black box theatre, for a duration of five days.  
  • Access to the space will be available. Monday through Friday within the residency period during standard operating hours (9 a.m.- 5 p.m.).  (Requests for access to the space outside these hours will be assessed case-by-case.)   
  • Professional support in technical production to aid in the development of the artist’s creative practice.    
  • Promotional support for public artist talk, community workshop, etc.   
  • Documentation from the residencies for promotional use.  
  • Funding support through an honourarium of $1,000 for artistic expenses.   

Successful candidates will work with City of Kingston staff to determine a five-day residency based on the following weeks:  

  • July 7-11 
  • July 14-18 
  • July 21-25 
  • July 28-August 1  

 

Eligibility

  • Applicants must have a City of Kingston mailing address and must already be promoting themselves as a Kingston-area artist.    
  • Applicants must be *emerging or mid-career professional performing artists working in theatre, dance, music, circus, comedy or inter-disciplinary practices.   
  • Applicants must be individual artists or collaborative duos/teams/small ensembles under the leadership of a single applicant.    
  • Only one application per artist or collective. Applicants may not apply as an individual AND be part of a simultaneous collective application.   
  • If you participated in a previous Local Arts Residency as the lead artist-in-residence, you are not eligible to apply in 2025. If you collaborated on a previous Residency, you are eligible to apply.   

*The City defines an emerging or mid-career professional performing artist as someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists and/or peers working in the same artistic discipline; actively practices their art; seeks remuneration for their work; and has a history of public presentation.    

 

Application Process

Applications should be submitted in Word or PDF format via e-mail to ArtsProgramming@cityofkingston.ca with the subject heading Local Arts Residency Application. Please prepare the following:      

  1. Cover page with name and contact information including mailing address, email, and telephone number.  
  2. Project proposal and a brief description of your practice (500 words maximum) that includes what you intend to focus on while in residence. 
  3. Please include your proposed daily work schedule (within Kingston Grand Theatre operating hours) and desired residency weeks ranked order of preference.  
  4. Please list any artists you may be considering collaborating with during the residency. 
  5. Short biography (150 words maximum).    
  6. Résumé (2 pages maximum).  
  7. The name and contact information of one reference.   
  8. Maximum 3 images that demonstrate artist/collective’s work in JPEG format, with relevant caption information (up to 1.5MB each)  
  9. Maximum 2 links to video (preferred method) or 2 videos (up to 250MB each, which can be sent via WeTransfer).  

 

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of past Artists-in-Residence.  The committee will evaluate the applications and select four artists or collectives for the 2025 Residency program based on criteria outlined below.

Artistic Merit – artistic quality based on the artist/collective’s body of work as demonstrated in their application.     

Artistic Practice – the artist/collective has demonstrated a commitment to their discipline.     

Diversity – applications from all communities will be considered and represented fairly. Applications from all performing arts disciplines will be considered and represented fairly, and integration across performing arts disciplines is encouraged.     

Community – applications reflect a commitment to community access to the work (willingness to facilitate a public artist talk, community workshop, etc.).  

 

Key Dates

Application opens: Tuesday, March 18

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, April 22 by 5 pm 

Review period: April 24 – May 22

 

 

 

 

 

CONTACT
Jenny Pedler 
Program Coordinator 
Arts & Culture Services, City of Kingston 
jpedler@cityofkingston.ca