CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM), LA SERRE – arts vivants (LA SERRE) and the Conseil des Arts de Montréal (CAM) are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 English-language edition of AMPLIFIER.
The deadline to submit applications is October 23, 2024 at 11:59PM EST.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with your application, and/or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying, please contact accessibility@playwrights.ca.
If you have any questions regarding this program, your application, or the eligibility of your project, please contact our Artistic Producer, Leila Ghaemi, at leila@playwrights.ca with the subject line: AMPLIFIER
AMPLIFIER offers a long-term exploratory creation process to a playwright who identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized, including 1st or 2nd generation immigrant artists (as defined in the Conseil des Arts de Montréal’s glossary), working creatively in one of Canada’s official languages. This program offers artistic and financial support to one working* playwright residing on the island of Montréal, including dramaturgical collaboration, a professional workshop with actors, and a residency leading to a presentation to programmers and peers.
AMPLIFIER seeks to foster dialogue between Montréal’s English and French speaking theatre communities, as well as intercultural exchanges and greater representation for culturally diverse artists within the theatre community and on Montréal’s stages.
In order to support artists creating in French and artists creating in English, CAM and La Serre offer this program alternately with the Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD) in French (Résidence Voix Théâtrales), and with PWM in English. The 2025-2026 edition is intended for artists working in the English language. PWM supports English language minority artists in Quebec, therefore the work with PWM will take place in English. Applications are to be submitted in English.
Please refer to the Program Presentation (PDF) for more details about what this partnership includes, program eligibility criteria, and other conditions.
THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
CONSEIL DES ARTS DE MONTRÉAL
Founded in 1956, the Conseil des arts de Montréal identifies, supports and recognizes excellence in the professional creation, production and dissemination of the arts.
To remain in tune with the organizations and collectives it serves, the Conseil relies on its knowledge of the communities, its innovative skills, and its ability to bring the city’s artists and financial partners together.
PLAYWRIGHTS’ WORKSHOP MONTRÉAL
Founded in 1963, Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM) is a nationally-mandated theatre creation and development centre based in Montréal. PWM is led by a team of experienced dramaturgs and arts administrators. With a focus on dramaturgy, its mission is to collaborate with artists in the development of new works of theatre and performance. PWM gives artists the opportunity to create and experiment, dream and take risks. Its collaborative process draws on the team’s unique experience and is tailored to the artist’s individual needs.
At PWM, playwrights, dramaturgs, translators, directors, performance makers, and theatre companies across the country find a creative collaborator willing to invest deeply in the development of meaningful work. PWM acts as a community hub for theatre-makers in Montreal and beyond.
PWM operates a 2,000 square foot creation studio and shared office space, equipped with theatre lighting, sound and digital equipment. Click here for accessibility information for our office and creative studio space: https://www.playwrights.ca/accessibility-contact/
LA SERRE – ARTS VIVANTS
LA SERRE is a structuring incubator that supports emerging artists in the development and establishment of their artistic practices. It offers initiatives conducive to their visibility; takes care of its community, and offers inspiring spaces. LA SERRE supports emerging artists by creating lasting and invested connections with them. It enables artists to create and share performances that shift the perspectives of spectators and explore new ways of being together. The practices supported by LA SERRE question, transform and resist preconceptions, let pluralities unfold, and contribute to the renewal of established models. LA SERRE activates collaborations between artists, citizens, fields of knowledge, and artistic disciplines. Its support is experimental and multifaceted.
SUPPORT PROVIDED
The 2025-2026 AMPLIFIER artist will receive a project creation grant of $13,000 from the CAM over two years, along with numerous support provided by PWM, LA SERRE, and CAM. This is a one-time, non-renewable grant.
The program takes place over two years, and support is provided as follows:
YEAR 1
$3,000 creation grant for a new theatrical creation
30 hours of dramaturgical collaboration with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
A 9 hour workshop with actors with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
A reading presentation with actors at Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
YEAR 2
$10,000 creation grant for production
50 hours of production and management mentorship by LA SERRE–arts vivants
60 hours of free access to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal’s studios
Presentation of two performances in lab format
One-year subscription to Machinerie des arts.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please complete the online application form. Click here to view the form as a PDF. During the application process, you will be asked to include the following documents in PDF format:
- A CV;
- An excerpt of the current project (12 pages maximum);
- A full script of a previously written theatrical work in English
Applications will be evaluated by representatives of the CAM, PWM, and La Serre. Projects will be evaluated based on merit, feasibility, and impact on the artist.
PWM welcomes all applications from eligible playwrights: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants). While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural, and multidimensional, we strongly encourage applications from artists who meet the above criteria and are also: 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, disabled, living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so.
The deadline to submit applications is October 23, 2024 at 11:59PM EST.
* This is an opportunity for professional playwrights as defined in the Conseil de Arts de Montreal glossary: “An individual with a professional artistic practice who possesses the necessary experience and knowledge to develop this practice. This includes self-taught individuals as well as those who have studied art. This person is recognized in their artistic community (artists working in the same artistic tradition), creates, carries out or publishes works of art, is dedicated to their artistic practice and is generally paid for their work.”
