Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM), LA SERRE – arts vivants (LA SERRE) and the Conseil des Arts de Montréal (CAM) are currently accepting applications for the 2027-2028 English-language edition of AMPLIFIER.
The deadline to submit applications is November 22, 2026 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 Heather at 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 is a two-year exploratory process for a playwright who identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized, including 1st or 2nd generation immigrant, working creatively in one of Canada’s official languages. During this program, the chosen artist will develop a piece of theatre through a dramaturgical and production lens, which includes a workshop, play reading, and residency.
The process begins with dramaturgical support provided by PWM that culminates in a professional workshop and reading at the end of the first year. In the second year, the playwright will receive creation support and a residency period with LA SERRE – arts vivants. In addition to receiving artistic support, the program will also support the artist in other aspects of theatre making, from producing to project management.
AMPLIFIER, as well as its French counterpart Résidence Voix Théâtrales, supports artists creating in French and in English. CAM and LA SERRE offer this program alternately with the Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD) in French and with PWM in English, and 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. The program also seeks to reduce barriers and offer resources and opportunities for underrepresented artists.
The 2027-2028 edition of AMPLIFIER is intended for artists working in English. Therefore, applications are to be submitted in English.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED
The 2027-2028 AMPLIFIER artist will receive a project creation grant of $13,000 from CAM over two years, along with development support provided by PWM and LA SERRE. This is a one-time, non-renewable grant, provided in the following installments:
- First year: $3000 for the written work developed with PWM;
- Second year: $10,000 for the residency lab and the work of the playwright and their collaborators.
The program takes place over two years. The timeline is as follows:
YEAR 1 – January to September 2027
- 30 hours of dramaturgical support from Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
- A 9 hour workshop with actors/collaborators with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
- A shared reading with actors/collaborators at Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
YEAR 2 – September 2027 to December 2028
- 50 hours of production and management mentorship by LA SERRE–arts vivants
- A week-long creation residency with possibility of a culminating presentation
- 30 hours of free access to the Conseil des Arts de Montréal’s studios
Eligibility
What kind of projects are eligible for this program?
- Interdisciplinary projects for the stage
- Various forms of writing for performance such as playwriting, devised writing and performance creation
What types of activities are eligible?
Research, writing, creation, and production.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
- Artists who identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized, including 1st or 2nd generation immigrants
- Artists who are Canadian citizens or have permanent residency in Canada at the time of submitting the application
- Artists who reside on the island of Montréal
- Artists who have previously written a play/performance text in English
- Artists available to participate in the two-year program and able to determine specific periods of work with PWM and LA SERRE – arts vivants at the start of the program
Eligibility
An information session will be held over Zoom with PWM and LA SERRE – arts vivants on November 5, 2026. This will be an opportunity for all interested artists to ask questions and get more information about the program. To RSVP, please send an email to Leila Ghaemi at leila@playwrights.ca.
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 previous play or performance work in English.
Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee, made up of members from the artistic community and the team at 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 November 22, 2026 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.”
