Amplifier

Amplifier is a two-year creation and support program designed for an English-speaking playwright, creator or performance artist seeking to develop an original stage work.

Designed as a two-stage exploratory process, the program’s first stage offers dramaturgical support and playwriting assistance through the Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM), culminating in a workshop with actors and contributors as well as a professional reading. In the second stage, the artist receives production, project management and creation support from LA SERRE – arts vivants as part of a creative residency-laboratory.

Beyond development of the work itself, Amplifier gives participants an opportunity to familiarize themselves with many aspects of theatre and performative creation—from writing to production to developing and managing artistic projects.

Amplifier and its complementary French-language program, Voix théâtrales, recognize and support the artistic and social contributions of artists from Indigenous, racialized, cultural and immigrant communities who work in either of Canada’s official languages. The program also fosters dialogue between the French- and English-language theatre communities along with intercultural encounters, and promotes greater representation of culturally diverse artists on Montréal’s stages.

The program is offered annually, on a rotating basis:

• in French, in collaboration with the Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD)
• in English, in collaboration with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM)

Who is eligible to apply?

Professional playwrights who identify as members of an Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit), racialized, cultural or immigrant community and are developing a project for the stage.

What are the program objectives?

Through this program, the Conseil des arts de Montréal and its partners seek to achieve the following objectives:

• promote the artistic and social contributions of Indigenous, immigrant and/or racialized artists in Montréal’s theatre community
• encourage better representation of culturally diverse artists on Montréal’s stages
• provide concrete support for the artistic and professional development of participating artists
• reduce certain barriers facing underrepresented artists by facilitating access to resources, professional networks, services and creative opportunities
• encourage dialogue between Montréal’s French- and English-language theatre communities
• encourage intercultural encounters and the sharing of artistic practices

More details about the program

The call for projects is launched alternately in French (odd years) and English (even years).

The program combines dramaturgical guidance, creative support and assistance with production and project management to provide a comprehensive pathway for the development of a stage production.

What type of assistance is provided?

A $13,000 grant and several support services to be paid over two years:

• year 1: $3,000 for writing and development of the work
• year 2: $10,000 for the residency-laboratory, the work of the artist and their contributors, and the creative activities associated with the project

What is the duration of the support?

The project will be carried out over a two-year period.

What do the partners contribute?

Year 1 – January to December 2027

• 30 hours of dramaturgical support from Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM)
• A 9-hour workshop with performers and contributors
• A professional shared reading to take stock of progress

Year 2 – January to December 2028

• 50 hours of production, management and project development mentoring provided by LA SERRE – arts vivants
• A one-week creative residency-laboratory
• An opportunity for a public or professional presentation at the end of the residency
• 30 hours of access to the Conseil des arts de Montréal’s studios

What types of projects are eligible?

• Interdisciplinary projects produced for the stage
• Dramatic texts
• On-stage writing
• Performative creations

What types of projects are eligible?

Research, creation and production

What are the general eligibility conditions?

• Be a professional artist who is a member of an Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit), racialized, cultural or immigrant community 
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the time of application 
• Reside on the island of Montreal 
• Have previously created or written a stage work in English 
• Be available to participate in the entire program for two years 
• In collaboration with program partners, be able to determine the necessary work periods at the start of the program 

The program specifically encourages applications from artists who also identify as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, are neurodivergent or have disabilities.

How many applications will be accepted?

Only one applicant will be selected. This is a one-time, non-recurring grant.

Who is ineligible to apply?

Applicants

• Artists who do not meet the eligibility requirements

Projects

• Projects completed before the Conseil’s response is received  
• Projects that do not meet the eligibility criteria 
• Projects that are primarily promotional in nature 
• Incomplete applications 
• Applications submitted by an arts organization or artists’ collective 
• Applications received after the deadline 

Can specific populations receive additional financial support to submit their application or complete their project (accessibility costs)?

Yes. Accessibility costs refer to costs that certain individuals, particularly those who are D/deaf and/or living with a disability, must pay to take advantage, in the same way as others do, of the services and programs offered by an institution for research, to create, produce or disseminate their art. Reimbursement of part of these costs by the Conseil des arts de Montréal may offset the financial disadvantage.

The Support Fund for Accessibility Costs is a financial assistance measure that complements the Conseil’s other programs. The deadline to apply for support for accessibility costs is the same as that for the program being applied to.

Artists, collectives or organizations that have obtained financial assistance from the Conseil to carry out a project can also file an application for accessibility cost support up to three months after the decisions related to the successful project have been sent out, provided the project is not completed before the deadline to send out decisions for accessibility cost support applications.

Support is divided into three components:

• component 1 – Financial support to submit a grant application or to apply for one of the Conseil’s initiatives
• component 2 – Financial support for accessibility costs for a project funded by the Conseil
• component 3 – Financial support for presenter organizations for accessibility costs to welcome audiences who are D/deaf and/or living with a disability for a project funded by the Conseil

For more details, please see this additional information on the Support Fund.

How can I submit an application?

Visit the PWM website to learn more and submit your application.

How are applications evaluated?

The jury for the 2026 edition will be composed of industry professionals and one representative from each project partner, PWM and LA SERRE – arts vivants.

All projects will be evaluated on merit. The projects’ comparative value will be taken into consideration.

What are the evaluation criteria?

The evaluation committee will pay special attention to the diversity of practices, the artists’ level of experience, their specific needs and gender parity (LGBTQ+).

During its deliberations, the jury will consider the project objectives set out above and the following evaluation criteria:

• project’s artistic merit
• originality and artistic quality of the artist’s process
• impact on the artist’s career path
• project feasibility
• how realistic the proposal is
• project’s contribution to the program’s goals of diversity, representation and intercultural dialogue

What is the response time?

Decisions will be sent 12 to 14 weeks after the application deadline.

How will the artist grant be paid?

The first instalment of the grant provided by the Conseil ($3,000) will be paid through PWM, at the start of the project.

The second instalment of the grant provided by the Conseil ($10,000) will be paid through LA SERRE – arts vivants in support of the project creation, production and management stages.

Commitments

Accepting payment of the grant constitutes, for the artist, an undertaking to complete the activities covered by the grant and to comply with the accompanying conditions, which will be communicated upon selection of the application.

Artists agree to:

• carry out the proposed project as planned
• notify the Conseil as soon as possible if unable to carry out the project in the fiscal year for which the grant was awarded. Depending on the situation, a full or partial refund may be requested
• if requested, submit activity reports and financial statements at the required times
• if applicable, include in the report photographs, videos or any other relevant, royalty-free visuals that the Conseil may use for promotional or archival purposes

In addition, organizations, collectives, artists and their representatives agree at all times not to communicate with members of the evaluation committees or members of the Council’s Board of Directors in any matter relating to the management, evaluation or decisions related to their application.