Valspec, in partnership with En Piste, is offering a summer circus arts residency from July 26 to 30, 2027, at Salle Albert-Dumouchel or Cabaret d’Albert. The week will conclude with an end-of-residency performance on the evening of Friday, July 30.
This residency will give a circus company the opportunity to further develop an existing creation and share its work at the end of the week. Through this initiative, Valspec aims to continue developing audiences and supporting the circus arts in the Beauharnois-Salaberry region, encourage emerging circus artists and original circus creation, and foster connections between artists and audiences through arts mediation activities.
The total value of this one-week residency is $5,000 and includes:
- Access to Salle Albert-Dumouchel or Cabaret d’Albert and the dressing rooms, according to a predetermined schedule
- Support and expertise from the technical team
- Promotional and visibility initiatives developed in collaboration with the artists
- Support in developing special activities during the week, if desired, for example with community organizations or local residents
- A mediator to facilitate the end-of-residency performance
In addition, the artists will receive a fee of up to $1,000 for the end-of-residency performance. Details will be discussed in the weeks leading up to the residency.
Eligibility criteria
- The company or collective must be a member of En Piste
- The project must be intended for a general audience
- The artists must be available to participate in a post-show discussion following the end-of-residency performance
- The ability to offer an arts mediation workshop is considered an asset, but is not required
- The project must not include acts involving fire or animals
Selection criteria
The jury will include members of the Valspec team, a representative of Valspec’s audience, a circus arts professional recommended by En Piste, and a representative from a presenting organization. The jury will review the applications and select the project based on the following criteria:
- Artistic quality and originality
- Objectives and schedule for the residency week
- Technical feasibility
Technical resources for the week
- 4 hours for load-in and setup, on Monday morning or at another agreed-upon time, plus 4 hours for strike
- One technician available for support during the day throughout the week, according to a schedule to be determined
- Beyond the resources provided, a rate of $50 per hour will apply for each additional technician
Technical specifications for the venues:
Hospitality
- Snacks and beverages in the dressing rooms
- Access to a refrigerator, microwave and small panini grill
- Dinner before the Friday residency showing
- To apply, please submit:
- A package presenting the show and the artistic approach of the creative team
- The artists’ CVs
- A technical rider
- A photo and promotional text
- A video excerpt of the project
- A description of the residency objectives and proposed schedule
- Any other documents relevant to the assessment of the application
The call for projects closes on November 2, 2026.
Interested in applying?
Please complete the following form:
For any questions, please contact Pascale Jodoin at pjodoin@valspec.qc.ca.
This project is fully in line with En Piste’s mission to structure, support, and promote the circus arts, while strengthening collaborations with distributors and cultural actors throughout Canada.