The 2026 Microgrant Program is made possible through the support of the City of Waterloo and the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. The micro-grant will instigate and spark the first idea of a new art work. This ‘kick-start’ is essential, aiding professional artists in the investigation of their practice, with a focus on process, iterative learning, collaboration, and deep thinking.

Eligibility: Artist must be a resident of Waterloo Region. All artistic disciplines are welcome.

Application Requirements: Microgrant program is for exploration, learning, and time to investigate a project or research question. Timelines of project can vary depending on individual project needs but must be started by June 30, 2026. All Microgrants are in the amount of $1,000. This represents 1 week of work for one individual artist.

To apply please submit the following to hello@patthedog.org

• A Letter of Interest (Max 2 pages) Describe the Project/Research to be undertaken with the Microgrant, articulate the questions and curiosities that you are exploring, describe the process that you wish to undertaking.
•  A resume or CV.

APPLICATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 27, 2025. Close December 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

Selection Process: All applications will be read by a selection committee of five members headed by Lisa O’Connell, Artistic Director/Pat the Dog Theatre Creation.

Accessibility: Pat the Dog encourages submissions from all individuals. We are committed to the practice of inclusion and diversification. We will make every effort to identify and remove any barriers to inclusion within all aspects of the selection process by making decisions and communicating without regard to ethnicity, age, gender identity or expression, colour, disability, national origin, family or marital status, language, physical or mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or any other characteristic that make our communities and individuals unique.

Pat the Dog is once again proud to to participate in the Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators program, OAC’s third-party recommender program of grants to theatre creators. Under this program, we are given the opportunity to recommend professional Ontario-based theatre creators for grants from the OAC.

We welcome applications for projects new to us and are specifically interested in artists working and creating in Northern ON and female-identifying, female-presenting, or non-binary artists creating in regional communities.

We will be accepting applications until January 9, 2026, 1 p.m. ET.  Application form is available in Nova.

Questions? Concerns? Just want to chat about a project?  We would love to hear from you.  Please reach out to our Artistic Director Lisa O’Connell .

The Waterloo Region Micro-grants are intended to “kick-start” and spark the first idea of a new art work. These grants will aide professional artists in investigation of their practice, with a focus on process, iterative learning, collaboration, and deep thinking.

Eligibility: Artist must be a resident of Waterloo Region. All artistic disciplines are welcome.

Application Requirements: Microgrant program is for exploration, learning, and time to investigate a project or research question. Timelines of project can vary depending on individual project needs but must be started by June 30, 2025. All Microgrants are in the amount of $1,000. This represents 1-week of work for one individual artist.

To apply please submit the following to hello@patthedog.org

•  A Letter of Interest (Max 2 pages) Describe the Project/Research to be undertaken with the Microgrant, articulate the questions and curiosities that you are exploring, describe the process that you wish to undertaking.
•  A resume or CV.

APPLICATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 15, 2024. Close November 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Selection Process: All applications will be read by a selection committee of members headed by Lisa O’Connell, Artistic Director/Pat the Dog Theatre Creation. Pat the Dog and our Jury provide all administration of the Waterloo Region Microgrants in-kind in support of our local artists.

Accessibility: Pat the Dog encourages submissions from all individuals. We are committed to the practice of inclusion and diversification. We will make every effort to identify and remove any barriers to inclusion within all aspects of the selection process by making decisions and communicating without regard to ethnicity, age, gender identity or expression, colour, disability, national origin, family or marital status, language, physical or mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or any other characteristic that make our communities and individuals unique.

RECIPIENTS

The 2025 application period received 96 applications from artists in Waterloo Region. While we were able to advocate for an additional $5000 from the City of Kitchener, we regret that many strong projects remained on the table.

Jury for 2025: Denis Longchamps (Executive Director, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery), Tara Butler (Artistic Director, Dust and Soul Dance) and Lisa O’Connell (Artistic Director, Pat the Dog Theatre Creation).