Pat the Dog Theatre Creation is delighted to announce the 2026 program of Micro-grants for Waterloo Region artists will be launching soon.
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.
Pat the Dog Theatre Creation is delighted to announce the 2025 program of Micro-grants for Waterloo Region artists: 30 micro-grants of $1,000 each ($30,000 total) with each micro-grant representing the equivalent of 1-week paid work. This program is a is made possible through the support of Waterloo Region Community Foundation ($15,000), City of Waterloo ($10,000) and City of Kitchener ($5,000).
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 14, 2025. 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.
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).
