Call for Submissions: Young Lungs Dance Exchange Movement Artist Residency

Call for Submissions: Young Lungs Dance Exchange Movement Artist Residency

Residency Runs: November 2025 – April 2026
Location: Winnipeg, MB

YLDE Artist Residency is a program designed to support the kinesthetic and choreographic inquiries of artists from all disciplines engaging in dance and/or movement-based work by providing resources such as artists fees, studio space, and public sharing opportunities. The purpose of the residency is to allow for in-depth research, critical thinking, risk-taking, professional development, skill enhancement and an exchange of ideas.

Deadline for Submissions: Friday, October 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST

Equity & Accessibility

YLDE is committed to equitable access and to fostering a safe and respective environment. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, artists of colour, disabled artists, 2SLGBTQIA+ artists, and artists from equity-deserving communities.

Applications will be reviewed and chosen by a selection committee consisting of three artists, at least one f whom will be BIPOC, and one of whom will be part of the 2SLGTQIA+ community.

  • YLDE has funds set aside to support accessibility-related costs. Selected artists are encouraged to work with us to identify needs.
  • A total of five (5) artists or artistic teams will be selected according to the criteria listed below:
    • No less than two (2) projects will be Manitoban-led.
    • Up to two (2) projects may be out-of-town-led.
    • A minimum of two (2) Black, Indigenous, or artist of colour (or artistic team lead) will be selected.
  • YLDE will host an online Q&A session on: Friday, October 17 from 1pm-2pm.
    Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9477787239?omn=87515874568 

General Assessment Considerations:

  • Does the application clearly indicate working within dance/movement including any of its expanded forms?
  • Does the applicant clearly indicate what research will take place during the residency?
  • Does the residency contribute to furthering the applicant’s practice? Does the application propose future continuation of the work beyond YLDE´s residency.
  • Are some of the following addressed in the application? Critical thinking, Experimentation, Process sharing, Collaboration, Bold choices, Risk taking, Play
  • Does the applicant provide a clear plan for how they will facilitate their Open Studio session? 

Applications are welcomed from local, national, and international contexts.

Successful applicants can expect to receive an invitation either for a research, creation or Technical residency.

Artists receive:

  • $3,000 artist fee
  • Access to studio space (up to 50 hrs) provided by YLDE – artist studio with hard wood floor, high ceilings, and natural light, 40’x20′ 
  • 1 Public sharing event facilitated by YLDE of the work/ work in-progress
  • Photo & video documentation of the Open studio & Public sharing events
  • Artistic Response by a commissioned essayist
  • Research publication on YLDE website.

Each artist/group is required to adhere to the following:

  • YLDE Safer Spaces Policy
  • Open Studio Sharing: the artist will facilitate a 1.5 hour – 2 hour practice share that will engage up to 10 registered artists/participants from our community
  • All artists involved must be available to share their work/ work-in progress at the facilitated Public Sharing culminating their residency.
  • Submit feedback form at the end of residency (YLDE provided) 

Dates:

Residencies take place in 2-week sessions on the following dates:

  • November 24 – December 5, 2025
  • January 26– February 6, 2026
  • February 23 – March 6, 2026
  • March 23 – April 3, 2026
  • April 20 – May 1, 2026 

Applicants must indicate their scheduling preferences in their application by listing:

1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th choice of dates. YLDE cannot guarantee applicants will receive their first choice of residency date, but we will do our best to accommodate each artist’s preferences.

Application Form

https://forms.gle/SCGRSev91f71urCx7

Application Requirements:

  1. Contact info (name, pronouns, email, phone, address)
  2. Photo with Credits (headshot or still image) *for promotional use 
  3. Project description (800 words max) -PDF only

Tell us about the work you are proposing for this artist residency. What stage is the work in? What do you hope to accomplish in the 50 hours provided? Do you envision where your work will go beyond this residency? How will you share this work with a small group of participants in your Open Studio Practice Share? -PDF only

  1. CV (max 1 page per collaborator)- PDF only
  2. Biography of lead artist(s) (250 words each, for promotional use) – PDF only
  3. Two items of support material (Vimeo, YouTube, PDFs, images).(***Google Drive links will not be accepted.***). Please provide information on what you would like the jury to focus on if you are providing material that is longer than 4 minutes. Max jury review time: 8 mins
  4. Deadline: Friday, October 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST

For questions, including accessibility support , please do not hesitate to contact Alex Elliott at [email protected]

Young Lungs Dance Exchange is a not-for-profit artist-run organization committed to the development, creation, and presentation of contemporary dance and performance on Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The 2025-26 Research Residency is made possible with the generous support of Winnipeg Arts Council, Manitoba Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts.