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PITCH ROOM 2026: Call for Submissions

  • 11 hours ago
  • 3 min read

We invite Nova Scotian artists to take part in PITCH ROOM, where you can share your project ideas with presenters, producers, programmers, and other industry guests during the Industry Series at STAGES 2026. 


PITCH ROOM lets artists give a short, focused pitch about a project they want to develop, tour, present, or take to the next stage. It’s a chance to practice talking about your work, get real-time feedback, build connections, and see how presenters and producers respond to new performance ideas.You won’t be pitching into the void. Artists present directly to a panel of invited guests (our Creative Cohort) who listen, respond, and ask questions. The wider Industry audience is also in the room, learning from the exchange and joining the conversation if there’s time.


PITCH ROOM is more than just selling a finished project. It’s a conversation about the realities of touring, programming, collaboration, and what it takes for performance work to reach new audiences. It also helps artists improve how they share their artistic vision, context, and future goals. 

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Who should apply?

To be eligible, you must live in Nova Scotia and be actively involved in theatre, dance, live art, or interdisciplinary performance. Both individuals and groups can apply.Your project can be new, in development, recently finished, or ready for future presentation or touring. We welcome projects at any stage or size, as long as pitching and discussing them with a panel would be helpful.

This may be a good fit if you are:

  • preparing a work for future presentation or touring

  • developing a new project and seeking partners, feedback, or context

  • wanting to strengthen how you speak about your work

  • seeking insight into how presenters, producers, or programmers might understand the project

  • working through a creative, producing, or touring question

  • ready to test how the project lands with people beyond your immediate circle

We encourage both emerging and established artists to apply.

 

What to expect

If selected, you’ll take part in PITCH ROOM during the Industry Series on Saturday, June 6th. Each artist will have about 5 minutes to pitch their project, followed by questions, feedback, and discussion.


The panel will respond first with questions, thoughts, and feedback. The wider Industry audience will listen and may be invited to ask questions or share responses if there’s time.


This is a short pitch, not a full performance. You can use images, video, text, objects, or a brief live element, but the main goal is to clearly share your project, your artistic vision, and what kind of future or support you’re looking for.

 

What to submit

You will be asked to include the following in your submission:

  • Name

  • Project title or working title

  • A short description of the project, 150–250 words

  • A short bio, up to 100 words

  • What stage the project is at

  • Why you want to pitch this project now

  • What audiences experience in the work

  • What you are hoping for: touring, presentation, partners, producing support, feedback, or another next step

  • How you plan to use your 5 minutes

  • Any basic technical needs

  • Optional: 1–2 links to supporting material

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You don’t need to send a full pitch deck. We just need enough information to understand your project, its direction, and how it could benefit from the Pitch Room.

 

Selection process

Kat, Richie, and Dustin will choose PITCH ROOM projects based on:

  • clarity and strength of the project idea

  • readiness for a focused pitch conversation

  • potential benefit to the artist or project

  • suitability for the 5-minute format

  • relevance to presentation, touring, collaboration, or future development

  • balance of different practices, forms, and voices

Since space is limited, we can’t include all submissions. If your project isn’t selected, it’s not a reflection on you or your work, though we know it can sometimes feel that way.

 

Apply

Please send your expression of interest via this Google Form:

Deadline to submit is Friday, May 22nd

Selected artists will be contacted by Tuesday, May 26th 

 

Have a question or need assistance?

 
 
 

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