We are seeking artists and creators who aspire to activate, animate, and illuminate non-traditional spaces with live performance. We strongly encourage projects that consider innovative uses of space, and forefront ecological sustainability in the creation and production of their work. We invite projects that consider immersivity and explore unique audience experiences.

One (1) production will be selected and programmed within the 2026 SummerWorks Performance Festival (August 6-16, 2026). With access to Outside the March’s extensive library of Outfit the March equipment, the production will also receive fully-funded technical personnel to manage the equipment and support the overall artistic vision. Personnel will include experienced professionals and members of the Outside the March Artistic Accomplice Program.

Artists who have just submitted their project proposals to our 2026 Festival Call for Submissions (November 5th deadline) are eligible to apply for The Expansion Pack. The SummerWorks Team will connect with previous applicants via email, and these applicants may elect to simply have their already-submitted application considered in this special Call for Submissions, along with further context about their project’s suitability for The Expansion Pack, as they wish.

Artists that did not submit a project proposal to our previous November 5th deadline are welcome to apply to The Expansion Pack.

The selected production will be presented at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in August 2026. The artist will receive a guaranteed presentation fee and operate under the same framework as any other Festival production.

The Expansion Pack Call for Submissions will be jointly curated by Outside the March and SummerWorks, and it is open to artists and creators based in Canada.

DEADLINE: December 18th, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST

APPLICATION: Online, via Airtable (below)

ACCESSIBILITY: If you require an alternative method for your submission, please contact submissions@summerworks.ca

NOTIFICATION: All applicants will be notified of curatorial decisions in *January 2026

*All applicants will be notified of any timeline shifts or changes via email.

Outside the March creates unforgettable immersive encounters—redefining the experience of theatre for new generations of audiences. They’re one of Canada’s leading immersive theatre companies, with over 30 productions—including 17 world premieres—driven by the conviction that theatre’s secret weapon is the power of communal presence unique to live performance. Read more about their work and their “Outfit the March” capital project at www.outsidethemarch.ca.

>>> View online or download (PDF)

What can The Expansion Pack do for you, and what’s included in the Outfit the March equipment?

LIGHTING
• A wide variety of portable LED fixtures including small scale and moving lights
• Ip-rated housings for indoor/outdoor use
• Wireless and battery-powered units for flexible, cable-free installations
• Compact control infrastructure compatible with touring and site-specific setups
• Small scale and portable fog and haze units

SOUND
• Scalable Meyer Sound speaker system including options for larger and smaller scale venues
• Tools for sound imagining, spatial design, and flexible routing in any venue
• Transmitters and receivers for wireless and wired headset based experiences

VIDEO & PROJECTION
• Laser projectors with interchangeable lenses for flexible throw distances including ultra short throw for small spaces
• Hardware for live streaming video (cameras, a variety of stands, and routing systems)

SCENIC & POWER INFRASTRUCTURE
• Modular truss systems and lightweight rigging components adaptable to varied venues
• Eco-flow portable power units & solar charging for off-grid, underpowered venues or green productions
• A variety of winches for scenic movement and rigging

WARDROBE AND PROPS FABRICATION
• Mobile wardrobe and makeup stations with integrated storage
• 3D printer for rapid prototyping and prop creation

FRONT OF HOUSE & ACCESSIBILITY
• Modular seating and audience infrastructure for different audience layouts
• Accessibility ramps and mobility aids to ensure an inclusive venue
• Mobile front-of-house infrastructure (Square system, digital signage, etc.)

The Expansion Pack is supported by The Canadian Green Alliance, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to greening the performing arts, and it is funded through a Sector Innovation and Development grant from The Canada Council for the Arts.

INFO SESSION:

• December 2nd, 2025 // 7:00 – 8:30 PM
  • Zoom
  • REGISTER HERE

In this session, team members from Outside the March and SummerWorks will review the application materials and the overall curatorial process, responding to questions from online attendees.

ASL interpretation will be provided and a recording will be made available online.

DEADLINE: December 18th, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST

Applicants may be contacted via email in January with questions about their submission, and possibly, to schedule a brief online meeting to follow-up on project proposals.

NOTIFICATION: All applicants will be notified of curatorial decisions in *January 2026

*All applicants will be notified of any timeline shifts or changes via email.

FESTIVAL DATES: August 6 – 16, 2026

One (1) production will be selected from The Expansion Pack Call for Submissions and will be featured during the 36th SummerWorks Performance Festival: August 6 – 16, 2026, in Tkaronto (Toronto), Canada.

As shared above, the project will receive access to Outside the March’s extensive library of Outfit the March equipment, and fully-funded technical personnel to manage the equipment and support the overall artistic vision. Personnel will include experienced professionals and members of the Outside the March Artistic Accomplice Program.

SummerWorks is a presenter, and not a commissioner or a producer of new work. In the context of the Festival, artists and creative collaborators are the producers and owners of their work.

SummerWorks will provide a guaranteed fee of $3,000 CAD to $5,000 CAD (depending on the overall scale of the project and number of performances).   

The guaranteed fee is a Presentation Fee provided for the performance(s) in the Festival. The guaranteed fees are based on industry recommendations from various organizations, including CARFAC, CAEA, and CADA East.

SummerWorks will cover all rental costs for the project’s venue or location, including any fees for required permits.

In addition to the aforementioned venue and production materials/personnel provided through The Expansion Pack, SummerWorks will also provide robust publicity and marketing, technical and performance scheduling, and box office, front-of-house, and volunteer coordination and management. SummerWorks does not provide a stage manager for any Festival projects, and it is expected that all artists include this role/position as part of their own creative team.

In addition to this overall project support, SummerWorks artists and creative collaborators also receive access to free professional development workshops, as well as discounted tickets and rates for all performances, events, and activities during the 11-day Festival.

SummerWorks is committed to continually increasing accessibility for our artists and audiences. This includes extending accessibility practices throughout the entirety of artistic and administrative processes.

At present, our primary application method is online, via Airtable (below).

If you require an alternative method for your submission, please contact submissions@summerworks.ca

If you have any accessibility needs or requests during this submission process, or if you have a question about accessibility at the SummerWorks Performance Festival, please contact submissions@summerworks.ca.

We strive to go beyond the bare minimum standard of accessibility practices in the performing arts and to support artists, programmers, and partner organizations in considering how access can be incorporated throughout all aspects of a production and throughout all stages, from development to presentation. It is our expectation that the artists we work with will also strive to put accessibility practices at the forefront of the creative process and implementation of their work.

To uncover more about accessibility at SummerWorks, click here to view our most recent Festival Accessibility page.

The Expansion Pack Call for Submissions is open to all artists and creators based in Canada, and we warmly welcome applicants from across the country. However, all artists and creative collaborators are responsible for all expenses related to bringing your project to Toronto. We do not cover travel, accommodation, per diem, or freight costs. SummerWorks will gladly provide letters of support to Festival artists for any of their own travel and/or touring funding applications.

All artists and companies participating in the Festival are responsible for obtaining the relevant production rights for their shows and performers.

If any individual in the company or group has a membership in a guild, union, or other professional association, the artist or company must acquire the necessary releases, or pay the required fees to the respective organization. Please note: SummerWorks is currently covered under Canadian Actors Equity Association’s Festival Policy, which allows Equity and ACTRA members to perform in the Festival. More information on how to engage Equity/ACTRA members under this policy can be found at this link.

The artist and/or company is responsible for acquiring permissions, licenses, or rights for any and all copyrighted material in the project.

DEADLINE: December 18th, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST

We look forward to reviewing your submission to The Expansion Pack at SummerWorks!

If you require an alternative method for your submission, please contact submissions@summerworks.ca