Wander – Artistic Interventions in Unexpected Places

In celebration of BPAC’s 15th Anniversary Season, The Burlington Performing Arts Centre invites artists, collectives, cultural organizations, and community groups to submit proposals for WANDER – a new site-specific arts experience unfolding throughout the hidden spaces of BPAC on Saturday, September 26, 2026 .

We welcome bold ideas of all scales from both emerging and established creators working across disciplines from across Halton region and beyond.

Inspired by the idea of sonder – the realization that every passerby holds a rich and complex inner world – WANDER transforms overlooked corners of BPAC into intimate encounters with art, performance and human connection.

Audiences will move through backstage corridors, freight elevators, storage rooms, rehearsal studios, loading bays, stairwells, and other unexpected spaces, discovering fleeting artistic interventions. WANDER will share curated artistic projects and selected proposals from this open call.

BPAC is seeking submissions from emerging and established creators form Halton region and beyond whose work responds to the themes of sonder – hidden spaces and unexpected audience encounters.

Together, these projects will create a cohesive and heightened journey throughout the building that celebrates a range of artistic voices and forms.

Selected artists/groups will receive: A professional artist fee Direction and support from Wander’s Artistic Director Production and technical support from BPAC Access to the venue for site visits An opportunity to be part of a cool, new project!

We’re especially interested in proposals that: Creates intimate, surprising, or emotionally resonant audience experiences Explore themes of connection, presence, hidden lives, memory, transformation Are low-tech, self-sufficient, and high-impact Can function within a promenade-style audience flow Projects may take one of two forms: Micro-Performances: Short live works lasting 1–5 minutes with a brief reset between audience groups.

Durational Installations: Continuous or looped experiences audiences may encounter as they move through the building.

Event Structure WANDER will unfold across three public moments on September 26, 2026: 11:30am – BPAC Founders’ Reception and Welcome 1pm–4pm – Free Culture Days Presentation open to the public 7pm – Ticketed Evening Experience featuring curated audience tours, enhanced installations, and food and beverage experiences.

For one day only, BPAC will become a living playground of artistic discovery where audiences do not simply watch performances, they wander through them.

Possible Spaces Artists may propose work for spaces such as: Freight elevator Orchestra pit Main lobby Dressing rooms Basement storage areas Loading dock /garage doors Lobby thresholds and transitional spaces Studio space Main theatre (audience bowl area) Outside areas / perimeter of BPAC Artists are also welcome to propose a “wild card” location within or around the building.

Application Requirements Applicants will provide: Artist statement / bio Project description Preferred format (Micro-Performance or Durational Installation) Space preferences or site ideas Technical requirements Response: How does your proposal explore the idea of “sonder,” a glimpse into another person’s inner world? (250 words max) Eligibility This call is o pen to emerging and established artists, collectives, community groups and interdisciplinary creators from Burlington, Halton region and surrounding communities.

Selection Process Applications will be considered based on artistic merit, creativity, connection to the theme, responsiveness to space, feasibility and the overall balance of disciplines and experiences represented throughout the event.

This initiative is designed to support experimentation, imagination and celebration of BPAC’s 15th Anniversary season. Artists and community groups at all stages of practice are encouraged to bring forward ideas that are bold, intimate, playful, surprising and/or deeply personal.

Deadline & Timeline Applications open: Wednesday June 3, 2026 Application Deadline: Tuesday June 30, 2026 @ 11:59pm Artist Notification: By Friday July 10, 2026 BPAC Site Visits & Creative Development: July 15-17, 2026 Technical & Production Advancing: July 22-25, 2026 Production Week (Load in, Rehearsals): Sept 24-25, 2026 Event Date: Saturday September 26, 2026 Click Here to Apply Join BPAC to celebrate our 15th anniversary season with this new site-responsive arts initiative that invites artists and audiences to experience our venue in unexpected ways.

Wander will identify 15 unique spaces in and around the Centre – hidden corners, thresholds, and in-between places – and invite artists to animate them with bold, intimate, and imaginative work.

Through an open call and curated selection process, Wander will culminate in a joyful community celebration, transforming BPAC into a living, breathing playground of performance, discovery, and connection, where art pops up, surprises