Creative residencies

Application status: closed and under review.

laSala opens a new open call for artists and professional companies working in the field of live Arts for children, for projects that will undertake a residency in 2027 and/or 2028, with the possibility of development until 2029. Proposals may be submitted for one year, for two years, or for the full three-year period, depending on the needs and trajectory of each project.

laSala is a centre for creation, research, exhibition and training that understands childhood as an active cultural subject with full rights, and places the relationship with audiences, mediation and community at the core of creative processes.

Within this framework, #EnCreació is configured as a device for artistic, relational and research support that facilitates the development of projects in constant dialogue with children, families, educational centers and the territory.

Schedule

• Application deadline: 12 April 2026 at 23:59.
• Interview period: from 23 to 28 April 2026.
• Final decision: 18 May 2026.

1. How we understand creative processes

At laSala, creation is understood as a relational process, based on interaction with audiences and on the openness of artistic processes.

In this sense, it is necessary for projects to incorporate work with children from the earliest stages of research, audience feedback in the development of the piece, and the creation of spaces of trust, listening and dialogue.

Projects may be presented at any stage of their development: from the initial or investigation phase, through research and development processes, to the technical phase.

The residency does not follow a fixed schedule; rather, it is defined flexibly and shaped according to the specific needs of each project and its stage of development.

2. What we offer

The residency program of laSala is based on a tailored support framework, adapted to the characteristics of each project, its stage of development, and its relationship with laSala’s artistic project.

This framework includes the following lines of support:

2.1. Space and resources

Inclou la cessió d’espais escènics, l’accés a recursos tècnics i l'assessorament de l’equip de professionals de laSala, així com l’accés a la fitxa tècnica del centre.

Includes the provision of performance spaces, access to technical resources and support from laSala’s professional team, as well as access to the venue’s technical specifications.

2.2. Artistic and professional support

• Advice on direction and dramaturgy.
• Production support.
• Support for distribution and access to professional markets.
• Advice on communication and positioning.
• Support in fundraising.

2.3. Relation with audiences 

• Open rehearsals with school and family audiences.
• Qualitative feedback sessions.
• Involvement of the educational community and families.

2.4 Laboratories and research

• Classroom-based laboratories in educational settings (early childhood, primary and secondary education).
• Direct experimentation with children.
• Support from the mediation team.

2.5. Training

Online training sessions of one hour are offered, shared among resident projects and focused on the following areas:

• Creation for children.
• Production.
• Distribution and markets.

3. Creative support strands

Among the selected projects, specific support will be granted each year to three initiatives, in line with the following strategic strands:

• Support for inclusion.
• Support for emerging talent.
• Support for risk and innovation.

3.1. Support for inclusion

In this call, inclusion is not understood as a theme, but as an artistic practice. This implies actively incorporating, within creative processes, realities related to disability or situations of social exclusion.

Particular consideration will be given to projects in which the participation of the groups involved forms part of the creative process, the final outcome and/or the performance of the work, generating spaces for genuine and collaborative engagement. Furthermore, the ability of projects to move beyond representation or an external perspective will also be considered a relevant criterion in the evaluation process.

3.2. Support for emerging talent 

Within the framework of this call, emerging talent is understood in relation to live arts for children. It includes young artists, artists engaging with this field for the first time, and companies with a maximum of one production for children premiered.

3.3. Suport for risk and innovation

This strand is addressed to projects that incorporate processes of research and experimentation in the field of the performing arts. Particular consideration will be given to proposals that engage with new scenic languages, interdisciplinary practices, or new performance formats.

4. Selection criteria

Projects will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Relevance to the field of live arts for children.
2. Artistic quality of the proposal.
3. Degree of risk and experimentation.
4. Relational capacity, understood as the effective relationship with audiences.
5. Integration of inclusion within the creative process.
6. Sustainability, both in environmental and relational terms.
7. Integration of a gender perspective.
8. Connection to the local context.
9. International outlook.
10. Integration of mediation within the process.

4.1. Selection process

Approximately twenty projects are expected to be selected, distributed indicatively as ten projects for each of the years 2027 and 2028. Selected projects may be developed between 2027 and 2029 and will become part of laSala’s residency programme.

The selection process will be carried out in three phases: an initial phase of project pre-selection, a second phase consisting of interviews with the shortlisted projects, and a final selection phase in which the selected projects and the beneficiaries of the grants will be determined.

4.2. Residency conditions

The use of spaces will follow the centre’s regular opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 15:00, and Friday from 9:00 to 19:00, with a one-hour break at midday.

Any extensions to these hours, as well as any additional technical requirements, will be the responsibility of the company.

For any questions or comments, please contact comunicacio@lasalateatre.cat.