Brampton Arts Organization Launches Brampton’s First Free Artist Studio Program

All Brampton-based artists, arts & culture organizations and collectives are encouraged to apply.

BRAMPTON, ON (March 7, 2025) – The Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) is thrilled to announce the launch of the BAO Studio Program, a one-of-a-kind self-directed artist residency that will give five local artists and organizations funding of $1,000 and free workspace at the BAO office in Downtown Brampton from April to July 2025.

In 2021, BAO conducted the city’s first creative space needs assessment through the BIG Brampton Artist Space Survey. The results confirmed the need for affordable creative spaces for both individual artists and organizations. With the launch of BAO’s Open Studio+, the BAO office has been opened to the creative community to use as their studio on the last Wednesday of every month. Building upon the success of Open Studio+, the BAO Studio Program will further help meet the needs of Brampton’s thriving creative community.
 
This program will create five self-directed artist residencies in any artistic discipline, including writing, visual arts, performing arts, music and more, that is suitable to the studio spaces available. In these free spaces, resident artists will explore their creative practice, undertake artistic research and creation, and make and present work in new ways. During the residencies, the selected artist, collectives or organizations will participate in a BAO Studio Program ‘Lunch n Learn’ series that will culminate in an ‘Artist Studio Crawl’ during which all residents are invited to drop in, meet the artists and experience working artist studios.

Studio Spaces Available

4 – 9’x10’ feet rooms
1 – 16’x20’ foot room

Information Session

A free virtual information session for interested applicants will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 12 – 1:15 pm. Applicants can register here.

Application Process

The program requirements and application form are available online at bramptonartsorg.ca/opportunities/open-calls/.

The application period will close on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

A selection committee will assess applications according to the following criteria:

• Artistic merit of the proposed project
• Suitability of the proposed project for the space and resources available at BAO
• Ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project

Links
Photographs of the artist studios and BAO office can be found here.

Brampton is home to an incredibly talented arts community, and the new BAO Studio Program is another game-changer for local artists. By providing free studio space and financial support, this initiative ensures that creatives have the resources they need to thrive. The City of Brampton is proud to support BAO and this program as we invest in arts and culture as a key part of our city’s identity and economic growth.

Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

Arts and culture are essential to building a vibrant, connected city. By giving artists, a free space to work in and financial support, BAO is fostering a thriving creative ecosystem in Brampton. The BAO Studio Program gives artists the space and support they need to create, collaborate, and contribute to Brampton’s cultural landscape. This special program strengthens our city’s creative economy and makes the arts more accessible to our residents.

Gurpartap Singh Toor, Regional Councillor, Wards 9 & 10; Council Representative, Board of Directors, Brampton Arts Organization

The BAO Studio Program is an innovative response to the challenges that artists can face in securing affordable workspaces. This initiative is about more than just space—it’s about empowering Brampton artists, engaging our community, and demonstrating Brampton is a leader in cultural development.

Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 and 5; Chair, Community Services, City of Brampton

The BAO Studio Program is a first-of-its-kind initiative locally—one that recognizes the urgent need for affordable artist space while also addressing financial precarity in the arts. We are not only giving artists a place to create but also investing directly in their work. This program represents a bold step forward in making Brampton a city where artists can thrive, and we’re excited to see the impact it will have on our local creative community.

Michael Vickers, Executive Director, Brampton Arts Organization

About the Brampton Arts Organization 

The Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) is a registered non-profit that champions Brampton’s diverse arts, culture and creative industries and advocates for the #BramptonArtist. We work to build a thriving, confident, valued, and empowered creative scene by offering a range of programs, services and resources. In this, BAO is a key partner in fulfilling the City of Brampton’s strategic vision and Culture Master Plan. Learn more at bramptonartsorg.ca and connect with us at Instagram, Facebook, X(formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

Media inquiries, please contact:

Gardenia Flores, Marketing & Communications Lead
gardenia@bramptonartsorg.ca