Are you part of the 2026 Fringe Festival, age 15-30, and have a connection to Scarborough? You may be eligible for a YES performance grant!

GFT’s Youth Engagement Scarborough (YES) Program

Youth Engagement Scarborough (YES) is a grant program that supports young leaders in Scarborough in creating community-driven arts projects. Participants receive project funding, one-on-one mentorship from a working artist, and hands-on project management training. If you're passionate about using art to inspire and connect with your community, this program is for you.

Who is Guild Festival Theatre?

For more than a decade, Guild Festival Theatre has enchanted patrons at beautiful open-air productions at the stunning Greek Theatre in Scarborough's iconic Guild Park. Scarborough's only professional theatre, GFT is proud to champion local arts and culture and has been honoured with numerous awards and commendations, including “Best Live Theatre” (Scarborough Mirror), the Urban Hero Award (Metroland Media), the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Award, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Engaging a wide range of established, emerging, and community artists, GFT is committed to the growth and development of the arts in Scarborough.

Application Deadline: Friday February 27th @ 11:59pm

What You Get 

  • A grant between $1,000 – $5,000 to support your project

  • Mentorship from a professional artist

  • Hands-on project management and creative training sessions

  • A chance to engage your community & connect with other young artist leaders

  • A showcase to share your artistic project

What is the YES Showcase

  • The showcase is an event produced by Guild Festival Theatre to celebrate, present and even pitch you and your project alongside other YES participants and invited guests.

  • There will be minimal lighting, sound, technical, and staging elements available. There will be no rehearsals in the space, just a simple tech the day of the event.

  • You can share up to 15 minutes of work—this could be an excerpt, a full piece, or a work-in-progress showing, etc.

  • Any related costs (e.g. actors, props, costumes, materials, etc.) should be included in your grant budget.

  • If you choose to produce your own event (reading, show, cabaret etc), you will still be required to present at the YES Showcase. Please include the associated costs to your event (rentals, directors, technical needs etc.) in your grant budget. 

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: Friday February 27th @ 11:59pm

  • Funding Released: Early April

  • Project Period: now – August 24, 2026

  • Skills-Building Workshops: TBD (One evening in April and one in June)

Who Can Apply?

  • Youth (ages 15-30) with a connection to Scarborough (A connection to Scarborough includes living, studying, working (including unpaid work). Do you engage with the community in another way? Tell us about it!)

  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and youth with a granted refugee status

  • Performing Arts-based projects that engage multiple youth in the community

  • No prior professional creative or project management experience needed—just passion and creativity!

  • Priority will be given to:

    • Indigenous youth

    • Visible minority/racialized youth

    • Youth with disabilities

    • 2SLGBTQ+ youth

    • Newcomer youth

    • Youth from official language minority communities (OLMC)

    • Youth living in rural or remote areas

    • Youth from low-income households

Not sure if you qualify? Reach out! outreach@guildfestivaltheatre.ca

To apply, please fill out this form.

 
 

YES is funded in part by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 12–30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps