The KAC Newsletter | February '26 Issue 2

Call for Volunteers, Letters Between Us by KHAC, Upcoming Events, and Job, Opportunity, & Grant Board Highlights!

February 15, 2026

KAC NEWS & UPDATES

Volunteer with the KAC!

The Kingston Arts Council is looking for volunteers who want to play a meaningful role in Katarokwi/Kingston’s arts sector.

As a volunteer, you’re not just helping at events. You’re supporting artists, strengthening programs, and contributing to a creative community where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can see themselves reflected in the arts.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Administrative and research support for our Arts Job Board, Opportunities Board, and Grants database

  • Communications support, including social media and newsletter assistance

  • Program support in the Pocket Gallery (installation, deinstallation, patch & paint)

  • Event support at exhibition receptions, festivals, and community engagement activities

  • Bingo fundraising shifts (19+) that directly support KAC programming

How it Works

Volunteering with the KAC is easy and convenient! By using our Volunteer Dashboard, volunteers can get involved in the way that works best for them. Volunteers can choose to sign up for static "Open Shifts" or use "Task Selection" to volunteer for specific tasks and events when they're available.

Open Shifts
Ideal for volunteers who prefer consistency. These are static shifts during office hours. You can create a regular schedule or sign up when convenient. Tasks are assigned upon arrival.

Task Selection
Perfect for those with limited or changing availability. After onboarding, you’ll be notified when specific tasks or events become available based on your interests and training. You decide whether to accept the opportunity.

Each task includes details about priority, timing, and expectations, so you always know what you’re signing up for!

We use a Volunteer Dashboard that gives volunteers real flexibility and choice.

Why Volunteer with KAC?

  • Gain hands-on experience in the arts sector

  • Connect with artists and cultural leaders

  • Build skills in communications, programming, research, and event support

  • Contribute to programs that fund and uplift local creators

Be part of the team that stands behind the artists. Apply today and help sustain the creative sector that shapes Kingston’s cultural life.

POCKET GALLERY

ON DISPLAY: Letters Between Us by Kingston Hidden Artist Collective

Date: 19 January - 13 March 2026
Location: Kingston Arts Council | Unit 115, 370 King St W, Kingston

Letters Between Us is an interactive exhibition by the Kingston Hidden Artist Collective (KHAC) that invites a quiet, two-way exchange between artists and the wider Katarokwi/Kingston public.

Displayed alongside original artwork by KHAC members are two glass jars that form the centre of the exhibition. One contains anonymous handwritten notes from KHAC artists. These messages share things the artists wish the public knew about them, or words they have carried privately, including reflections, memories, truths, and moments of humanity. The second jar invites visitors to respond by leaving their own handwritten message of encouragement, reflection, or gratitude.

Through artwork, writing, and shared reflection, Letters Between Us centres dignity, trust, and connection, and asks what becomes possible when artists feel seen and what responsibility we carry, as a public, when we are invited to listen.

EVENTS

Kingston Canadian Film Festival
Date: 25 February - 1 March 2026

For over a quarter century, KCFF has been committed to promoting the best of our national cinema, inviting filmmakers from coast-to-coast-to-coast to attend and celebrate alongside our passionate and dedicated audience.

This year, KCFF presents more than 100 individual films and more than five dozen screenings. They’re thrilled to kick things off with Hubert Davis’ YOUNGBLOOD, their official opening night gala film. The KCFF26 lineup also includes more than 30 non-film events, including industry development sessions at Queen’s University, as well as live music concerts and stand-up comedy.

Performing this year at KCFF26 are musical artists Bif Naked, July Talk, Born Ruffians, Julianna Riolino, Ancient Shapes, and The Codas, as well as comedians Shaun Majumder, Mark Forward, K. Trevor Wilson, Guled Abdi, and more. There are tons to do in just five short days, and thrilled to have you along for the ride.

MiCiv Project
Date: 26 February 2026

The MiCiv Project brings military and civilian artists together in creative collaboration. This new physical theatre work-in-progress, directed by Michael Du Maresq, presents authentic stories drawn from the lived experiences of Canadian Armed Forces veterans, explored through movement and performance.

The MiCiv Project is a collaborative physical theatre initiative that creates space for shared storytelling between military and civilian communities. Through a structured creative process, participants work together to explore personal experiences and perspectives using movement-based performance.

This work-in-progress reflects an ongoing artistic exploration and invites audiences into the creative process as stories continue to take shape.

Thursday, February 26 | 19:30 EST
Tett Centre for Learning and Creativity
370 King St W, Kingston

There are always plenty of arts events happening in Kingston and the surrounding area. Check out our Arts Events Calendar to view our full list of upcoming events!

JOBS

Museum Assistant (Murney Tower)
Remuneration: $18.00/hourly
Deadline: 15 February 2026

Communications and Marketing Coordinator (Queen's University - Agnes Etherington Art Gallery)
Remuneration: $60,775.00 - $74,105.00/yearly
Deadline: 27 February 2026

Onboard: Tour Guide (Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises & Trolleys)
Remuneration: $19.05/hourly
Deadline: 8 April 2026

School Photographer (Edge Imaging)
Remuneration: $19.00 - $21.00/hourly
Deadline: Until Filled

OPPORTUNITIES

Call for Submissions:
2026 TK Fringe Festival (Theatre Kingston)
Deadline: 20 February 2026 | 6:00 PM

Call for Submissions:
The Coalesce Residency (Modern Fuel)
Deadline: 21 February 2026

Call for Artists:
Permanent Outdoor Artwork (Toppling Monuments - Queen's University)
Deadline: 22 February 2026

Call for Submissions:
Annual Juried Exhibition: Mending Ways (Modern Fuel)
Deadline: 1 March 2026

Call for Auditions:
Very Heaven (Domino Theatre)
Deadline: 8 March 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | 10 March 7:00 PM -

Call for Applications:
Come Play by the Lake One-Act Festival (Domino Theatre)
Deadline: 29 March 2026

Call for Applications:
Organ Scholarship (The Royal Canadian College of Organists) 
Deadline: 31 March 2026

Call for Artists:
THIRDSPACE Emerging Artist Residency (OCAD University)
Deadline: 2 April 2026

GRANTS

Below is a snapshot of upcoming grant deadlines. To view our more comprehensive and fully navigable database of grant opportunities at the local, provincial, and national levels, please visit the KAC Grants Board!

Feature Films - Marketing Program (TeleFilm Canada)
Deadline: 18 February 2026

Capital Grant (Ontario Trillium Foundation)
Deadline: March 4 | 5:00 PM

Dance Projects (Ontario Arts Council)
Deadline: 12 March 2026 | 1:00 PM

Media Arts Projects (Ontario Arts Council)
Deadline: 13 March 2026 | 1:00 PM

Music Recording Projects (Ontario Arts Council)
Deadline: 21 April | 1:00 PM

SUPPORT THE KAC

Love the arts? So do we!

When you support the Kingston Arts Council, you’re helping empower an arts sector that drives innovation, fuels the local economy, and enriches the lives of everyone in Katarokwi/Kingston.

Your donation – whether one-time, monthly, or annual – enables us to deliver impactful programs and services that support the artists and creatives shaping our cultural industry.

As a registered charity, we’ll provide a charitable tax receipt for your contribution. Join us in building a thriving, sustainable arts sector.

THE KINGSTON ARTS COUNCIL IS PROUDLY FUNDED BY