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About the Program

Cornish Arts Incubator

This residency aims to facilitate the risk-taking of the allied arts. The goal of this program is to support artists in the creation of work that is outside the boundaries of their genre, discipline, or comfort zone.

Cornish Arts Incubator Residency

Important Dates and Deadlines

Application Opens: Friday, July 17th, 2026

Applications Due: Friday, August 14th, 2026

Announcement by August 19th, 2026

Residency dates: August 24 – September 30, August 31 – September 27, and November 16 – December 20

The intention of Arts Incubator is not to create a final, polished product. Instead, the program seeks to give artists time and space to incubate and begin to develop an idea, concept, or exploration. There groups will be selected to participate in a four-week residency. They will receive three weeks free rental space at the Cornish Playhouse to incubate new artistic ideas, and one week at Alhadeff Studio Theater to polish and present their ideas.

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Statement from the Director

The Cornish community has been a thrill to watch this program grow and provide opportunities for local artists to experiment without the constraints of finishing. All too often we as artists get tied to a deadline or outcome, when sometimes all we need is space to explore ideas, and fail.

– Pinky Estell M.F.A., Director of Operations

Cornish Playhouse’s Public Benefit

Cornish Arts Incubator Residency facilitates risk-taking within visual and performing arts for Washington-based artists. The goal of this program is to support artists in the creation of new work. Artists are encouraged to collaborate with others and step outside the boundaries of a single genre or discipline, or outside the artist’s comfort zone.
Three groups will be selected to participate in a four-week residency. They will receive three weeks free rental space at the Cornish Playhouse to incubate new artistic ideas, and one week at Alhadeff Studio Theater to polish and present their ideas. The use of the space must include a final public presentation of the work completed to date. This does not need to be a formal exhibition or performance, but attendees from the general public should be invited.

 

The Arts Incubator program is part of Cornish Playhouse’s public benefit to the Seattle community. The program is open to anyone over the age of 18, including professional and non-professional artists, teachers, ensembles and groups, and students. The artists must be Washington State residents.

 

Selection Criteria
The selection committee will give preference to proposals that can demonstrate these criteria:

  • Project in an early stage
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Collaboratory
  • Potential impact the Seattle community

 

What is provided as part of the program:

  • Marketing support for the showings

Orientation

Each team will undergo an orientation where Cornish will review the space, safety guidelines, access policy, and storage.

2026 Application

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