Our Artist in Residence program is a self-directed residency offering artists the opportunity to research, develop and produce new or ongoing bodies of work, with dedicated studio time. The Artist in Residence program offers opportunities for artists to work in the community, develop arts-based engagement activities, and deliver creative projects that generate meaningful connections. The program sees artists work collaboratively with community members in initiatives where the participants take a central role as creators, producers, and performers or as active audiences for the project. With a goal of contributing to the growing vibrancy of our neighbourhoods, the Artist in Residence program seeks to inspire participation and relationship-building where art (the process of creating together) acts as a catalyst for individual and community engagement. Residencies are for artists or artist collectives working in the visual, performance, literary, and musical arts.
June-August 2026 Artist in Residence
Meet Port Coquitlam’s new Artist in Residence in Leigh Square, Sarah Kennedy. Sarah’s practice centres on movement, collaboration, and creating inclusive spaces for creative expression. Through her work, Sarah explores how dance can connect people, encourage self-expression, and transform everyday public spaces into sites of shared artistic experience.
During her residency from June to August 2026, Sarah will lead Dance is for a Small Space—a free, community-engaged dance program that invites participants of all ages and experience levels to explore movement, creativity, and collaboration. Through a series of interactive workshops held at Leigh Square, participants will learn the fundamentals of choreography, including developing themes, shaping movement, and working with rhythm and dynamics, while building confidence in their own creative voice.
Workshops will take place primarily outdoors in Leigh Square, with occasional indoor rehearsals as needed (weather permitted). Please note that photography and videography may occur during workshops and the final performance for promotional purposes.
Designed to be inclusive and intergenerational, the program fosters meaningful connections and encourages shared learning across diverse perspectives. The residency will culminate in an informal public performance on August 25, 2026, celebrating the collective work created throughout the workshop series and inviting the community to experience dance in an open, welcoming public setting.
To learn more about Sarah Kennedy and her artistic practice, please visit sarahhhkennedyy.weebly.com/
These programs are supported by the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation’s Community Cultural Development (CCD) Investment Program.
Public Engagement
Related links
