The Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI) Program for the Arts supports a range of events designed to enhance the profile of the Arts at the University of Toronto. Supported activities may include visits from artists or scholars, lecture series, symposia, exhibitions, performances, and other imaginative arts initiatives that advance the work of the JHI and showcase the University’s leading humanities scholarship.
For 2026-27, the Program welcomes proposals related to our annual theme Doubles, Doppelgangers. Proposals on other topics will be considered, but preference is given to on-theme events. Applications will be evaluated based on conceptual fit, methodology, and anticipated research outcomes.
Eligibility
The JHI invites applications from appointed members of the tenured, continuing, and teaching faculty in a humanities or social sciences discipline from University of Toronto divisions affiliated with the JHI: Faculty of Arts & Sciences, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Music, OISE, Faculty of Information, UTM, or UTSC. Proposals from graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and sessional instructors will be considered if the applicant collaborates with an appointed faculty member from a division affiliated with the JHI.
Program Guidelines and Priorities
The following guidelines normally apply:
- Each year, the Program prioritizes at least one event that engages the broader public
- Events must take place at the University of Toronto. Interdisciplinary activities spanning multiple units and campuses are prioritized
- Recurring events previously funded through the Program may be eligible for one additional year of funding (not necessarily consecutive)
- All funds must support events held between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. Unspent funds must be returned to the JHI and cannot be carried forward
- A/V recordings should be included as a regular budget item, with a clear explanation of their research or pedagogical value in the Description and Rationale. Event organizers are responsible for arranging recordings
Funding
Funding categories:
- Small: $1,000-$3,000
- Medium: $3,000-$5,000
- Large: up to $10,000
What will NOT be funded:
- Projects with total budgets exceeding $30,000 (from all sources). For large-scale projects, applicants are encouraged to propose funding for a specific component
- Performer fees exceeding $3,000 and student assistance costs exceeding $500
- Honoria for U of T faculty
- Subventions for academic publishing. Exceptions may be made for exhibition catalogues that form part of a larger academic event
- Routine activities typically funded by individual departments (e.g., departmental colloquia, learned society meetings)
- Organizer personal payouts (wage/salary/benefit)
- Permanent equipment purchases or ongoing subscriptions
- Publicity and space rental costs are not normally eligible
Support and Resources Provided by the JHI
- The JHI provides a basic publicity package, including an electronic in-house flyer (upon request with at least one week’s notice), website posting, social media and newsletter promotion. Event organizers are responsible for any printing
- The JHI’s first-floor multipurpose room (seating 100) is available for funded events
Application Components
Applications must be submitted online as a single PDF containing:
- Description and Rationale (maximum 500 words), including the project’s connection to the 2026–27 theme Doubles, Doppelgangers
- Proposed Budget Outline showing all confirmed and anticipated sources of support and detailing all proposed payments to graduate students and performers
Application Timeline
- Application Open: February 3, 2026
- Application Deadline: March 24, 2026, at 4:00pm EDT
- Selection Notification: by end of April, 2026
- Event Period: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Contact and Additional Resources
- Check out our FAQs below for detailed guidance
- Questions about this opportunity? Contact Dr. Kimberley Yates, JHI Associate Director
- Technical questions about the application form or process? Contact Sonja Johnston, JHI Communications Officer
2026-27: Doubles, Doppelgangers
Doubles, mirror images, and infinite recursive nesting of identical structures are omnipresent in nature and in culture. Our stories rely on concepts such as the play within a play, game within a game, dream within a dream, mise en abyme, self-representation, halls of mirrors, replicas/worlds in miniature, imposters, cycles, microhistories and metanarratives. Within our reflections on mind, thought, and metaphysics, we explore reality as (nested) simulation, infinite or eternal spaces or beings, cosmologies where each thing reflects/contains each other thing, hauntings/ghostly echoes/premonitions, and reflections into infinity. Our reflections of nature, whether human, biological, or computational, rely crucially on notions of recursion, recurrence, fractals, and the distortions that accrue across them (mutation, tradition, drift). In disciplines across the humanities, we observe the use of fractals, spirals, images contained in themselves, doubles, reflections (of reflections of reflections), and rhizomes. What might an exploration of doubles and recursion reveal about the ways that we reflect our realities?
Who is eligible to apply?
The JHI invites applications from appointed members of the tenured, continuing, and teaching faculty in a humanities or social sciences discipline from University of Toronto divisions affiliated with the JHI: Faculty of Arts & Sciences, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Music, OISE, or the Faculty of Information, UTM, or UTSC.
Proposals from graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and sessional instructors will be considered if the applicant collaborates with an appointed faculty member from a division affiliated with the JHI.
What types of activities can be funded?
The Program supports events that enhance the profile of the arts at the University of Toronto. Eligible activities may include visits from artists or scholars, performances, exhibitions, concerts, lecture series, symposia, conferences, or other imaginative arts-based initiatives.
What activities are preferred?
- Events that are free and open to the public
- Interdisciplinary initiatives
- Multi-campus initiatives
- Events that engage with the annual theme, Doubles, Doppelgangers
Does my proposal need to be relevant to the annual theme?
Proposals on other topics will be considered, but preference is given to on-theme events.
Who selects applications, and on what basis?
Applications are reviewed in a single annual competition by the JHI Advisory Board. Proposals are evaluated based on their conceptual fit with the annual theme, methodology, and anticipated research outputs.
Where should I hold my event?
All events must take place at (at least) one of the University of Toronto’s three campuses. Please be aware that spaces for exhibitions of art are difficult to book and may not be available. The Program for the Arts does not support events that will be held off-campus.
Can I charge admission for my event?
The JHI prefers to support events that are free and open to the public but recognizes that admission fees may be necessary for certain formats (e.g., theatre productions, concerts). Please include any planned admission charges in your proposed budget.
I missed the deadline but am planning an event related to the annual theme. Can JHI help?
A very small subvention may be available at the Director’s discretion. Please provide a brief event description and budget when making your request..
How much money is available?
Applicants may request up to $10,000 CAD, depending on the scale of the event and available funds.
If my proposal is funded, what budget items cannot be covered by this funding?
The following costs are not eligible:
- Publications, except for catalogues associated with JHI-funded exhibitions
- Performer fees exceeding $3,000
- Student administrative assistance exceeding $500
What kinds of activities are not eligible for funding?
The Program does not fund routine single-unit activities such as departmental colloquia or annual learned society meetings.
Can I use JHI Program for the Arts funding to cover expenses such as accommodation, catering, or alcohol at meals or receptions?
Yes. These are allowable expenses. Alcohol must be served in compliance with University of Toronto Campus Beverage Services policies.
I am working on a multi-year project and need funding for more than one year. Can the Program for the Arts support this work?
Yes, but you must apply separately each year. Funding may be awarded for closely related events for up to two years, not necessarily consecutively.
I received a grant in a previous year. Can I apply again?
Yes. You may apply each year, provided the proposed project is distinct from previously funded ones.
How will the JHI support my event as I plan for it?
- Book JHB100 (seats 100) depending on availability
- Provide advertising and publicity through its newsletter, website, social media, and email lists. Flyer design is available on request with at least one week’s notice (preferably more)
- Offer advice and logistical support on space selection, catering, accommodations, accessibility, recording, and U of T policies, as requested
Can the JHI audio or video record my event?
No. The JHI does not provide recording as an in-house service. Recording costs should be included in your proposed budget, and organizers are responsible for arranging recording and obtaining permissions.
Who owns the rights if I create a recording of my event?
The event organizer retains all rights to any recordings. The JHI is happy to post recordings on our YouTube channel if desired, but this is not required.
Can I retitle or restructure my event after receiving funding?
Yes. You may change the title of your event, but please inform the JHI so we can promote it accurately. If you need to make major changes to the structure, focus, or budget, please submit an updated proposal and budget to the JHI Director for approval.
Can I postpone my event?
Yes. Events may be postponed within the funding period (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027).
Postponements beyond July 1, 2027 are not normally permitted, and unspent funds must be returned to the JHI after that date.
What are my reporting responsibilities?
- Provide event details to the JHI in advance for promotion
- Record attendance (or provide a reasonable estimate)
- Respond to the JHI’s March report request, submitting both a narrative report and a budget report before April 30. If your event is delayed past April 30, provide an interim update and submit your report once it takes place