Individuals are eligible to apply for PAL Ottawa's units if they meet the following criteria:

-They are a professional artist or arts worker* 
-They can live independently
-Artists and arts workers of all ages are welcome to apply; however, applicants 55 years of age and older will be given priority. 

*Please review our FAQ titled "How does PAL Ottawa define a professional artist and arts worker?”

People with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to apply. Please see the FAQ titled, "Can I apply if I have a disability?”.

We encourage applications from anyone interested to populate our waiting list when demand for new tenants is warranted.

A professional artist or arts worker is an individual who has become established as an artist or arts worker in any discipline, or in an associated occupation and can be described under one of these categories:

1. Professional artist (or professional artisan):
   • An illustrative list of artistic professions includes: painter, illustrator, printmaker, sculptor, art photographer, street artist, designer, animation artist, video artist, performance artist, architect, musician, conductor, singer, songwriter, actor, playwright, comedy artist, puppeteer, storyteller, street theatre artist, slam poet, scriptwriter, designer, writer, novelist, comic artist, poet, novelist, humourist, dancer, choreographer, fiction writer, caricaturist.
2. Technical professional: 
   • An illustrative list of technical professions includes: cameraman, gaffer/lighting technician, sound recorder, set design artist, sound design artist, make-up artist, motion graphics artist, costume designer, editor, visual effects artist.
3. Specialized professional in the arts:
   • An illustrative list of specialized professions in the arts includes: art conservator, curator, art critic/journalist/researcher, art educator, arts producer, tuner of music instruments, art director, manufacturer and maintainer of music instruments, archivist, translator.
4. Entertainer:
   • An illustrative list of entertainers includes: musician, dancer, singer, fashion model, fire-breather, pyrotechnic artist, magician, circus artist, spoken word artist or other performing artist.

To demonstrate this, the artist/artisan: 

• May have specialized training in their artistic field/allied arts profession. Training may include academic instruction, apprenticeship or mentoring in any applied arts field or allied occupation.  
• Is recognized as a professional by establishing a reputation of artistic/ professional merit, as judged by peers, through a record of exhibitions, public commissions, sale of works or educational attainment.
• Receives or has received compensation for their work, including but not limited to: sales, fees, commissions, royalties, residuals, grants and awards, any of which may reasonably be included as professional or business income.

In creating new relationships with private developers, PAL Ottawa seeks to ensure that units will be designed for and designated to people with disabilities who are capable of independent living.

In creating new relationships with private developers, PAL Ottawa seeks to ensure that units will be designed for and designated to people with visual disabilities. PAL Ottawa is seeking to have every floor and all amenity rooms labelled, including Braille and to have Braille standard within elevators. Additional features PAL Ottawa is seeking to build into the design of its future permanent residence includes audible communication at the building’s main entrance system and elevators, with power door operators in barrier-free paths of travel and universal washrooms.

The answer is yes.

As of 2026, PAL Ottawa is seeking to establish partnerships in the private sector towards the establishment of a permanent residence for its senior artists and arts workers. In addition to respecting one of the core planks of PAL Ottawa's mandate of providing affordable housing to arts and arts workers who are most in need, having a strong showing of Ottawa Housing Registry registrants on our applicants' list in fact strengthens PAL Ottawa's position with respect to developers.

No

Please email outreach@palottawa.org with any queries directly related to an application to PAL Ottawa for tenancy. This includes inquiries both before and after you apply. If you have general inquiries about PAL Ottawa, contact us at info@palottawa.org.

Please first review the application to determine if you meet the criteria as a professional artist or arts worker. If you qualify, then continue to fill out the application form available on our website in both English and French.
Click here to view the application form!

Sending in the application via the PAL Ottawa website is step one in the process. Your application will be reviewed by PAL Ottawa and will contact the applicant by email or phone, per contact information provided on the application form during the process. Alternatively, an applicant can always contact PAL Ottawa via email at outreach@palottawa.org to update information on their application.

PAL Ottawa is a volunteer-driven, non-profit, charitable organization that provides affordable housing, personal services and well-being programs to artists and art workers in the National Capital Region. We care for artists so they can sustainably create art that enriches all our lives.