CALL FOR PERFORMANCE:
Asian Arts Initiative Guest Producers Program
Spring 2010
Submission Deadline: November 18, 2009
The Asian Arts Initiative is pleased to issue a call for Guest Producers, a program to provide exhibition opportunities for performing artists and organizers exploring community issues and concerns through dance, music, spoken word, theater, performance art, and/or multi-disciplinary work.
A “Guest Producer” can be an individual artist, a professional producer or curator, and/or a community representative or team who has an idea for a performance-based event that they would like to make happen at the Asian Arts Initiative. The program is intended to allow for flexibility and responsiveness in the Asian Arts Initiative’s programming, and to maximize the utilization of the Asian Arts Initiative’s black box-style performance space at 1219 Vine Street in Philadelphia’s Chinatown North neighborhood.
We hope the program will foster inspiration and dialogue among our diverse audiences – of emerging and professional artists, youth and elders, Asian Americans and non-Asians – through exposure to a wide array of artists, artwork, creative processes, and community issues. In particular, we are interested in performance-based work that address themes or issues that are timely and relevant to the Asian American community in Philadelphia; and/or that engage with the local Chinatown neighborhood.
Guest Producers will be supported with:
· An opportunity to present two evenings of a performance piece or a program of performance-based work (yours and/or other artists’) in our 800 square foot black box-style performance space with a seating capacity of 60 – 100 audience members.
· A full day (8 hours) of tech time with our Technical Director and one lighting/sound op; working with our standard lighting plot and current equipment.
· Up to 40 hours of additional rehearsal time in the performance space (if available at mutually agreed upon times).
· Staff feedback to hone the artistic performance / presentation as well as audience development and outreach strategies.
· Publicity including design and printing of 500 copies of an event postcard; drafting and distribution of a press release; calendar and web postings; and access to our mailing list.
· 50% of box office proceeds.
Guest Producers will be expected to:
· Present two evenings of a performance piece or a program of performance-based work of approximately 45 – 90 minutes in length.
· Be available for at least one public activity that offers insight into your creative process, such as a post-performance discussion or artist talk.
· Provide appropriate information as required for publicity or educational purposes, including artist statement/s and bio/s, a description of the artwork, and relevant images.
· Participate in outreach and promotion of the event.
· Contribute or generate financial resources to cover any additional project costs (i.e. artist fees, props or costumes, additional printing or postage, additional tech or rehearsal time, if desired).
The Guest Producer Program is open to individuals or groups regardless of where they reside. However, the program was designed with local communities in mind, and does not offer housing or travel support. The program is also open to individuals and groups of all racial and cultural backgrounds. Asian Americans are especially encouraged to apply.
TO APPLY, please send us no more than five pages (not including bio, resume, or work samples):
1. Contact Information: your name; organization or group, if any; mailing address; e-mail address; phone number.
2. Description of Proposed Project
a. Please describe the performance or event that you are proposing.
i. What are the themes and/or issues that it will address? If you have selected a title for the event, what is it?
ii. Who are the artists and what are the artistic discipline(s) that will be included? If there are any artists in addition to yourself, have you approached them about this project, and are they committed? If you do not yet have specific artists committed, please describe the process and timeframe that you will use to identify and confirm the artists.
iii. Is this an already existing work that you want to develop, or something new that you propose to create? If it is an already existing work, describe what shape it is in now. What do you expect it to be by the time of the Guest Producer performance? If it is a new work, provide an outline or description of your proposed working schedule. How long will the performance of this work be?
iv. Please describe how you envision utilizing the Asian Arts Initiative’s performance space. Feel free to attach a diagram or lighting plot if available.
b. Please describe the audiences that you are hoping to reach; be as specific as possible. Please tell us how you feel your project is related to the Asian American community in Philadelphia. Also tell us how or if the project will engage the local Chinatown neighborhood.
c. Please describe your ideas for providing the public with insight into the creative process(es) of the artists involved in the project.
d. Are there any community groups or partners that you can suggest for the performance? Please describe the capacity in which you would expect them to be involved (i.e. outreach, funding, curriculum development)?
e. Please state if you have any scheduling preferences or restrictions for performance dates. Currently, Asian Arts Initiative is seeking projects to present in February/March and April/May 2010.
3. Artistic Statement describing what motivates your current work, any aesthetic and political influences, and how your personal background impacts your vision.
4. Bio or Resume for yourself and any additional artists or partners involved in the project.
5. Work Sample: Please include good quality audio or video, scripts or written work samples; or other materials that will help us understand your artistic vision and your ability to carry out the proposed project. Please label each sample clearly with an explanation of what it is.
We strongly encourage you to discuss your project with us prior to submitting a Guest Producer application. We are also available to help you as you work on your application. Please contact:
Toni Dang, Program Associate (Toni@asianartsinitiative.org)
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215)557-0455
www.asianartsinitiative.org
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Asian Arts Initiative issues a CALL FOR APPLICATIONS for our
2010 Artists Exchange: Home, far and near
March 25 – April 3, 2010
Application Deadline: November 18, 2009
THE PROJECT
The Asian Arts Initiative is pleased to invite applications from performance-based artists to participate in our 2010 Artists Exchange exploring the theme of Home, far and near. The Artists Exchange includes three major components:
1) A weekend mini-festival featuring participants’ existing solo work (full pieces or excerpts up to 30 minutes each). The work will be presented "festival-style" with tech rehearsal time limited to 2 hours per participant. Each participant will be presented on at least one shared program / night, though some artists may be asked to perform multiple nights. (March 25 – 28)
2) A week-long creative workshop (tentatively, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday) where participants will develop new ensemble work facilitated and directed by Los Angeles-based performance artist Dan Kwong. The workshop will include generative exercises as well as presentations and guest speakers exploring stories of immigration as well as issues of gentrification or displacement in the neighborhoods where many of us live or work. (March 29 – April 2)
3) A public performance of the new ensemble workshop piece-in-progress. (April 2 and/or April 3)
THE CALL
Through the open call process, we are seeking up to 5 artists representing diverse performance disciplines—including but not limited to, dance, music, spoken word, and theater—with emphasis on the Asian American community.
We will provide a $700 honorarium to each artist or group that is selected to participate. Preference will be given to artists with a commitment to the Philadelphia area, though all artists are invited to apply. Limited travel stipends may be available for artists living outside the Philadelphia-area. Artistic groups and collectives are invited to apply though stipends and performance time will be limited.
To be considered, artists must be able to commit to participating in the entire workshop and performance schedule of the Artists Exchange.
TO APPLY, please submit the following no later than November 18, 2009:
1) Your name and contact information, including mailing address, phone number/s, and e-mail address.
2) An artist statement that describes what motivates your current work and why you want to participate in our Artists Exchange. Please describe how you are interpreting the theme of Home, far and near and what aspects of the theme you are most interested in exploring through the workshop process. Please also address how participating will support your artistic development; be sure to describe your experience working in collaboration with other artists, and what you are hoping to gain from or contribute to the workshop process.
3) A description of the work you are proposing to perform for the festival portion of the Artists Exchange; including artistic discipline and/or genres, length of the piece or excerpt, and if there are any unusual technical requirements or performers in addition to yourself. If you are proposing to create new work to perform, please be sure to outline your timeline and process for development, and also describe other relevant projects or experience that will enable you to successfully complete the piece.
4) Please confirm your availability to participate fully in the workshop and performances scheduled as part of the Artists Exchange. If you have any potential scheduling conflicts, please describe.
5) An artistic resume and/or bio (no more than 3 pages).
6) Work sample in digital video format, with 5-minute excerpt selected for viewing. All work should be on DVD or emailed in digital format.
7) If desired, also include a self-addressed stamped envelope with necessary postage for return of materials.
All materials must be received by November 18, 2009. Please send materials or direct questions to:
Toni Dang, Program Associate
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-557-0455
toni@asianartsinitiative.org
Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in Philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, addresses our social context, and imagines and effects positive community change. We host a range of activities including an annual season of performances, our gallery and exhibition series, and our Youth Arts Workshop and other education programs. Recently relocated due to the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Asian Arts Initiative is now in a new home at 1219 Vine Street where we are contributing to the revitalization of Vine Street and our neighborhood in Chinatown North. For more information about the Asian Arts Initiative, please call (215) 557-0455 or visit www.asianartsinitiative.org.
