Download Triangle Lab Calls for Proposals for Next Round of Artist

Triangle Lab Calls for Proposals for Next Round of Artist-Investigator Program
The Triangle Lab at California Shakespeare Theater is seeking proposals from artists interested in the
intersection of performance and social justice.
In the 2014 round of our Artist-Investigator program we will be creating partnerships between artists and
non-profit organizations to investigate how the skills of theater artists can help address community issues.
We are seeking four artists who are interested in pursuing this investigation with us over the next year. If
you are an artist with a passion for applying your skills in community settings, interested in collaborative
project design, and experienced in community collaboration, we want to hear from you.
How to apply: Please read through the information below, then click here for the online application
form. If you have further questions you can contact Rebecca Novick at [email protected].
Application deadline: All materials must be received by 5 pm on August 27, 2014.
About the Triangle Lab: The Triangle Lab is Cal Shakes’ research and development wing, where we
experiment with ways to bring together theaters, artists, and communities to ignite change. We believe
that through deep collaboration artists and community members can lift up each other’s work—starting
conversation, sharing stories, bridging difference, and activating deeper civic participation. Through our
experiments we are exploring how to integrate the arts more deeply into community life, and investigating
what happens when the powerful tools of theater artists are mobilized and integrated into broader civic
dialogue. We are also investigating how to activate our Bruns performance space as a platform for
creative exchange while cultivating a welcoming environment for more different people.
About the Artist-Investigator Program: The Artist-Investigator Project asks artists to lead our
investigation into what the performances of the future might look like, and help us discover what happens
when the arts are more deeply integrated into community life. In 2013, we invited ten artists into the
inaugural round to conduct projects that investigated new locations for performance and new methods for
community collaboration. You can read more about their projects here.
2014 Round: We will be partnering with four community-based organizations that employ direct-service
or advocacy to advance a cause or improve the lives of their constituents. These organizations—leaders
in their fields—are working on pressing issues in our community. They bring to the table broad
connections with stakeholders in their issue area and proven experience in developing strategies that
deliver services or change public perceptions.
How can theater artists help advance the work of these organizations? That’s what we want to learn
through the work of our four Artist-Investigators.
Our Hypothesis: Theater artists have key skills that can be deployed outside the rehearsal room to help
community organizations advance their missions.
Our Experiment Model: Four artists with experience in performance and community engagement will
be selected via an open call. Each artist will work with one organization to develop a project together.
These small-budget projects will be conducted over the course of one year, and documented carefully so
they can serve as models for future collaborations between our sectors. Projects will be driven by the
needs of the partner organization and will identify what theatrical skills, techniques, and processes will be
most useful to that organization. Projects may or may not include public or invited performances.
Scale of Projects: Each project will have a budget of $5000. $1000 for partner organization staff time,
$3000 as a fee to the artist, and $1000 for project expenses (materials, participant stipends, etc). Some
marketing, documentation, and production support will be provided by Cal Shakes.
Artists and organizations may choose to raise additional funds for projects, but a key goal of this program
is to demonstrate that small-scale projects can have significant impact, so additional fundraising is not
required or expected.
Artists should plan on spending approximately 60 hours on the project over the year, at least 20 hours
should be spent in the planning phase.
Partners: We have selected two of our community partners — Berkeley Food and Housing Project and
Pathways 2 Resilience. We will be selecting the remaining two partners in consultation with the selected
artists.
Who Should Apply? We are looking for artists who want to investigate, who are curious to invent,
discover, or refine a particular way of working. We are seeking outstanding artists who have
demonstrated excellence in their practice who also have experience and interest working in collaboration
with community organizations. While we are primarily seeking theater artists, if you are a dance, music,
or literary artist whose practice is performative and language-based you may also apply. Click here for the
application form.
How Will Projects Be Selected: Projects will be selected by Triangle Lab staff, with input from our
community partners.
Key Dates:
Aug 27
Sept 29
October 1
Sept 30, 2015
deadline for artists to submit application materials
announce artist/non-profit organization partnerships
projects begin
all projects complete
The Triangle Lab is grateful to Michael Rohd and the Center for Performance and Civic Practice for
inspiration and consultation on this project.
The Triangle Lab is supported by generous funding from the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the James
Irvine Foundation.