Open Call for Commissions for Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement 20th - 27th February 2021
*The 2021 Open Call is now closed. Thanks to everyone who applied. We will be in touch with you soon.*
Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company is planning the next edition of its annual festival of dance and movement. The festival will run between 20th and 27th February 2021.
Due to the current conditions around the Covid19 pandemic we are aiming for a “pandemic adaptable” programme which is shorter and smaller than in previous editions. With a nod to the film Being John Malkovich, we are thinking of this year’s festival as the seven-and-a-halfth edition and we are hoping for interesting and imaginative proposals that suit this “in-between” time.
The main festival programme will be made up of commissioned pieces made with the idea of being “pandemic adaptable”. To minimise risk of cancellations due to pandemic related restrictions on international travel we are asking for proposals from artists based in The Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland for new work or adapted existing work. The proposed works should not involve any international travel which might jeopardise performance should travel restrictions be in place.
Commissions
There are three commissions available. One at £3000, one at £2500 and one at £1500.
50% of the commission fee will be paid in advance with the remainder payable on completion of the project.
Overview
1. Artists applying must be based in Northern Ireland or The Republic of Ireland.
2. The proposed work should be new work or an appropriate adaptation of existing work.
3. We are looking for proposals for “pandemic adaptable” work. Circumstances are likely to remain unpredictable and changeable for the foreseeable future, so we want to commission live work that will be able to be shared in most circumstances other than a complete societal shutdown.
4. The aim should be to present the work live. In exceptional circumstances we recognise that this may not be possible. Any decision to present work in recorded form, partially or completely will be taken close to the festival dates in negotiation with artists. There will be no additional finance, beyond the commission fee, for last minute adaptations to the project. Please consider this when making your proposal.
5. In general we would expect work to be presented in or near Derry, although there might be project proposals for “live-feed” work where the performance, or elements of it, take place elsewhere.
6. Creation and/or performance of the work should not involve international travel which might jeopardise the creation or presentation of the work should travel restrictions be imposed.
7. We ask that artists make themselves available to join an online discussion session of one to two hours during the festival.
8. We look forward to your imaginative proposals. Here are some suggestions of possible approaches. We are sure there are others:
a) The proposal might be for work that is designed for or adaptable to outside spaces. Please remember that the festival is in February.
b) The proposal might be for multiple performances of a short piece, to very small audiences.
c) Proposals might be for solos, small ensembles, pieces with no physical contact or for work made by household groups who do not need to distance from each other.
d) Proposals might be for live transmission from a site specific location(s) to an audience gathered in a theatre space or hall for viewing (with option for viewing at home if gathering as an audience isn’t possible).
e) Proposals might be for durational, gallery-style work with small numbers of watchers at any particular time.
f) We imagine we might receive proposals that involve groups performing improvisation scores with minimal rehearsal, proposals that involve solo work developed from substantial studio time, and proposals that lie between these two.
g) We will favour imaginative approaches to the practical challenges of live performance in “Covid19 times”. This might mean proposing an idea which is possible under any condition excepting full lock-down restrictions or leaving the exact nature of the presentation open for now but with an indication of how you intend to take the circumstances and necessary adaptability into consideration at all stages.
h) We want to support ongoing, longer term interests of movement artists rather than be reactive to the specifics of the current pandemic time. Therefore we are not interested in receiving proposals which are explicitly, thematically, driven by the experience of the Covid19 pandemic. Tangential references, relevance, resonance are of course fine.
i) We are interested in, for example, how you think about your art practice in relation to the work of other dance artists (historical and contemporary), the world around us, aesthetic and political ideas, artists from other art forms. We aren’t ticking boxes, but rather listening for inspiration and depth.
The application process
- Send us a detailed proposal of what you would like to do, with whom and why, with background to your proposal and how you might imagine it turning out. Please give a brief outline of working process, timetable and any other financial support or support in kind that you will, or may, have. Please explain the way in which the work is “pandemic adaptable”. Please indicate if your proposal is specifically aimed at one of the commission levels. Maximum of 1500 words.
- An artist statement about your work and its history; themes, values, interests, development. Maximum 500 words.
- A biography or CV. Maximum one page A4.
- You may include a separate page with links to website, video, images, text and reviews about previous work. Please limit the amount of video material for which you provide links to a small number of relevant examples.
- You may include a separate page with personal references or recommendations that you think are relevant.
- Echo Echo may be able to support successful proposals with residencies, studio space, mentoring/creative support/technical support. If you would like this to be considered please address this in your application.
Word counts are maximums and can be substantially lower if concision and brevity are your 'thing'.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to ask for more details or clarifications before making an application.
Send your application by email with attachments to: steve@echoechodance.com by Friday 23rd October 2020.
Decisions will be announced by Friday 30th October 2020.
Selection Process
Criteria: How does the proposal align with the history of programming of Echo Echo Festival and with its core, guiding principles: People not bodies. Armour off not armour on?
Selection will be by Echo Echo Artistic Director in consultation with Echo Echo staff and ensemble artists, with confirmation by Echo Echo Board.
We may make an initial short list and contact those listed for more information/clarification.
You can find details of previous Echo Echo Festivals and general information about the company at www.echoechodance.com.
Thanks
Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement is supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
(6/10/20)
