IGNITE! 2020 Call
for Artists
Sage Theatre’s IGNITE! Festival of Emerging
Artists – JUNE 10-13 2020
We are calling for early-career artists of all
disciplines to apply!
IGNITE! returns this year with its cornerstone
arts series at the Pumphouse Theatre (and beyond) in Calgary and is calling for
all emerging artists and their projects/creations/ideas!
What is the IGNITE! Festival?
IGNITE! is a festival dedicated to supporting,
mentoring and presenting early career artists of all disciplines. IGNITE!
allows artists to embrace risks in a supportive environment while providing
resources, a bridge to the professional arts community, and meaningful
opportunities for collaboration and community building with their peers.
What are the Arts Series?
IGNITE! supports a variety of different art
forms and emerging artists. These include:
Theatre: staged
performance(s) of a scripted 20 - 60 minute play. Both individual theatre
artists and theatre groups can apply to this series with or without a project
or script. Scripts and projects can be previously produced, but make sure to
express how and why the project will be further developed / benefited by
IGNITE! Curated by Sage Theatre and other invited industry professionals.
Dance: staged
performance(s) of a 5-20 minute dance piece. All individual dancers, ensembles,
and choreographers, with or without a defined piece can apply to this series. Applications
of all dance forms and aesthetics are encouraged: including hip-hop, Indigenous
dance, contemporary, jazz, ballroom, ballet, and more. Curated by Samantha
Ketsa & Nicole Mion of Spring Board Performance.
Improvisation:
staged performance(s) of a 5-20 minute improv piece with a developed format.
Both individual improvisers and ensembles can apply to this series. Curated by
the Nicole Zylstra and the Calgary Improv group, The Kinkonauts. Provocation: a
series of more challenging, evocative, or experimental pieces that push
creative boundaries and ask bold questions about art and society. This pieces
might take place outside the stage (i.e. in a site-specific location). Curated by Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre. More
details about their program over here!
Interdisciplinary:
staged performance(s)of two matched artists collaborating to create a 8-10
minute new piece of whatever their interests and passions and crafts collide to
make. Artists can bring any arts discipline to the creation process (e.g.
literature, poetry, burlesque, theatre, dance, digital, visual, music, film,
animation, and more!). Artists are matched and mentored by the curator. This
series is not yet open for applications.
Club/Cabaret:
The IGNITE! Club/Cabaret Series is an art party, a multi-disciplinary
performance party // clashing together audience and artists in an exploratory,
off-the-wall, never-before-seen, might-not-ever-be-seen-again: performance
experiences. This series is not yet open for applications.
Visual: We are
partnering with the Pumphouse Theatres and their Quenten Doolittle Memorial
Gallery Emerging Artist exhibit. The visual art selected at this event becomes
our main festival image! See more details HERE.
Who can apply?
The IGNITE! Festival Theatre Series is geared
towards early career theatre artists – non-union artists under the age of 30 or
within 3 years of graduating post-secondary who are pursuing a professional
career in their arts practice. (If you are outside of these criteria but still
hungry to apply, please get in touch to allow us to have a conversation around
your application. Email us here: ignite@sagetheatre.com
IGNITE! accepts applications from artists of all disciplines and backgrounds. IGNITE!
heartily encourages artists of under-represented or marginalized communities to
apply. It is committed to making space for and valuing projects that create
meaningful and plentiful opportunities for diverse voices and storytelling,
including those of Artists of Colour, First Nations, LGTBQA+, and other
under-represented groups in the Arts.
What does IGNITE! look for in an application?
Although each performance series is evaluated
slightly differently and by different curators, here’s our core philosophy:
We’re looking for projects and/or scripts
and/or ideas that have a spark / a risk / a challenge / a leap of faith / maybe
a first-or-second try, that the Festival can provide the artist(s) with a
meaningful platform to develop, explore, understand or progress, both in their
artistic exploration and professional development.
We’re looking for applications that we can
best serve with our resources at this stage in their development.
What does IGNITE! offer selected artists /
projects?
2-3 public performances
some production support & budget
Rehearsal space
Mentorship
An IGNITE! Festival Artist Pass (to all shows
after public ticket sales)
Invitations to IGNITE! networking and
community events
A small honorarium
General Deadline to apply: January 15 2020
Any questions?
If you are interested in applying but the
application process creates a barrier, please contact us via phone (403)
264-7243 or email ignite@sagetheatre.com.
