Kalup Linzy, The State of my Feelings and Emotions… at The 8th Floor, New York. May 14, 2022. Photo by Johanna Wilson.
The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation (SDRF) is excited to announce its second Sight/Geist open call. For this iteration, the Foundation is seeking ambitious performance work from emerging NYC-based performance artists for fall 2023 programming at The 8th Floor, SDRF’s gallery near Union Square. Sight/Geist will continue to highlight work that addresses the Foundation’s mission of art and social justice, now through the often underserved but expansive medium of performance.
Applicants should consider the following details and eligibility requirements:
Submissions from individual artists, duos, or collectives are welcome, but the primary applicant must be at least 18 years old and an NYC-based emerging artist focused on performance. This includes those who self-identify as early-career, self-trained, newly graduated, as well as individuals currently enrolled in undergraduate/graduate programs. The Foundation will support artists working in the realm of visual/interdisciplinary studio practice, as opposed to performing arts, dance, or theater.
The curatorial team expects to select three proposals for solo public programs. Proposed works should be 20-30 minutes in duration. Each performance will be followed by a brief presentation from the artist on their broader practice, and a discussion led by SDRF staff.
Proposals should have an experimental and/or pedagogical approach relating to the Foundation’s mission. Performances might foreground duration, movement, audiovisual media, voice, site specificity, and audience participation.
Minimal installations will be considered, although fabrication/transportation assistance cannot be provided. Open flames are prohibited.
Community-based social practice works will not be supported by this initiative.
Selected artists will receive $1,000 for their program ($750 for performance, $250 for discussion), inclusive of any material expenses. The Foundation is open to duos/collectives but the fee is fixed and would need to be shared among participants.
New and existing pieces can be considered; however, they cannot have been performed in NYC in the last 5 years. Please note that this opportunity is not a commission.
Professional photo/video documentation will be conducted by the Foundation and made available to the artist(s).
Proposals must be in accordance with the scale of The 8th Floor space. A floorplan can be found here and a virtual gallery here – events usually take place in the gallery’s south end. Recent examples include Carlos Martiel and Kalup Linzy & Larry Krone.
Selected artists will be encouraged to schedule a time to spec out the space and, if needed, a light rehearsal before the performance date. All setup/breakdown must take place on the day of the performance.
Performances utilizing single-channel projections and a speaker system are welcome, though gallery A/V equipment and tech support will need to be agreed upon in advance.
One submission per artist/duo/collective. Please note that single-channel film submissions were the focus of the inaugural Sight/Geist, and will not be considered for this round.
Submissions will be accepted starting July 11, 2023 and are due by 10am ET on August 8, 2023. Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-September for performance programs in November and December 2023. If you have any questions, please email info@the8thfloor.org.
Image description: A Black person with long black hair wearing a black leotard sings passionately into a microphone, lit by pink and blue lights with a reflective orange backdrop.