Open Call: Where should we start?

For WPA’s 2023–2024 program season, we are inviting DC-area artists to submit ideas for one-night only events around the question: “Where should we start?”

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS

WPA’s first-ever symposium How can we gather now? (March 2023) explored questions of community and the potential of gathering as a crucial practice. During her keynote talk, author and organizer adrienne maree brown spoke about the different scales and modalities of gathering and how healing and change start at the individual level.

As we embark on our 48th season, we are excited to invite DC-area artists to imagine programs that will challenge us towards new unimagined directions for future project development in response to the question: “Where should we start?”

Your program can respond to this question in any way that interests you and supports your research. The program you propose may take any form, including: film screening, workshop, conversation, performance, book presentation, and beyond. As this call is designed for anyone from the DC-area to apply, so should your event be designed for anyone from the DC-area to attend. While proposals for virtual events are not accepted, hybrid events are welcome.

HOW TO APPLY

We will produce two (2) Open Call programs this season, in February and April 2024 respectively.

The budget this season for each edition of our Open Call series this season is up to $3,500—which includes a fee of $750 for the artist-organizer (or lead artist), and additional support for invited discussants and collaborators, plus other associated costs (to be allocated in dialogue with WPA’s program staff).

Please note: Your proposal should include at least one discussant/collaborator - or a clear vision for how to engage a specific group or community as collaborators.

We encourage DC-area artists from all backgrounds and disciplines to submit their ideas. To submit your proposal for the 2023–2024 Open Call series, please complete the form at the link below.

You will need submit:

• A title for your event
• A format for your event (film screening, workshop, conversations, performance, etc.)
• An answer to the question: How does your event respond to the question: “Where should we start?” (This is the core of your proposal)
• An idea for collaborators or contributors to participate in the development and execution of your event
• An idea of the kind of support and ideal venue you will need to execute the event
• A simple budget proposal (not to exceed $3,500)

Submissions will be reviewed and accepted through Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 11:59pm EST.

Open Call & Submission Form Here

ABOUT WPA'S OPEN CALL SERIES

WPA's Open Call Series is annual call for proposals inviting DC-area artists to devise program ideas in response to a specific question or prompt. Proposals should be designed for in-person or hybrid participation by DC’s general public and must incorporate some form collaboration from guest contributors. Proposal ideas should be conceived as part of a larger body of research and experimentation. This is an opportunity to test ideas for potential further development.