Call for artists: Arcade 2019 (closed for the year)

Read the full call below, or download the PDF call here: Arcade 2019 Call for artists.

Open call for artists based in the Western and Eastern Cape, working in live art performance, and who are within the first 2-3 years of their professional career (or currently involved in senior postgraduate studies) to participate in a group exhibition (of performance) in Makhanda (Grahamstown) 27 June – 7 July 2019 (exact dates tbc).

“Arcade” is an immersive performance event comprising an assemblage of diverse live art encounters, which are experienced simultaneously, curated by Gavin Krastin. After a successful run in Cape Town in 2018, “Arcade” now calls for new performances and live art experiences for its second iteration, which will take place in Makhanda somewhere between 27 June and 7 July 2019 (exact dates tbc). This year “Arcade” focuses on young artists based in either the Western or Eastern Cape, but who tend to work cross-provincially.

A curated temporary live art group exhibition, “Arcade” is a conglomeration of up to eight solo (or duet) performances that take place in multiple spaces of a found place and occur simultaneously. For roughly 2 hours audience members wander through the space, engaging and staying with each live art encounter as they determine. This means that “Arcade” is interested in programming performances, events and actions that explore duration, repetition, accumulation, interaction, immersion, activated installation, participation, stamina, endurance etc. that can last 2 hours and that are low-tech, low-fi and intimate in their set-up.

Eligibility is for those:

  • Working in live art, performance art or transdisciplinary art.
  • Within the first 2-3 years of their professional arts career or currently involved in senior postgraduate studies
  • Based in the Eastern or Western Cape, with a tendency to work across provinces.
  • Available and committed for roughly seven days between 27 June and 7 July 2019.

Selected artists are offered:

  • Marketing and publicity
  • Technical assistance
  • Access to an international audience
  • In-situ dramaturgical support and mentorship
  • A modest per diem for the duration of the project (roughly 7 days)
  • A production budget of up to R3000.00
  • A modest fee
  • A less-modest challenge
  • Accommodation and transport will be provided for those who reside outside of Makhanda (and only for the duration of the project).

To apply, please submit: 

  1. Contact details.
  2. Brief biography and artistic statement of up to 300 words maximum (what themes, content, forms and approaches interest you; what is your practice about etc.).
  3. A brief description of the proposed work of up to 400 words maximum (concept and realisation as well as some detail on the form – is it durational, cyclical, accumulative, a movement installation, brief one-on-one encounters etc.) (Please note the use of live animals is prohibited).
  4. Brief spatial and technical requirements of up to 200 words maximum (what space and tech is needed in the work and for what; what can you provide and what are you hoping Arcade can provide – keeping in mind the site-specific and low-tech nature of the project).
  5. Brief budget indicating anticipated production costs and expenses (up to R3000.00).

Please send applications and any further questions to Gavin Krastin at gavinkrastin@gmail.com // gavinkrastin(at)gmail(dot)com

Application deadline: 1 March 2019 (unfortunately no late applications can be accepted)

We look forward to hearing from you.