SUBMISSIONS

Swallow-a-Bicycle invites Calgary-based artists to participate in two upcoming projects at the High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts. Both projects will run January 6-8 and 13-15, 2011 in downtown Calgary.

FREAK SHOW CLASSIC

Returning to One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo for its fourth consecutive year, Freak Show is a site-specific tour that puts a wide variety of freakish multidisciplinary performances in unusual spaces – stairwells, rooftops, storage rooms, parking lots and more.

Artists are asked to create an original, self-contained 5-7 minute performance/experience. This creation should be inspired both by the theme “Freak Show” and by the site of the performance. Swallow-a-Bicycle is seeking artists with an interest and understanding of the creation of new work, and who wish to challenge their current creative practice via artistic experimentation.

For more information about previous productions of Freak Show, visit the “Performances” page at www.swallowabicycle.com.

FREAK SHOW REDUX

Swallow-a-Bicycle is proud to introduce a new Freak Show format for the 25th annual High Performance Rodeo. For “Freak Show Redux”, an ensemble of creators and performers will work collaboratively to develop a cohesive Freak Show performance.

This performance will be a site-specific traveling tour that moves throughout a building; but, unlike the original Freak Show, the entire tour will be developed by a collaborative ensemble to create a unified experience. There will be four weeks of rehearsal (evenings & weekends) in November-December 2010 to collaboratively develop and rehearse a mobile site-specific show based upon the theme ‘Freak Show’, followed by twice-nightly performances from January 6-8 and 13-15, 2011.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

To be considered for either project, please submit a description (maximum two pages) of:

• Your creative practice
• Your experience with collaborative creation
• Your reasons for wanting to participate in the project(s)
• Your interest in site-specific performance / creation
• Your interest in the theme “Freak Show”
• Your availability for November/December 2010, January 2011

You may also submit additional materials, including: CV, video, reviews, surprises.

Artists are welcome to apply for both projects, but will not be able to participate in both. You may submit one application to be considered for both projects.

Participating artists in both projects will receive an honorarium.

Send submissions to info@swallowabicycle.com
[Subject line: “Freak Show Classic”, “Freak Show Redux” or “Freak Show Classic & Redux”]

Call 403.698.3088 or e-mail for more info.

Scorpio Theatre is now accepting submissions for short scripts to be part of Cry Havoc 2 in February 2011. Like the original 2008 hit Cry Havoc, Cry Havoc 2 is a collection of short plays based around stage combat. Scripts can be comedic, dramatic, musical or anything you can think of as long as they are 5-10 minutes in length and involve at least one great stage fight (you can just write "They fight" in the stage directions, we‚ll take it from there).

Please send your submissions to dgibbins@scorpio.ca.

Calgary Professional Arts Alliance

2010 Mayor’s Evening for Business and the Arts

The Mayor’s Evening for Business & the Arts is fast approaching and so is the deadline for nominations for the 3 arts awards and 2 business awards. Be sure to complete the forms to nominate the artist or company you think deserves to be recognized for their contributions to the arts and the businesses that support them.

ARTS AWARDS NOMINATIONS: DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 6TH

Since 2004, previous recipients include Eric Moschopedis, John Murrell, One Yellow Rabbit, Michele Decottignies, Sandra Vida, EMMEDIA, Terrance Houle, Doug Curtis, Mount Royal Conservatory, Michael Green, Eric Rose, Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Arbour Lake Sghool, Helen Husak, Grant Reddickm, Matt Masters, Vicki Adams Willis and Gordon Gerrard.

$2500.00 WILL BE AWARDED IN EACH CATEGORY.

Members of the CPAA, CADA grant recipients and former award winners are eligible to submit nominations. Click for arts nomination guidelines and forms.

PATRON AWARDS NOMINATIONS: DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 6TH

The Mayor’s Evening for Business and the Arts Calgary’s opportunity to recognize and promote the arts, artists and partnerships that are forged with business and patrons of the arts. Two PATRON AWARDS recognize the support of contributors and businesses to Calgary’s arts community:

SUSTAINED SUPPORT • INNOVATIVE SUPPORT

INNOVATIVE AWARD is for a partnership between a business, foundation or individual that has shown innovation or has supported a particularily innovative arts project.

SUSTAINED AWARD is for a partnership between a business, foundation or individual that has shown sustained, long-term support of the nominating arts organization.

Members of the CPAA, CADA grant recipients and former award winners are eligible to submit nominations. Click for patron nomination guidelines and forms.

Visit Calgary Professional Arts Alliance website for more information

Northern Light Theatre has defined themselves as a company dedicated to embracing and promoting local talent, fostering and developing new work, and producing intimate and affecting theatre that speaks to the modern audience. This season we are presenting four edgy and exciting new plays. Introducing our very first:

Little Birdies and BIG BLOGS

HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE BLOG PROGRAM

Here’s how it works: We’re looking for eight young theatre fans to attend our 2010-2011 Season (for free!) and then tell us what they think by writing a blog about each Northern Light Theatre show. We’ll post the Little Birdie and Big Blogs on our website at www.northernlighttheatre.com and our Facebook page.

When Little Birdies and Big Blogs participants attend a Northern Light Theatre’s show, they’ll get the full VIP treatment- free tickets and great seats. Blogger’s subscriptions will be valid for any night of the run, but Little Birdies and Big Blog participants can bring friends to see the show for free on our special Student Night (Jailbait- Thursday, September 17, 2010 / Meat Puppet – January 20, 2011 / Pervert- April 7, 2011).

Northern Light Theatre will also give our Little Birdies and Big Blogs participants exclusive access to the cast and crew through preview chats with the director, Trevor Schmidt, or after show talk backs.

How to get involved: We want our Little Birdies and Big Blogs participants to tell us what they think, so we’re looking for theatre lovers who are outspoken and comfortable writing critical blogs.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Northern Light Theatre Little Birdie or a Big Blogger, apply today!

Applications must include:

- A short essay (one page) on why you want to be involved with the Northern Light Theatre’s Little Birdies and Big Blogs High School Theatre Blog program

- A resume or description of your past experience with writing and theatre (school plays, writing for the yearbook or newspaper, theatre classes, etc.)

- A signed note from your parents or guardians giving you permission to participate in Little Birdies and Big Blogs High School Theatre Blog Program (NOTE: The plays in our 2010-2011 Season feature mature language and conversations of a sexual nature... nothing worse than what you would see on MTV, but we don’t want anyone getting grounded for seeing our shows)

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Please send applications to:
Ellen Chorley, Artistic Associate
Northern Light Theatre #201, 8908- 99 Street Edmonton, AB T6E 3V4

For more information:
www.northernlighttheatre.com
(780) 471-1586
nlt.publicity@telusplanet.net
Deadline: September 10, 2010

Know someone who’s always stepping up, giving back and lending a hand? If so, consider nominating them for a Stars of Alberta Volunteer Award.

The Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards recognize extraordinary Albertans whose volunteer efforts have contributed to the well-being of their community and fellow community members. Any Albertan whose volunteer efforts have played a significant role during their lifetime is eligible. Six awards are presented annually; two in each category of youth, adult and senior.

For more information, visit www.culture.alberta.ca/voluntarysector/stars.

If you live in the most culturally cool community in the province, or you’re the type of person your friends call an arts’ aficionado, then we want to hear from you.

Enter the CBC Alberta Cultureville Contest and you could win some great prizes, including a live remote broadcast from CBC Radio One’s alberta@noon with host Donna McElligott.

The winning community will win a live remote broadcast to kick off Alberta Arts Days on September 17. See how radio is made, and get your community noticed. There will be great hands-on experiences for individuals too, from our friends at Alberta Arts Days, the North and South Jubilee Auditorium, the Royal Alberta Museum, the Royal Tyrrell Museum and more.

The contest is open to all – and entering is easy.

Tell us what makes you or your community cultural significant, and what you have planned for Alberta Arts Days, September 17-19.

Visit www.cbc.ca/calgary/community/cultureville.html for more information or to enter!

Verb Theatre announces its call for submissions for the 2nd Annual Pretty, Witty, and GAY! This fundraiser for Verb Theatre will take place at the Arrata Opera Centre on Saturday, October 2nd @ 8:00pm.

We are looking for cabaret style acts no longer than twenty minutes (no minimum time) that in some way celebrate or explore sexual diversity, gender or equality. We are looking for actors, dancers, poets, musicians, writers, singers, visual artists and more! Want to be involved but don't have a project ready to be submitted? Contact us anyways, we may be able to connect you with other artists or suggest a piece.

Submission Guidelines:

• Name and contact info of key applicant (e-mail and phone number is sufficient)
• Name of piece
• Length of piece
• A brief description of the piece (no more than one page)
• The number of people involved in the act
• Any technical requirements you may have

Submissions will close on Friday September 3rd 2010 and all applicants will be notified by Monday, September 6th, 2010.

Please send your submissions or questions by e-mail to Co-Artistic Directors Jamie Dunsdon and/or Col Cseke at jamie@verbtheatre.com or col@verbtheatre.com

Visit www.verbtheatre.com for more information about this dynamic new company!

The All-Albertan Song Contest:
$10K+ for a chorus that won’t bore us

From Ian Tyson’s Four Strong Winds to Cadence Weapon’s Oliver Square, from Corb Lund’s Hurtin’ Albertan to the Rural Alberta Advantage’s acclaimed song cycle about Wild Rose Country, this province has been fertile ground for songwriters working in every genre.

ATB Financial, Alberta Music and CKUA Radio intend to add to that tradition, with a major new Alberta-wide song contest that runs in parallel with the second annual Untapped Alberta concert series.

"We think great art deserves great reward. So we’re not messing around with the prizes," said ATB spokesperson Shawn Ohler, a lifelong Alberta music lover who helped create the contest.

"We also think it would be dumb to have a bunch of suits at the bank run a music contest, so we invited some great friends to help. CKUA Radio host and musician, Grant Stovel, will help judge the entries and the station will engage music fans in every corner of the province. Alberta Music brings expertise, credibility, connections with Alberta songwriters, and a couple of perfect pot sweeteners for the winning song."

The contest winner will receive $10,000 in cash from ATB Financial, $2,000 from Alberta Music toward a professional, radio-ready recording of the winning song, and inclusion on Alberta Music’s 2012 Sampler.

The second-place winner receives $3,000 in cash. The third-place winner receives $2,000.

Ohler said entrants are free to sing about anything, as long as the theme is Alberta.

"Wikipedia says Alberta has a ‘large tertiary and quartenary economic sector.’ There’s gotta be a hit in there somewhere!" he said.

"Kidding aside, we’re looking for a memorable song that’s artful and resonant about Alberta. It could be about our geography, our climate, a city, a neighbourhood, a church or a mall or a school team, or a single Albertan – famous, infamous, invented or unknown. Surprise us."

Stovel, host of CKUA’s Notes From Home, a program showcasing Alberta talent, said CKUA was excited to get on board.

"Keeping Alberta’s multitude of talented recording artists front and centre has always been at the heart of CKUA’s operations, so we’re thrilled to be involved with the All-Albertan Song Contest this year," he said. "I’m itching to hear some amazing new homegrown sounds!"

Complete rules and regulations for the contest are available at www.wearealberta.ca; consider this the snappy jingle version:

· Entrants must be Albertan.
· Entrants will record and submit an original, new, non-released song about Alberta.
· Lyrics sheets must accompany the recordings.
· Submission deadline is Oct. 8th, 2010.
· Submissions can be e-mailed in a commonly used electronic audio format to nboehk@atb.com or snail-mailed on CD to:

Naisa Boehk, ATB Place,
15th Floor -- 9888 Jasper Avenue,
Edmonton, T5J 1P1

Alongside CKUA’s Stovel, Alberta Music experts and perhaps a token suit from ATB will choose a short-list of three to five entrants. Albertans can vote on their favourite song when short-listed entries are posted on ATB’s community-powered website www.wearealberta.ca from mid-October till November 8th.

The winner, chosen from a combination of public voting on www.wearealberta.ca and a final round of judging, will be revealed, on-stage, at the final Untapped Alberta concert Nov. 13th at the Starlite Room in Edmonton.

Submissions can be e-mailed in a commonly used electronic audio format to nboehk@atb.com or snail-mailed on CD to:

Naisa Boehk, ATB Place,
15th Floor -- 9888 Jasper Avenue,
Edmonton, T5J 1P1

Complete rules and regulations for the contest are available at www.wearealberta.ca

Beyond Closed Doors Productions, an emerging social justice theatre company, is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, August 28th at 8pm at Calgary’s "The Auburn" and we are in need of four slam poets who can prepare three separate pieces, each no longer than three minutes a piece.

Poets will be needed from 7:30pm-10:30pm.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Beyond Closed Doors upcoming show, "Heterophobia" which is a black comedy exploring the current issues of sexual discrimination in our society.

We are hoping to find three artists who will volunteer their time and talent, and we are willing to offer them a contra deal including free tickets to our upcoming show and ad space in our programs (over 700 printed).

This would be an excellent opportunity for new artists to gain exposure to Calgary’s theatre scene.

amber@beyondcloseddoors.org

Oct 1-9, Vertigo Studio Theatre/ Cochrane Ranchehouse Theatre

Soulocentric Performing Arts (formerly Solocentric Theatre and Dance) is seeking applications from independent artists and small arts organizations for solo shows for the Soulocentric Festival taking place October 5-9th, 2010 at the Vertigo Studio Theatre with a special 'dance day' performance Oct 1st at the Cochrane Ranchehouse Theatre. We will be presenting both main-stage (full length) productions and cabarets (for short works). Artists from Theatre, Dance, Music and cross disciplines are invited to apply for this year’s Festival.

The Soulocentric Festival 2010 is an opportunity for you, the artist, to showcase your original work and talent to the local community. We accept work in all stages of development (works-in-progress to final productions), from artists at all stages in their career (youth ages 15-21, emerging, semi-professional and professional artists). We provide an opportunity for artists to mount and document their work in order for them to discover further opportunities to take their work to its fullest potential.

Deadline for applications is Aug 15th. Successful applicants will be notified by Aug 30th.

To apply for the festival please visit our website at www.soulocentric.org to download an application form from the Soulocentric Festival Page. Or email artisticdirector@soulocentric.org for details.

ArtsHab 1 is seeking professional artists to fill two vacancies coming up September 1, 2010.

ArtsHab is a unique space in Edmonton that provides affordable live/work studio space for dedicated artists of all disciplines. ArtsHab is a community of like-minded artists living and working on the third floor of a split use (commercial/residential) building in downtown Edmonton.

In the winter months we turn the hallways into a public gallery for showcasing contemporary art as well as that of the residents. New shows are hung every 8 weeks. All tenants are encouraged to participate in the exhibitions and bring forth ideas for other artistic events.

>> For more information on ArtsHab and the vacancies, click here...

Nominate an Outstanding Edmontonian for a 2010 Salute to Excellence Citation or Performance Award

Do you know someone who has gained national or international recognition in the fields of art or sport over the past year? Do you know someone who has given more than 5 years of distinguished service as a volunteer and has been an inspiring leader in sport, arts and culture or community service within the city of Edmonton?

Help us to recognize our fellow Edmontonians by nominating them for a Salute to Excellence Performance or Citation Award!

Nomination Forms are now available online and can be emailed for convenience: http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/programs/performance-and-citation-awards.aspx

For more information please contact Donna Bradley-Bobey at 780-496-7380 or donna.bradley-bobey@edmonton.ca

Toronto's Annual Convergence of Contemporary Performance
Feb 16-27, 2011, Festival Director Laura Nanni

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 2011
Produced by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for over 30 years, the Rhubarb Festival has offered artists a critic-free environment to experiment with new explorations in performance. Rhubarb continuously reconsiders the possibilities for performance – how we create it, how we present it and how we experience it. It is an invitation for artists to take risks, investigate new directions and challenge conventions. It is an opportunity for adventurous audiences to journey off predictable paths. Rhubarb provides artists with a rare opportunity to present work to a large and enthusiastic audience. Many Rhubarb shows have gone on to be further developed and presented in Toronto, across Canada and internationally.

GENERAL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: 5PM, Tuesday August 17, 2010
Rhubarb seeks proposals for new, not previously produced performances (30 minutes or less) for the 32nd Annual Rhubarb Festival. Submissions are encouraged from both established and emerging artists working in the areas of contemporary theatre, performance art, dance, music, interdisciplinary and hybrid forms. Of particular interest are projects, approaches and ideas that are new territory for the artist and the medium.

Selected projects will be featured during the festival (Feb. 16-27, 2011) and will receive technical, production, administrative, promotional and artistic support. Invited companies will have the opportunity to access free rehearsal space leading up to Rhubarb. In addition to an honorarium, festival artists also receive an unlimited artist pass, allowing them to see work for free by local, national and international artists over the course of two weeks.

NEW TO RHUBARB THIS YEAR! TWO SPECIAL PROJECT CALLS:

SET IT OFF DEADLINE: 5PM, Monday August 30, 2010
Building on the culture of club nights at Buddies, Rhubarb invites DJs and musicians who venture into new and experimental territory of music performance (especially those working in live mixing and sampling) to submit proposals. This may include DJs/ electronic artists collaborating with animators, new media artists, choreographers, etc. to create a short set. Other possibilities include musicians working with non-traditional equipment and instruments (i.e. kitchen appliances, video game consoles, found objects, bicycle powered amps, etc.). Of special interest are proposals that not only suggest experimentation with the instruments themselves, but also consider aspects of the music in relation to staging, conceptual meaning, story and/ or form.

MOBILE WORKS DEADLINE: 5PM, Monday August 30, 2010
Taking the Rhubarb experience outside the walls of Buddies, the festival invites proposals for works that begin elsewhere and converge at Buddies (12 Alexander Street, Toronto). Performance interventions, performances on the subway, flash mobs, etc. that eventually end at Buddies are encouraged. Participatory projects and online performances that are developed in the lead up to Rhubarb and culminate in another form of presentation at Buddies are also welcome. The proposal should take into consideration not only the festival audiences but also the general public, unsuspecting and accidental audiences who may stumble upon or intersect with the work.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Only submissions delivered by or post-marked by the deadline dates will be accepted. Works submitted must be new and original. Submissions must be submitted in hard copy only and must be accompanied by the 2011 Rhubarb Festival Application Form (available online at www.buddiesinbadtimes.com) and the $20 non-refundable reading fee (payable to: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Fax or email submissions will not be accepted and late submissions will not be considered.

PLEASE MAIL OR DROP OFF SUBMISSIONS TO:
Laura Nanni, Rhubarb Festival Director,
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON M4Y 1B4
For further information please contact: Laura Nanni, laura@buddiesinbadtimes.com or 416-975-9130 x58

The City of Edmonton Civic Events Office is looking for artists to be a part of a new program called Live at Lunch.

As part of ongoing initiatives to animate and enliven Churchill Square outside of the festival season, the City will coordinate a variety of performances and activities on site - live music, buskers, visual artists, workshops, vendors and more.

Live at Lunch will take place from August 10 to October 11, 2010 and will run Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 1:30pm.

This is a paid opportunity.

Artists are encouraged to submit a brief bio (200 words) and an outline of proposed activities.

For more information, or to submit your name for consideration, please contact:
Heather Sheperd
Program Coordinator, City of Edmonton
Civic Events Office
780-496-8218
Heather.Shepherd@edmonton.ca

Guidelines for Submissions: Edmonton's foremost community theatre company is now accepting submissions for our annual one act event, From Cradle to Stage. For over 10 years, Edmonton's foremost community theatre company has been producing original one act plays by local playwrights as a part of its main stage season. Plays are selected by jury, and selected playwrights will receive dramaturgy to help them in the development of their play. We are pleased to announce that Brian Dooley and Tracy Carroll will return as dramaturges this season after their wonderful work with our playwrights last year.

Timeline:
- Deadline for all submissions is September 15th, 2010.
- Playwrights will have the opportunity to work with a dramaturge to develop their scripts between October 2010 and January 2011.
- Finished scripts will be paired up with directors and production teams by February 2011.
- The selected plays will be produced May 18th and 28th, 2011

Submission Guidelines:
- Submitted scripts must be unproduced and unpublished prior to the Walterdale production dates. If your script has been read or work-shopped before, please include its development history up to this point.
- Scripts must be typed or printed, with spaces between all speaking parts. Include your name and contact info on the first page of the script, and number your pages.
- Along with the script, please include a brief bio (50 words or less) which Walterdale will use for publicity purposes if your play is chosen.
- Scripts should run approximately 30-45 minutes. Although we recognize that running times may change during play development, Walterdale reserves the right to cut scripts for production if they are running significantly long.

Submit your script and contact information in one of the following ways:
Mail your script to the address below:
From Cradle to Stage 2010-2011
Walterdale Playhouse
10322 83 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T6E 5C3
Attention: Kristen M. Finlay, Artistic Director
***Do not mail your original copy. If you want your script returned to you, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Unchosen scripts without a SASE will be recycled.

or Email your script to adwalterdale2009@yahoo.ca with FROM CRADLE TO STAGE 2010-11 and title of script in the Subject Line

The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition is now open for entries! Aesthetica Magazine is inviting all artists, writers and poets to submit their work into the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010. Now in its third year, the Creative Works Competition is dedicated to celebrating and championing creative talent across three disciplines, identifying new artists and writers and bringing them to international attention. Previous finalists have achieved success and recognition with accolades including: writing commissions from Channel 4, selection to represent Australia in the Florence Biennale, exhibitions at DACS (London), John Martin Gallery (London), Flores Fine Art Gallery (New York), inclusion in the International Drawing Competition exhibition (Poland) and the National Geographic International Photographic exhibition.

* The Competition has three categories, Artwork, Poetry and Fiction.
* Winners and finalists are published in the Aesthetica Creative Works Annual.
* Winners of each category receive £500 prize money (apx. $780) plus other prizes.
* Entry to the Creative Works Competition is £10 (apx. $17).
* The entry fee allows the submission of 2 images, 2 poems or 2 short stories.

More guidelines on how to submit can be found online at http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm

Playwrights are invited to submit their best, original, full-length stage plays that have not been published.

Any writer with Canadian citizenship is eligible to enter, regardless of geographic location! The winning play will receive publication and licensing representation from Samuel French, Inc.

Download your application here
Questions? Contact publications@samuelfrench.com

Calgary Professional Arts Alliance Committees

The Calgary Professional Arts Alliance is seeking members from a diverse range of artistic practices and experiences to volunteer on our Board Committees.

Advocacy / Elections

Chair: Sandra Gajic

Role: To address advocacy issues in relation to government relations, public awareness, and external networking. Committee members will liaise with all levels of government and influencers, as well as responding to advocacy issues as they arise in consultation with the membership.

A minimum of six meetings annually.

Membership Engagement

Chair: Mike Peterson

Role: To identify needs of the CPAA membership and facilitate the implementation of member events. Committee members will implement member events including social gatherings, professional development opportunities and an annual State of the Arts address. A minimum of six meetings annually.

Membership Development

Chair: Sigrid Mahr

Role: To develop and maintain a robust, diverse membership. Committee members will participate in annual membership drives and assist the Executive Director in building and maintaining a membership database. Approximately three meetings annually.

Fundraising

Chair: Vacant

Role: To develop and implement the Board-approved fundraising plan to support the strategic goals and objectives of the CPAA. Committee members will help identify funding opportunities and assist the Executive Director in the creation and proofing of funding proposals.

Approximately six meetings annually.

Governance

Chair: Ellen Close

Role: To provide oversight of Board performance and responsibilities. Committee members will oversee the implementation of the CPAA Strategic Plan through the work of the Board and the Committees. Approximately six meetings annually.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Cassandra Dam by email at exec@cpaa.ca.

(formerly the Canadian Peace Play Competition)

A joint initiative of Downstage and the Consortium for Peace Studies at the University of Calgary.

Downstage and the Consortium for Peace Studies at the University of Calgary are proud to announce the second annual Uprising National Playwriting Competition: Peace, Politics and Society. This competition celebrates playwrights whose work dynamically engages with social and political issues and/or promotes peace, social justice and human rights.

Founded in 2006, the Canadian Peace Play Competition awarded prizes to three playwrights from across the country, before partnering with Downstage in 2009 to become the Uprising National Playwriting Competition. In addition to the competition, Downstage reviews all submitted work in order to gain exposure to new politically and socially-engaged material for consideration for their future seasons.

The Director of the Uprising National Play Competition, Dawn Mari McCaugherty, will oversee all aspects of the evaluation, selection and award process. Submissions must be received by September 8, 2010 in order to be considered for this year’s competition.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Uprising National Playwriting Competition invites stimulating new works which explore socially and politically charged themes and/or promote peace, justice and human rights.

CONTEST AWARDS:
1st Place Award: $1000, and a public staged reading as part of Downstage’s Uprising festival on Tuesday, November 23, 2010. Included will be a two-day workshop prior to the reading as well as reimbursement of the playwright for any travel costs to and from Calgary.

2nd Place Award: $250

Winners will be notified by October 15, 2010.
Winners will be contacted by email or telephone.
Contest results will be posted on the websites of Downstage (www.downstage.ca) and the Consortium for Peace Studies (www.ucalgary.ca/~peaceuc).

SCRIPT EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
To ensure impartiality and authenticity in the adjudication process, a double-blind system will be adopted. The identity of playwrights will be withheld from adjudicators and the names of adjudicators will not be revealed. The identity of the winning playwrights and the final adjudication panel will be released when the prize is announced.

Initial consideration of scripts by up to three preliminary adjudicators will result in the compilation of a short-list of 3-5 finalists, which will then be reviewed by a separate jury of three adjudicators who will select the winning entries. Script adjudicators include produced writers, artistic directors, scholars of theatre and creative writing, professional theatre artists and candidates enrolled in Graduate studies at the University of Calgary.

The decisions of the adjudicators are final.

Winners agree to permit the use of their names, biographies and titles of their plays in promotional materials and on the websites of Downstage and the Consortium for Peace Studies.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Please note the following. Any deviation from these requirements may result in disqualification of the entry.

Eligible scripts:
Original stage plays (minimum of sixty minutes)
Musicals are accepted; please provide a CD of the music at the time of submission
Scripts submitted must be the original work of the author/s
Scripts may have received a reading and/or workshop, but not a professional or Fringe production prior to December, 2010
Scripts must be written by citizens or permanent residents of Canada
Scripts must meet the criteria expressed in the Mission Statement

Ineligible scripts:
Adaptations and children’s plays
Scripts written in whole or part by authors other than those represented on the entry form
Scripts that have been published
Scripts that have received or have a planned professional or Fringe production prior to December, 2010
Scripts that do not meet the criteria expressed in the Mission Statement

RULES AND REGULATIONS:
Each entry must include a completed entry form
An entry fee of $20 must accompany each play submitted. Cheques or money orders made payable to University of Calgary (Uprising fee) will be cashed and receipts sent the week of September 13, 2010.
Entrants must submit two copies of their script – unbound and quality printed
All manuscripts must be in English
Scripts must be typewritten or word-processed on white paper, one side only on 8 ½” by 11” paper
The title of the play and page number must appear on each page
The cover page must include – the title of the play, the playwright’s full name, address and phone number
Any appearance of the playwright’s name, initials or other identifiable marks on any part of the scripts other than the cover page will disqualify the entry
Spacing must be double-spaced between speaking parts
Include a brief synopsis of the play (no longer than half a page) and brief character descriptions
NO Fax or Email attachment entries

HANDLING OF SCRIPTS:
Scripts must be received no later than September 8, 2010.

Entrants submit their material at their own risk

To verify script receipt, submit a SASP. Please write the name of the play on the postcard. It will be returned to you with the play’s Roster Intake #.
If you wish the play returned, submit a SASE. The envelope must be large enough to hold the scripts or it will not be returned.
Scripts without a SASE will be disposed of after the competition or retained by Downstage for future production consideration.

This Uprising National Playwriting Competition information and entry form may be found on the Consortium for Peace Studies website at www.ucalgary.ca/~peaceuc and the Downstage website at www.downstage.ca. Questions may be addressed to Dawn Mari McCaugherty at (403) 220-6027 or d.m.mccaugherty@ucalgary.ca.

70TH NATIONAL ONE ACT PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

Open to original one act plays in English, encouraging literary and dramatic talent in Canada.

The Ottawa Little Theatre is pleased to announce that it is now accepting submissions for its 70thth National One Act Playwriting Competition. The competition is open to plays with a maximum playing time of 60 minutes, and a minimum playing time of 25 minutes. The play must be previously unproduced OR have been produced no earlier than in the current year, 2010. The competition is open to all professional and non-professional Canadian playwrights, including landed immigrants.

Prizes

: First Prize - The Ottawa Little Theatre Award: $1000 plus a rehearsed reading of the play

: Second Prize - The Dorothy White Award, awarded in memory of Mrs. Louis White: $750 plus a rehearsed reading of the play

: Third Prize - The Gladys Cameron Watt Award, sponsored by the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women in memory of Mrs. Roy McGregor Watt: $500 plus a rehearsed reading of the play

: Special Prize - The Sybil Cooke Award for a play written for Children, awarded in memory of Sybil Cooke: $500 plus a rehearsed reading of the play

Please note: The definition of a "Children's Play," for the purpose of this competition, is a play written for audiences under 18 years of age. Eligible plays may be intended for teens or for younger children.

Rehearsed Readings

Each of the prize-winning plays will receive a rehearsed reading, publicly presented in the Ottawa Little Theatre's Janigan Studio in the spring of 2011. Actors will be drawn from Ottawa Little Theatre's company of performers. As part of the rehearsed reading process, playwrights that win
one of the prizes will have the opportunity to work on developing and revising their winning script with a professional dramaturge.

Complete competition guidelines and entry forms are available at the Ottawa Little Theatre's website.

Natasha Harwood - Education Director, Ottawa Little Theatre

400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa ON K1N 7M7

Ph: 613-233-8948 ext. 261 Fax: 613-233-8027 www.ottawalittletheatre.com

Downstage is now seeking submissions for programming for the 2010-2011 season in Motel, a flexible 56-seat black-box performance venue located in the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts. Emerging and established artists and performing arts companies working in all disciplines who are interested in showcasing their work in Motel are invited to submit proposals for consideration. Unfortunately, as demand for the space generally exceeds the time available, we will not necessarily be able to program all submissions.

Upon the successful scheduling of a proposal, artists/companies will be contacted to arrange more specific details of the tenancy. In partnership with the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, Downstage is committed to ensuring Motel is highly affordable and accessible forAlberta's arts community. However, all work programmed maintains its autonomy, with no mandatory co-production arrangement. All work to be presented in Motel will be featured on the new Motel website, scheduled to launch in September.

We will respond to all proposals once scheduling decisions have been made.

Interested artists/companies are asked to submit a project proposal at least one page in length describing the work to be presented, the artists involved, the ideal presentation dates (please give more than one option) and why Motel is the venue of choice for the project.

Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis until all available dates are filled; however, tentative scheduling of projects will begin on June 1st and we anticipate availability to become limited very quickly. We are primarilyseeking proposals for one or two week time slots, though shorter projects will also be considered. A weekly booking in Motel runs Sunday to Saturday, unless otherwise noted.

At present, available weeks are as follows (* denotes weeks which are tentatively programmed but may become available):

August 29-September 4
September 5-September 11
September 12-September 18
September 19-September 25
September 26-October 2
October 3-October 9
October 10-October 16
October 17-October 24 (Sunday)

November 28-December 4
December 5-December 11*
December 12-December 18*

February 6-February 12*
February 13-February 19*
February 20-February 26
February 27-March 6 (Sunday)

April 17-April 23
April 24-April 30
May 1-May 7
May 8-May 14
May 15-May 21

May 29-June 4
June 5-June 11
June 12-June 18
June 19-June 25

July 18 (Monday)-July 23
July 24-July 30
July 31-August 6
August 7-August 13
August 14-August 20
August 21-August 27

Downstage also operates birds and stone, an affordable venue for rehearsals and performance - visit www.downstage.ca/birds.html for more information.

For more information on EPCOR CENTRE's Motel and to see a ground plan of the space, visit www.downstage.ca/motel.html.

Please send any questions and submit proposals by e-mail to Downstage Artistic Producer Simon Mallett at simon@downstage.ca. Thank you for your interest.

Plans have been unveiled for Culture Days, a free annual event inviting Canadians to celebrate and explore arts and culture in every province and territory in Canada.

This national celebration will represent the largest-ever collective public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and cultural community in Canada. Through direct interaction with artists, curators, designers, historians, architects and other creative producers, Culture Days invites Canadians to discover the inner workings of the arts and cultural world and to explore their own creativity.

Culture Days will take place on September 24 to 26 in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec (under the existing event Journées de la culture), New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island; and on September 17 to 19 in Alberta (under the existing event Alberta Arts Days). Dates for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon will be announced shortly.

Those who register activities will benefit from a national marketing and communications campaign as well as access to materials to help promote activities within their communities.

You can learn more about Culture days and Interested artists and organizations may register online at www.culturedays.ca.

Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council is developing an information resource on quality community arts programs for seniors. A component of this is a directory of teaching artists. Below is more information about ESCC, the directory, and the toolkit. To learn more about ESCC please visit our website www.seniorscouncil.net

Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council seeks to assist senior serving organizations to work collaboratively to provide effective and accessible programs to older adults. In an initiative to provide quality community arts programs for older adults that benefit overall health and celebrate their creative potential, an arts and aging toolkit is being developed. A component of this toolkit is a directory of teaching artists.

For the purposes of the toolkit, we've adapted the following definition of a teaching artist, a professional artist with the skills and sensibilities of an educator who engages in learning experiences in, through, or about the arts. A professional artist is defined as someone who makes a living in the
field; or the level of their work is seen to be of a provincial/national level (by colleagues), or are of some profile. Emerging artists working in conjunction with professional artists may also be recognized as
professional. If you would like to be included in this database, to learn more, or to provide additional feedback, please contact Sacha Deelstra.

Sacha Deelstra
Program Assistant
Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council
Phone: 780-423-5635 Email: sacha@seniorscouncil.net

For professional artists, cultural workers and employers!

The Cultural Human Resources Council has engaged the Conference Board of Canada to undertake a survey to examine the HR issues faced by the cultural sector in Canada.

We encourage you to complete the survey, and to forward it to other professional artists, cultural workers and employers in the cultural sector to get as many responses as possible.

All responses to the survey are important and greatly appreciated.

Survey respondents will have the option of being notified when the report is available for download from the Cultural Human Resources Council's website.

The survey can be accessed at: www.conferenceboard.ca/culturesurvey.aspx

The Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society is calling Alberta artists to help contribute to the Community Engagement’s art initiatives across the province.

We are creating a database of artists from various towns and cities across Alberta. Our Community Engagement programs are looking for artists to help facilitate art programs with children, teenagers and adults.

The information you provide will not be sold and will only be given out with artists’ permission. Being on our database will allow you to have early notice of opportunities and events with the Community Engagement at the Jubilee, including call for submissions and workshops.

The Community Engagement programs are looking for a wide variety of artists. We seek artists with experience in but are not limited to: theatre, music, performance, visual art, and dance.

We encourage artists who have worked with the Community Engagement programs at the Jubilee to submit information, because the database is new and we would like to know if previous artists are interested or are not interested in being part of our database.

Please submit:
- Resume (including two references)
- A brief description of artistic work and practice
- Documents relevant to showcase the artist’s work such as photos, CD’s or video
- Not necessary but desired, information about previous teaching experience and a teaching statement

There is no deadline to submit for the database, it is an ongoing search. We will contact artists on an as-needed basis.

Gina Martino
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
1415-14 Ave NW
Calgary AB T2N 1M4
(403) 297-2841
Gina.Martino@gov.ab.ca

Tarryn Koll
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
11455-87 Ave
Edmonton AB T6G 2T2
(780) 638-3502
Tarryn.Koll@gov.ab.ca

Want to promote your event to Albertans and people around the world?

Alberta’s Culture Calendar is a new website promoting the province’s arts, heritage, volunteer and other activities. Our searchable database lists cultural events by location, date and type of activity. The best part is that it’s easy and free of charge!

http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=25907
Also, if applicable, please take a moment to compare your current biography to the one listed on the NeWest Press website. If there are any changes to be made, please email me at the address listed below.

Will the recession kill the “creative economy movement” or provide the right releasing touch? Has your community seen the arts culture and heritage sector fall off of the political agenda or move to the forefront? Economic recovery will need the resourcefulness of new creativity, but never have statistics been less insightful about what is happening on the ground.

The Cultural Human Resources Council has commissioned the Conference Board of Canada to review the current situation of cultural labour in Canada over the next year, and Roger Martin and Richard Florida have released a major study in Ontario calling for a human resource strategy in stimulative spending.

To track these and other policy developments, the CPCC has been developing a program of research working critically within the creative economy paradigm over the past year, studying the changing nature of cultural work in communities across Canada. Effective June 15, the CPCC is one of 10 consortia asked to propose a Major Collaborative Research Initiative to the Social Science and Humanities Research Council. The final date for the submission is the end of the summer. We would welcome your insight.

In recessionary times, governments need insights and practical tools to contribute to individuals’ well-being, cultural expression and sustainable communities.

Details will be posted on www.cultureandcommunities.ca

How can you help? Let us know what you see is the positive or negative effect of the recession on your community’s arts cultural and heritage workers. Nominate slow growth or high growth communities for the study. Comment on types of research you support or oppose. Bring excellent sources/ideas/people to our attention.

Please reply to: cmnscpcc@sfu.ca

Edmontonstories.ca is a new website, launched by the City of Edmonton last week.

Edmontonstories.ca is where Edmontonians and visitors can tell their stories to the world. A typical story describes a particular moment or event when it all came together for you – you realized something special, unique or valuable about Edmonton. It’s a story that illustrates what being in Edmonton has helped you achieve or has added to your life. Your story might describe what you appreciate about our city and what you want others to know about how we live and what we do. It’s more than identifying what you like about Edmonton. Sharing your personal experience and insights through a story will illustrate what our city has to offer the world.

There are a few stories on the site now from people you probably know and there's room for waaaaaaay more. And hey, if anyone has good stories, it's gonna be the artists, right? Right.

>> Visit edmontonstories.ca...

The Banff Centre is committed to the commissioning, development, and production of new works in all major performance disciplines. Through the Performing Arts Residencies program, professional artists can utilize the unique resources of the Theatre Arts Department in developing and refining new work. On an ongoing basis, we invite project proposals from artists, artistic collectives, and companies to develop new works of dance, opera, spoken theatre, and lyric theatre in our studios, facilities, and production shops.

Application information

See a sample of photos from past residency projects

For more information and to apply:
The Banff Centre, Office of the Registrar
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, Box 1020
Banff, Alberta T1L 1H5, CANADA
1-800-565-9989 or 1-403-762-6180
arts_info@banffcentre.ca
www.banffcentre.ca

A CALL TO ARTISTS AND ARTISTIC ORGANIZATIONS:

A new arts-and-culture show hit the airwaves in October!

The show is called "Lady ZZ Top" and will air on CJSR FM 88.5, in Edmonton on Mondays between 11am and 1pm. The show is hosted by Clarice and Julie!

Lady ZZ Top is looking for artists and/or representatives of arts and cultural organizations to interview live on air as part of an effort to bolster support for local, provincial, and national artists. If you and/or an artistic organization that you are representing need a venue to promote an event or initiative, Lady ZZ Top is the place to do it.

The show will accommodate two separate 35 minute interview segments, featuring two distinct artists/organizations to present a diverse representation of local talent. For example, there could be a metal band in segment one and a representative of an artistic funding organization in segment two. The interviews themselves will last approximately 20 minutes with 15 minutes of music.

If you are unable to book a live interview there are still a few ways to get on the show:
1) we can arrange a taped interview, or;
2) you can give us the event/organization details and we will mention them on air.

Feel free to book an interview well in advance. There are two reasons for this approach: to prepare for your segment, and to avoid disappointment in case segments fill up quickly. Clarice and Julie will do their very best to accommodate you!

If you'd like to book a live or taped interview, or you have an upcoming event you would like us to mention on air, please email Clarice and Julie at: ladyzztop@gmail.com

Submission Requests

Calgary Culture Events
Now you can submit your event listings online. The new online submission form makes promoting your events quick and convenient. Click here to access the form.

Events@CalgaryCulture.com Website: www.calgaryartsdevelopment.com

Alright all you professional and aspiring film actors. FAVA is looking to update its actor database and we need you to help us out. If you would like to be a part of our actor files simply email or snail mail us your headshot and resume.

If you aren’t familiar with the entity that is FAVA here’s a bit of info. FAVA- Film and Video Arts Society- is a cooperative of independent media artists. With approximately 250 members, FAVA serves artists with a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience ranging from veteran artists to those with an emerging passion for video and film. FAVA offers a variety of workshops for artistic and skill development, a resource of equipment, regular information, hosts events and screenings and fosters a sense of community.

As an actor, sending in your information opens up the possibility to work on honing your skills in front of the camera, collect material for your actor reel and get to know other artists in various areas of the industry.

Any questions? You are always welcome to contact us at the office 780-429-1671.

Email or snail mail your materials to the address below:
membership@fava.ca
Melissa Thingelstad, FAVA Membership Services Coordinator
9722 102 St
Edmonton, AB
T5K 0X4

Students in the Arts and Cultural Management Program have one thing in common: a love and passion for the arts! They are drawn to the arts world because of its creative and vibrant spirit.

Successful graduates come from diverse backgrounds. Some find their passion lies in the performing arts like theatre, dance or music, while others come to MacEwan with a visual arts focus, and still others dream of pursuing a career in cultural industries like publishing or film.

Many of MacEwan's Arts and Cultural Management students hold post-secondary degrees or diplomas from institutions across the country, while others have many years of work experience in a business or administrative setting and are ready to transition into a career they are passionate about. Of course, for those students who know early on they are ready to make a difference in the arts and cultural sector, MacEwan gives them the start they need.

Now is the time to submit your application to enhance your career and begin the program in September 2009. If you are in the Edmonton or Calgary area, you may also want to try to catch one of their upcoming information sessions - see www.macewan.ca for details.

Arts and Cultural Management at Grant MacEwan College is a unique program. You can choose to complete the program as a full-time student, part-time over two years, or even in the comfort of your home through online delivery anywhere in Canada.

In the Arts and Cultural Management Program we will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this field. You don't want to be good at your job, you want to be great. You will study the following:

Advocacy and Lobbying
Marketing Principles and Research in the Arts
Financial Management for the Arts
Computer Applications in the Arts
Management Seminar I and II
Communications
Publicity and Media Relations in the Arts
Applied Marketing in the Arts
Human Resource Management in the Arts
Facility Management
Museum/Gallery Management
Fundraising and Grants
Field Placement component - anywhere in Canada!

MacEwan Arts and Culture Management

For more details on the program, or to have your questions answered, please contact:

Alana Broomfield - Program Secretary
780-497-4408
broomfielda@macewan.ca

Interested in having Magnetic North Theatre Festival come to your region?
 
Magnetic North is focused on celebrating the maturity and diversity of Canadian theatre. We work closely with the host community in order to promote the profile of local professional theatre in that community, and to offer professional development for that community. The festival also offers through its Magnetic Encounters a range of educational and outreach opportunities for youth as well as local audience development.
 
Magnetic North Theatre Festival takes place in June/July each year, alternating between Ottawa and a different host community. Normally, the Festival is 11 days long, with a period of approximately five days during which out-of-town visitors have an opportunity to see every show during this time frame. 
 
Timeframe for bids: 27 months before the festival, for instance bids for the 2014 festival should be received by March 2012.
 
The criteria for placing a bid to host Magnetic North in your region can be found on our website at www.magneticnorthfestival.ca
 

Timeframe for bids: 27 months before the festival (for instance bids for the 2014 festival should be received by March 2012)

www.magneticnorthfestival.ca