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 Springboard 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: February 15 2020

Link to the main application form.

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.