Call for Artists and Performers

(Un)Common Threads Creativity and Innovation Conference

Fall 2024

Business and Arts NL is hosting a creativity and innovation summit at the Sheraton Hotel on  November 7, 2024, that will bring together 250 participants from across the business and arts communities to explore creativity: what it is, how to harness it, and how to apply it to fuel innovation. 

We are seeking artists to create work to be presented as part of this event, including works that can be performed live, or works that are created in advance and displayed at the event. We welcome submissions from artists at all career stages.

Our mission to facilitate meaningful dialogue and purposeful partnerships between the arts and business communities is front and center in the planning of this event. It follows that the involvement and work of artists is an essential element. It is deeply important that artist involvement is not "icing" or merely surface level. By integrating art and performance throughout the summit, we will demonstrate the vital role of art and creativity to inspire, challenge, and connect people, and how businesses can work with artists to create exceptional experiences. For this reason, submissions of works with an interactive component are encouraged. 

Theme:

We’re looking for creative works that explore the theme, “(Un)Common Threads”. We use this title for our event series in the creative/innovation space because of the variety of images and connotations it engenders, and the interplay between: 

• Common, as in what the business and arts have in common - a desire for impact, for evolution and innovation, teams, problems and solutions etc. etc., and a desire to seek uncommon, surprising, unexpected synergies

• Common, as in plain, widely available, mundane, everyday, etc. When creativity is applied to these common ideas, items, and problems, innovative solutions and viewpoints arise.  

• Threads in figurative and literal forms - narrative threads, connective tissues, the “ties that bind” etc. 

Artists should feel free to interpret this theme in any way that feels appropriate. 

Compensation:

$3,500 - $10,000 per artist, including materials, delivery, installation and takedown, performance fees, licensing fees for photographs of your performance/work, and promotional materials including a short written statement about your work/process, short process videos and photos for social media. Each selected artist will be required to attend the summit on Nov 7, 2024, and to be featured in a Spotlight on Partnerships story about your work and how it ties to this theme. For participating artists from within the province who do not live on the Avalon Peninsula, travel expenses will be provided. 

Timelines: 

Deadline to submit an expression of interest: Friday, May 31, 2024

If necessary, shortlisted applicants may be asked to create a second, more detailed application, and will be paid $500 for this work. 

Final selections will be made no later than June 28.

Performances/presentations will take place on Nov 7, 2024. 

Delivery and installation of artworks, props, equipment etc. will take place on the morning of Nov 7, 2024, and be taken down at the end of the same day. 

All selected artists will take part in the summit on Nov 7, 2024. 

Submission requirements:

Please submit the following information in a single pdf by email to: info@businessandartsnl.com 

• A description (max 500 words) of your proposed performance, exhibition, or contribution to the summit, including how you envision participants interacting with it (i.e. watching a performance, stopping by during coffee and lunch breaks to check it out in detail, displaying on screens throughout the space etc. participating in small groups throughout the day, etc.). If you prefer to send this portion of your submission via video, please limit the video length to no longer than 3 minutes.

• A project budget, including artist fees for yourself and any collaborators, materials, delivery, installation/takedown, a licensing fee for images/short videos of your artwork to be used by Business and Arts NL’s marketing and social media, and a fee for providing marketing materials such as short process videos and photos for social media. If you are travelling from within NL, but outside the Avalon Peninsula, please provide expected travel costs, (according to the federal government’s travel directive). These will be outside of your artist fee. We have provided a budget template which includes possible cost categories and links to useful resources to help you structure your budget. Please see below to download.

• Technical requirements (see FAQ for limitations)

• A 200-word bio

• A link to your website or portfolio 

• Up to five examples (images, links to videos or recordings, etc.) of your work, including similar works, examples that demonstrate your ability to execute the proposed artwork, concept sketches, etc.

FAQs:

• Is there a limit on the number of concepts I can submit?

  Please submit only one concept per application. If you would like to submit more than one idea, you may do so in a separate package.

• What format should I be submitting in?

  Please submit your application as a single pdf, with links to video/audio files.

• Eligibility

  This call is open to artists from anywhere, but only artists living within Newfoundland and Labrador and outside of the Avalon Peninsula will have their travel costs to participate in the event covered.

• Selection process

  The conference team (including Business and Arts staff, board, and advisory committee members) will evaluate/assess the submissions based on the proposed project’s relevance, feasibility, and connection to the stated theme.

• Can I submit a previously created work, or only propose to make something new specifically for this event?

  Existing work is welcome.

• What sort of interactivity and/or audience engagement do you have in mind?

  Our vision for participants’ interaction with art at this event is that it will spark conversations, compel people to circulate throughout the event spaces, help them engage thoughtfully with the themes, and be surprised. We do not want artworks and performances to be in the background during networking opportunities, but will rather serve as examples of creativity and innovation themselves, and provide experiences that participants feel a part of. 

  Interactivity is not a requirement, but would be very welcome. Examples of interactivity might include:

  Opportunities to interact in a passive/gentle way (for instance, using your phone)

  Reactive or co-creative opportunities (for instance, using ideas or contributions submitted by participants in advance or in the moment)

  Works that interact with data provided by a participant or participants

  Works that react to, or are impacted by the audience 

  Works that use interactive media

  Facilitated interactivity, including works or experiences that are co-created by participants throughout the course of the day (within time constraints)

• What will happen to works created specifically for this event?

  Artists will maintain ownership of their artworks.

• What media are you looking for?

  We’re open to any forms of artistic expression, including, but not limited to musical, dance, and theatrical performances, visual artworks including digital media, sculpture, paintings, textiles, etc.

• How will works be displayed? What technical setup is available?

  We won’t have permission to mount works onto the walls at the Sheraton, so 2D artworks will be displayed on easels. There are two 7x13 screens and a 8000 Lumen projector, as well as 75" LED HD monitors on rolling stands available that could be used to display digital artworks. There will be a small stage, and a modest A/V setup to support performances. Please see attached images of the event spaces.

  As we only get access to the Sheraton on the day of the event, works must be easily transported and able to be set-up early on the morning of the event.

• What other programming will be included on that day?

  Three main speakers have been selected so far, discussing their own creative processes, and how creativity is applied to their business in the film, marketing, and theatre worlds

• Can two or more artists submit as a team?

  Yes, by all means. This opportunity is open to all emerging and professional artists and arts organizations.

  Please note, the artist fee range of $3,500 - $10,000 for this event is per project, not per artist, and so a joint submission needs to fit within this budget.

• Should my 5 images of support materials be of my most recent or most relevant work? Can each member of a team submit 5 images each?

  Images/videos/audio submitted are one of the most compelling tools we have of communicating artist ideas. This is especially helpful when submitting to a selection committee that is not wholly comprised of artists, as in this case.

  Select images that do the best job of illustrating the work you’re proposing to share, whether it’s recent work, or a sketch of a new idea etc.

  If two artists are working together and combining two very different types of work, and you think each artist needs to submit 5 separate images, in order to thoroughly illustrate your concept that’s fine.

• Can I submit audio or video samples?

  Yes, links to video or audio samples are welcome. Please include links to online content in your pdf submission rather than as separate mp4 files etc.

• How many artists are you planning to select?

  Depending on our final budget and timing considerations, we’re hoping to select between 3 and 8 artists to be part of this work.

• Will you accept submissions via video?

  Yes, we are happy to accept proposed project descriptions in alternative formats including audio or video submissions. These recordings should be no longer than three minutes long. All other materials (budget, portfolio, technical requirements, support materials) should be submitted in pdf.

• Can I propose a workshop rather than a performance?

  Yes.

• Can I propose a project that includes an opportunity for a younger artist to be mentored?

  Yes.

• What is the maximum length of artist interactions you're looking to program?

  Our programming for the day is still very flexible, and so we’re asking you to submit ideas and projects that are your best, most resonant ideas for this opportunity. We are not stating max/min timeframes, and will build the program to create an event that fills the day, meets our goals, fits the budget, and showcases a range of artists and artistic media.

• How will audience members interact with these performances?

  The following possibilities are currently imagined:

  • All 300 participants sit at round tables and observe a performance.

  • Participants move through several spaces over the course of 30-45-minute blocks and interact with artistic presentation at their own pace.

  Please note, there will be more limited capacity in the schedule for the first format, as audience members will also be seated/stationary during keynote presentations.

• When will set up/tear down take place?

  All set up and tear down will have to take place on the day of the event, before 8:30 am and after 4:30 pm.

• Who is the intended audience for this event?

  This event will be open to the general public. We expect attendees to come from a mix of sectors, including tech, marketing, arts, film and tv, architecture and design etc. This work will be geared towards leaders and teams looking to explore the importance of creativity in their work.

• What is the goal of featuring artists as part of this event?

  This event will position artists as professionals use hone and apply creativity to their work, and whom others outside of the arts community can learn from. This event also presents art as an important and varied tool for communication, self-exploration, and creating shared experiences.

• What marketing/exposure will artists receive as participants?

  Each artist-in-residence will be featured in the conference program (online and in print), on social media announcements about the conference, and have a Spotlight on Partnerships story written about them, and be featured in post-event reporting.

  Participating artists-in-residence will receive professional photographs of their participation in the conference to use for their own portfolio/marketing.

• What should I include in my budget?

  To help make building a budget for this project easier, we have provided a template with a breakdown of potential cost categories and useful resources to help with pricing etc. Please feel free to use this as a guide, or download and submit your budget using this form-fillable template. (Download below).

The event will take place throughout three spaces in the Sheraton:

Ballroom

Court Garden

Pre-Function Area