Next Fest NW is Velocity’s experimental new works festival, celebrating contemporary dance and movement-based artists innovating in our region. For this year’s festival, we are putting the theme, title, and budget of the show in the hands of the selected artists. We will provide the cohort of four PNW-based movement artists a budget of $10,000 total to vision and execute a shared program we’re calling Next Fest NW: TBD (to be determined).

Ok, but how will this work? We have set a few parameters. The show dates will be two weekends in December in the studio theater at 12th Ave Arts, and we will select the four artists through an open application. Velocity will provide a baseline of technical staff, administrative and marketing support, and the front of house staffing needed for the performances. Beyond that, we will provide resources, guidance through structured creative team meetings, production meetings, in-process showings, and press showings, so that the artists can collaboratively vision and plan the shared evening.

Our goal is to give local artists who have experience in festivals and shared programs the chance to co-lead a longer production and administrative process, while having more power and resources to make their vision happen.

We welcome Pacific Northwest-based dance artists from all backgrounds and styles making experimental work to apply.

2023 IMPORTANT DATES

• Optional: Workshop your application with Alyza (email Alyza …alyza@velocitydancecenter.org…before June 1st)
• Virtual Planning Meetings (1-1.5 hrs)
• Visioning + Planning – July/Aug/Sep/Oct (monthly)
• Implementation – Nov/Dec (weekly)
• Work-in-progress showing 3hrs TBD – Mid-Late September. 2023
• Press showing – Early November, 2023
• Technical Showing 2hrs TBD – Nov 27 – Dec 3
• Technical Rehearsal – December 4-6, 2023
• Performances – December 7–9 + 14–16, 2023

NFNW Cohort will receive:

• $10,000 for the cohort to allocate between the NFNW Artists based on scope of the new work
• Lighting design by Velocity technical staff
• Mentorship and production support from Velocity staff and creative residents
• 8 in-person performances that are fully produced
• Performances: Dec 9-11 and Dec 16-18 at 8pm at 12th Ave Arts

About the Application + Panel Process

This application will close on June 15th, 2023 at 11:59pm, and we are not able to accept late applications. The curating team is comprised of Velocity Curating Artist in Residence Alyza DelPan-Monley, Creative Producer Shane Donohue and two community artist curators. Panelists will review each application and score proposals using the below criteria, with scores from strongly meets criteria – somewhat meets criteria – does not meet criteria.

The highest scoring applications will be advanced to a discussion stage, where the panel will curate four projects for this year’s performance. Beyond scoring, the curators’ will be selecting based on what 4 pieces together create a varied and exciting collection of works for the event. The Velocity Curating Artist in Residence and the Velocity Artistic Director will be available to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.