Still Here Call for Artists: Queer/LGBTQI artists living in S.F. in the 80s & 90s

Spread the word! Call for Proposals: Queer/LGBTQI artists living in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s. Still Here III Performances June 10 and 11, 2015 National Queer Arts Festival 2015 SF LGBT Community Center Deadline: Thursday, March 12, 2015 by 11:59PM In its third year, Still Here takes an intergenerational leap in revisiting the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco through the lens of both LGBTQI elders (ages 50+) who survived the frontlines and young people raised with the crisis as the backdrop to their childhoods. We are soliciting proposals from 1) Queer/LGBTQI artists age 50+ and 2) Queer/LGBTQI artists raised in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s to present work for two nights of performance as part of the National Queer Arts Festival in San Francisco on June 10 and 11, 2015. Still Here is an annual multidisciplinary performance that explores the experiences of Queer/LGBTQI individuals raised in San Francisco during the 1980s and 1990s in the context of the San Francisco AIDS epidemic and currently still living in San Francisco/Bay Area. To see our 2014 show, visit https://vimeo.com/stillheresf. Proposal Guidelines: 1) Artists who grew up in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s should explore at least one of these questions: What was it like to have the AIDS epidemic as a backdrop to your childhood? How does San Francisco’s history of AIDS in the 80s and 90s inform you now? What was it like to grow up during this time in a “gay mecca”? What is it like to be “still here”? We encourage you to bring your personal and cultural histories to your proposed piece (i.e. migrations to other Bay Area towns or cities, family’s perception of “gay San Francisco” during this time, a childhood relationship with a Queer/LGBTQI adult, etc.) NOTE: This year, we will be accepting submissions from artists who grew up in the Bay Area with strong ties to San Francisco in the 80s and 90s. 2) Artists who lived through the height of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s should explore at least one of these questions: How does your experience during the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s inform you now? What was your life like in during this time? What does “still here” mean to you? Online Application & Work Samples: To apply, please send a complete application containing each of the following to stillheresf[at]gmail.com: -Name of artist or group (including preferred gender pronouns). Please specify stage name, if applicable. If you are a group, please specify the number of people and names of each member in your group. -Contact information (Name, address, email and phone number). -A description of the piece you would like to show for Still Here III. Please specify the theme/s it touches upon and the discipline (spoken word, dance, film, etc.). Artists will have approximately 10 minutes for their pieces. -A work sample (max. 5 pages or 5 minutes), such as a clip of you singing, a taped performance piece, a writing sample, etc. Send as an attachment or include a weblink. -Share any previous experience relevant to your Still Here III proposal. Please note if you don’t have a work sample that adequately represents your proposed idea, use this section to detail your experience in relevant workshops or classes that can support your proposal. -Will your piece include voices or representations other than your own? If so, please describe (i.e. a film with multiple interviews). -50-word biography and headshot. This will be for immediate use in online and print publicity materials. -Technical needs (projector, screen, lighting, mic, props, etc.) Selection Process: Selections will be based upon quality and clarity of idea, a complete application, and availability to participate in all workshops, rehearsals, and performances. We encourage and support artists of all levels of artistic/performance experience to apply. Native/indigenous people, people of color, trans-identified/genderqueer people, and immigrants born outside of the United States but raised in San Francisco are highly encouraged to apply. Artists will receive a stipend for their performance. 2015 Deadlines & Required Dates: Thurs., March 12: Application and materials due no later than 11:59pm. Tues., March 17: Notification emails sent to artists. Sun., April 12: Writing Workshop (optional) Sat., May 9: Works-in-Progress workshop Mon., June 8: Dress Rehearsal, SF LGBT Center, 6-10pm Weds. & Thurs., June 10 and 11: Still Here III, SF LGBT Community Center, 7pm