AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

Open Call for Puppetry Acts

The Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, seeks 8-10 puppetry
performances for a one-day Family Puppet Festival on Sunday, April 1,
2012. The Festival will feature a wide range of puppetry, from small
to large scale, utilizing diverse media, and drawing on a variety of
cultural traditions.

About the Skirball:

For the Skirball Cultural Center, founded in 1996, the arts serve
as a vehicle to explore and forge connections among individuals,
cultures, and communities. Rooted in Jewish culture and the values of
community, diversity, and caring for the world around us, the Skirball
strives to be a dynamic gathering place within the Los Angeles
community. The Skirball realizes its mission through museum
exhibitions, performances, lectures, films, the interactive Noah's
Ark children's and family destination, and educational offerings
for people of different ages and backgrounds. With the opening in 2007
of Noah's Ark, an award-winning exhibition that contains 386
life-size animals including 30+ puppets made from repurposed
materials—the Skirball established itself as a major venue for
family audiences to experience the arts and celebrate community.

What we're looking for:

· Acts that represent diverse styles of puppetry in terms
of cultural derivation and performance

· Stories told through puppetry that connect to the
Skirball's mission (see above)

· Acts that tell original stories or, like the Noah's
Ark exhibition, provide a new take on classic tales, folklore, or
Jewish-themed stories

· Family-friendly acts that engage audiences across
generations

· Acts that can be performed in traditional and
non-traditional performance spaces like outdoor patios, museum
galleries, or public spaces (special consideration will be given to
these acts and those that can be performed without technical support)

· 10-45 minutes shows that have been previously performed
for family audiences.

· Ambient/strolling puppet acts.

What we're not looking for:

· Non-narrative work that would prove challenging to a
mixed-aged audience

· Sex, violence, or adult language or puppet components

· Performances with significant technical needs, requiring
elaborate sets or lighting

Stipend

· The Skirball will offer a stipend to each performance
group for their participation.

How to apply:

Send an email introducing yourself and the project you'd like to
present to familyprograms@skirball.org
. Write the word PUPPET in the
subject line of your email.

If you have video clips of the performance, it would be helpful to
include links in your email. Please specify the name of your act,
technical specifics, the number of people in your performance, your
contact info, and any work samples you'd like to share. Also
include your resume and a few references as well in the email.

Deadline for submissions:

Friday, January 13, 2012

We will contact you after receiving your materials if we are
interested in setting up an in-person interview/audition.

from LA Culture Net