Professional Artist & Company Call-Out!
Greenwich Dance, the Horniman Museum and Gardens and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of
Music and Dance are looking to commission four artists or companies across a range of art
forms and cultures to create work for three large scale events in Greenwich and Lewisham.
Curious Commissions (Two, £1000 Micro-Commissions)
Horniman’s Curious Tea Party
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2014
Journey Commissions (Two, £2500 Commissions)
Horniman’s Curious Tea Party, Greenwich World Cultural Festival & Greenwich Dances
Saturday 12, Sunday 13 July, Sunday 20 July and 5-9 September 2014
Full Information
Curious Commissions (Two, £1000 Micro-Commissions)
Horniman’s Curious Tea Party
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2014
The Horniman Museum and Gardens are staging a very Horniman twist on the Edwardian summer.
It all kicks off on the 12th and 13th July with Horniman’s Curious Tea Party, a vibrant weekend of Edwardianinspired entertainment with a contemporary cross-arts twist, inspired by museum founder Frederick Horniman’s
passion for collecting objects from all over the world. The Horniman’s Curious Tea Party is produced in
partnership between the Horniman and Trinity Laban.
This event will explore music, dance and museum objects through participation, pop-up performance, specially
commissioned dance, site-specific interventions, afternoon tea and lots of eccentric frolics.
Throughout the summer visitors to the Horniman Museum and Gardens will experience music, film and dance
from this age of optimism and gaiety, and celebratory and participatory events that offer a contemporary take
on the eternal summer. Music hall acts, ragtime, early jazz and some gems of early cinema will all feature in
this series of special events running through July and August. Fun activities for families inspired by the
pastimes, adventurers and naturalists of the age will take place across the summer holiday in a series of Big
Wednesdays as well as inspiring some of their cherished family favourites of art and craft, storytelling, ponddipping and minibeast safaris.
What are we looking for?
In Mr Horniman’s spirit of exploration, discovery and curious endeavour we are looking for exciting artists and
companies across a diverse range of art forms and cultures to express their interest in creating original artistic
responses to the theme which will complement our programming and help us produce a quirky, fun and
innovative event.
We expect applications to be for completely new work or to evidence how a £1000 commission will significantly
develop and advance an existing idea or work in early stages.
Applications may include (amongst others):
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Site specific or roving performance
Learning and participation activity
Flexible family performances (of up to 20 minutes)
Arts and cultural activity which nods to the Edwardian era
Interactive activities across art and craft forms
Installations
Film
Pop up activity
Surprises!
This is not an exhaustive list. We are open to your suggestions so ignite our curiosity!
Criteria and Timeline
Applicants will be selected against the following criteria and consideration of how they would contribute to a diverse and
balanced programme:
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Originality
Suitability for site
Suitability for an audience including families
Aspirational but achievable
Resources required
Fit with other programme content with reference to sound and space requirements across event.
Applications: Please complete the online form at www.greenwichdance.org.uk by Monday 2 June 2014, 5pm
Successful Applicants will be contacted by: Friday 6 June at the latest.
Performances: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2014
Applicants will not be required to interview or audition. Commission offers will be made following the application process
only.
Journey Commissions (Two, £2500 Commissions)
Horniman’s Curious Tea Party, Greenwich World Cultural Festival & Greenwich Dances
Saturday 12, Sunday 13 July, Sunday 20 July and 5-9 September 2014
Greenwich Dances is an annual festival celebrating dance and movement focusing on wellbeing,
togetherness and creativity. This year we dance down to and around the river as the Tall Ships Regatta 2014
inspires a theme of journeying and maritime adventure. We will begin dancing before the ships dock and
continue once they have set sail. Audiences should expect to have fun, join in, stumble on an unexpected
moment, watch, be surprised, move and be moved or all of the above!
From 5 to 9 September, Royal Greenwich will host five days of exciting activities and welcome up to 50
majestic tall ships. The ships will arrive here from Falmouth, Cornwall as part of the Falmouth - Royal
Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta.
Greenwich World Cultural Festival is a laid back family afternoon of dance, music, theatre, art and circus
from around the world presented by Greenwich Dance in the beautiful grounds of English Heritage’s Eltham
Palace. Now in its fifith year, the event takes place annually as part of the Royal Greenwich Festivals.
Tall ships are iconic symbols of exploration and dramatic journeys and Mr Horniman was a tea merchant by
trade, leading to him journeying around the world inspiring his love of collecting. With an outcome at these
three festival events we are looking for innovative and original responses to the theme of ‘Journeys’.
We welcome applications from those keen to explore the theme in its broadest sense and create original work
with visual impact amongst a crowd of people. Whilst some applications may include activity with promenade
elements this is not expected or necessary.
Criteria and Timeline
Applicants will be selected against the following criteria and consideration of how they would contribute to a diverse and
balanced programme:






Originality
Suitability for site
Suitability for an audience including families
Aspirational but achievable
Resources required
Fit with other programme content with reference to sound and space requirements across event.
Applications: Please complete the online form at www.greenwichdance.org.uk by Monday 2 June 2014, 5pm
Successful Applicants will be contacted by: Friday 6 June at the latest.
Performances: Saturday 12 July, Sunday 13th July, Sunday 20 July and 5-9 September 2014
Applicants will not be required to interview or audition. Commission offers will be made following the application process
only.
Information for you:
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This call out is for professional artists and companies
The majority of the events take place outside
Most activity takes place in grassy or paved/tarmacked areas without access to mains power
The activities are likely to attract over 1000 visitors each
Ambience is gentle, fun and family friendly
All work should be suitable for a family audience
No further expenses are offered in addition to the £1000 or £2500 micro commission fees but producing
organisations will endeavour to support artists with limited rehearsal space and resources where
possible.
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Horniman’s Curious Tea Party takes place on Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July 2014 from 1 – 5pm
each day
Greenwich World Cultural Festival takes place on Sunday 20 July from 12.30-4.30pm
Tall Ships Regatta takes place on 5-9 September 2014
www.greenwichdance.org.uk
www.horniman.ac.uk
www.trinitylaban.ac.uk