Artists, Performers, Curators, Cultural Organizations and Community Businesses

NUIT ROSE is a free annual festival of queer-focused art and performance. It showcases provocative, cutting edge work by diverse local and international artists, and engages LGBTQ communities, art lovers, residents and visitors to Toronto in unique experiences with art across the city. Nuit Rose returns for its third year on SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016.

Nuit Rose is organized by the Throbbing Rose Collective, a grassroots group of volunteer artists, curators, art producers, culture workers, and enthusiasts in Toronto.

We are currently accepting submissions from artists, performers, writers, curators, cultural organizations and community businesses interested in presenting indoor and/or outdoor projects for Nuit Rose 2016.

The DEADLINE for submissions is THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016.

THEME
The theme for Nuit Rose 2016 is NIGHT SHIFT. Creative interpretations of the theme are encouraged for submitted projects. These could include:

• Art and performance related to transformation in any form (e.g. shifting identities, shifting perceptions, shifting paradigms, shifting realities). Works that transform or “shift” over the course of the night, or that offer a transformational experience for participants, are highly encouraged.
• Art and performance related to work, events, routines, rituals, or functions that typically occur at night. As a festival that occurs after sunset, Nuit Rose offers a perfect temporal setting for such works.
• Other creative interpretations of the theme “Night Shift”.

ELIGIBLE WORKS/PROJECTS
Applicants may submit work in any medium, including, but not limited to: two dimensional works, sculpture, installation, screen-based works and new media, performance, and multi-media. The festival takes place in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and projects can be accommodated accordingly. Site-specific works and installations are particularly encouraged.

A jury of local art specialists will evaluate the proposals and make recommendations for the final selection of works to be included in the festival. The selected feature artists will receive fees based upon current Canadian Artists’ Representation (CARFAC) rates, in addition to exhibition and/or performance space in key venues. Those selected to present as independent artists are eligible for exhibition assistance and promotional support. The jury may also use its discretion to award commissions to specific projects. Organizations are welcome to apply with their own projects for inclusion, and will receive promotional support.

The Throbbing Rose Collective will accommodate as many projects as possible, within available resources.

Nuit Rose offers a safe and open space for artists to showcase their work. Toronto is home to vast and diverse LGBTQ communities, and we strongly encourage artists and organizations to apply who reflect diversity in culture, race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, and ability.

FESTIVAL LOCATIONS
The festival will take place in two Toronto neighbourhoods: West Queen West and the Church-Wellesley Village. Both of these neighbourhoods have rich queer-activist, visual art, and cultural history.

East Zone: Church-Wellesley Village
The Church-Wellesley Village is one of the most vibrant, colourful and unique neighbourhoods in Canada. It is the main site of Toronto’s Pride Festival, which is the city’s largest cultural festival and Canada’s largest LGBTQ event. The neighbourhood is the traditional home of Toronto’s LGBTQ community, with such notable organizations as The 519 Community Centre, the Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives, the Glad Day Book Shop, and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. On the night of Nuit Rose, a large section of Church Street will be closed to traffic, and Nuit Rose will occur in conjunction with a vibrant street festival taking place as a kick-off to Pride Week.

West Zone: Queen Street West
West Queen West is the largest hub for visual art in Canada, and is known to foster new and emerging talent and ideas. It is the home of the historic Gladstone Hotel, Artscape Youngplace, the Theatre Centre and many important nationally and internationally recognized art galleries. It is also a gathering point for some of Toronto’s most innovative thinkers and creative art makers.

Confirmed community partners for Nuit Rose 2016 include: Artscape Youngplace, The Theatre Centre, The 519 Community Centre, The Gladstone Hotel, the City of Toronto, The Church-Wellesley Village BIA, and the West Queen Street West BIA.

Locations and venues in other areas of Toronto may also be considered.

HOW TO SUBMIT
Submissions are to be made by email. Please send the following information:

• One Page Proposal. Please describe your project in a short document (text formats .doc or .pdf). Please include your zone preference, indicate if you have a venue or location available, or provide three suggested locations ideally suited for your project. Please indicate titles and dimensions of pieces (if applicable).
• Artist Statement outlining interest in the project, relevant experience and general artistic approach (in text formats .doc or .pdf).
• CV for artists, teams and curators (in text formats .doc or .pdf).
• Images of work: a maximum of five (5) images in .jpg or .pdf formats. Please ensure each image file name includes your name and title of the work. Please include a list of the included images in your one page proposal, indicating the dimensions (if applicable) and proposed location. For video submissions, please provide a link where your video can be viewed online, or send as a .mov or .avi file.

Please send all materials in one email with the subject line: “NUIT ROSE Expression of Interest”.

Total size of email cannot exceed 10MB. Please do not send zipped folders.
Send to: [email protected]

DEADLINE: MARCH 10, 2016