Each year during the Annual Meeting, NPN highlights new work of diverse contemporary artists in the US. You will get to see performing arts work in lots of places: during LIVE & ON STAGE at the historic Bijou Theatre on Friday and Saturday evenings, as "ArtBursts" presented throughout the entire meeting, screened during the media showcase and described at the "In the Works" session.
For the first time this year, the Visual Artists Network, NPN’s burgeoning initiative, will present visual arts exhibitions through a variety of formats at the hotel. The “Visual Artists Salon” will be a dedicated space for the screening of artists’ slides, video, and digital work. Visual artists will also be participating in “ArtBursts,” presenting time-based works (see more about ArtBursts below). On Thursday evening, there will be a "gallery opening" reception of the VAN Hotel Room Installations, where selected artists will exhibit their work.
Who gets to perform and exhibit at the Annual Meeting?
Creation Fund Recipients
Artists who have been co-commissioned by NPN Partners through Creation Fund support over the last three years are considered for the national performances. Additionally, artists are selected on the basis of the following:
* Their Creation Fund work has premiered by the end of the previous fiscal year
* They have never been showcased at a previous Annual Meeting
* Feedback from NPN Partners and their co-commissioners
* Feasibility within the capacity of the venue
* Feasibility within the Annual Meeting budget and NPN contract (ideally 7 pp or less)
* Tourability within the NPN
* Diverse representation
* Quality of work
The selection process includes review of stated criteria, proposals submitted by artists, media and press packs as well as panel’s personal knowledge.
These national creation fund Artists will present excerpts of their work during LIVE & ON STAGE at the Bijou Theatre:
* Cloud Eye Control, CA, Multimedia/multidisciplinary: "Under Polaris"
* EDGEWORKS, DC, Dance: "the determining factor"
* Robert Karimi, MN, Theater: "Farid Mercury"
* Universes, NY, Theater: "Ameriville"
Knoxville-based Showcase Artists
Knoxville-based Showcase Artists are selected by the host site committee, this year consisting of Carpetbag Theatre and Knoxville cultural community members. Curatorial criteria include: readiness to tour, a mix of disciplines, genres, generations, ethnic and cultural representation, as well as the quality of work.
Five area artists will present 10-minute excerpts of their work during LIVE & ON STAGE at the Bijou Theatre:
* Obayana Ajanaky
* Ajeet Yoga
* Liza Garza
* Sparky & Rhonda Rucker
* Horace Smith
ArtBursts
ArtBursts are 5-minute low- or no-tech performances, presented throughout the Annual Meeting. ArtBurst-ers are selected from the pool of interested registered Artists. Artists who already performed in an Annual Meeting showcase or as an ArtBurst are not eligible for selection.
Make sure to look for the following ArtBursts, listed alphabetically, during the Meeting:
* Guillermo Brown: Friday @ 9:30am
* Jo Carson: Sunday @ 11am
* Saar Harari: Saturday @ 9:30am
* Gesel Mason: Sunday @ 9:30am
* Wura-Natasha Ogunji: Friday @ 11:50am
* James Scruggs: Friday @ 2pm
* Lyena Strelkoff: Friday @ 4:20pm
* Black Sunshine: Saturday @ 12:50pm
* Denise Uyehara: Sunday @ 10:50am
Visual Artist Exhibitions
VAN Artists, those artists who have participated in the VAN Exhibition Residency Program or those who are scheduled to serve a residency in the fall of 2009, AND invited regional artists are welcome to submit their work for screening in the “Visual Artists Salon.” A curatorial panel will select artists through an application process for the ArtBursts and the Hotel Room Installations. For an application to participate in these exhibition venues, please contact VAN Project Director, Ann Kaufman, at ann@npnweb.org. Applications are due Friday, October 2nd. Featured artists will be announced later in the fall following the curatorial review.