Deadline:

Saturday,

Sep 30, 2023,

at 11:59 pm EST

​

Click here to apply:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3NdzQpVh6C7sYm9vYOJ4x91UqjjdDl5mm5ICt4O9RX5tKgw/viewform

KAF is seeking innovative, engaging, and compelling proposals from emerging or traditionally marginalized interventionist artists to create a new critical work of participatory art for the 2024-2025 Shared Dialogue, Shared Space (SDSS) project. The deadline for the proposal submission is Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm EST. The artists invited to the 2024 SDSS will be announced in December 2023. 

 

The 2024 SDSS will be an inspiring outdoor series of people's art events, tentatively scheduled for four Saturdays at public parks in Woodside and Flushing, Queens, in the Spring; Mott Haven, the Bronx, in the Summer; and Inwood, Manhattan, in the Fall, with the possibility of including more areas and days.

 

The project addresses social, political, and intergenerational issues, along with tackling the digital divide. SDSS is a framework for practically combating the inequitable distribution and accessibility of art resources among communities. It aims to alleviate residents' discontent, tension, and apathy toward art, especially in underserved remote immigrant communities across New York City. With rising anti-Asian violence and escalating tension with China in this current socio-political moment, the 2024 SDSS will thematically confront the anti-Asian sentiment deeply rooted in American culture. 

 

The project welcomes all people, focusing on serving Asian and Hispanic immigrants who encounter barriers to experiencing art due to their remote locations, economic status, and language challenges. In 2024, the project seeks to impact at least 4,000 participants, empowering many of them to take home the artwork(s) they create with the artists and fostering their lasting interest and appreciation for art throughout the year.

 

In this project, art serves as connective tissue, facilitating strong connections and interactions between artists and the public. Artists are envisioned to be the driving, indispensable force for creating a better world for all people to live, work, and thrive together. The project offers an opportunity to explore an eco-human-centric framework of art as a collective process and product emerging from public engagement in art or artists’ engagement with the public. 

 

To achieve these project goals, KAF seeks up to five imaginative works of visionary artists to be commissioned, tasked with creating interactive art for the public to experience at four or more Saturday participatory art events held in local community hubs in outdoor settings. The project will also involve virtual forums before, between, and after the outdoor in-person events, providing an opportunity to reflect on the process and impact of the creative activities. All of these interactive events will evolve and culminate in a temporary public art exhibition in a community for a duration to be determined in discussion with the artists. 

 

The commissioned artists are expected to develop their new work through trials of events and forums. They are required to actively lead the events and forums, contributing throughout the project and showcasing their progress, and guiding their project to its completion. They are also required to participate in research and work-development meetings throughout the year, exploring strategies and tactics for creating participatory, immersive, and/or interactive work in public spheres, which removes the boundary between artist and audience as both groups take part in the creation of unique experiences. This exploration will culminate in a public art presentation toward the end of the year.

 

A minimum commission fee of $4,000 is committed to each invited artist or art team, with the possibility of an increase during the year. KAF will also produce a post-event catalog and multiple videos to document the works’ profound impacts. KAF supports artists in advancing their creativity and artistic visions, catalyzing a vibrant art ecosystem in their communities, and making meaningful impacts on communities in various ways.

 

Emerging, underrepresented, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, women, immigrant, and/or disabled artists are strongly encouraged to apply. All artists are eligible, but artists based in the target communities where art events will take place are preferred for the pragmatic reasons of effectiveness and community engagement. Students are NOT eligible, except those who will have graduated from their degree-seeking program by the end of 2023.

 

A Project Advisory Committee is being formed, consisting of artists, art professionals, and community leaders. They will review each proposal and recommend the artists for invitation based on the following merit-based selection criteria: 1) The relevance of the completed work for the artist, KAF, SDSS, the community, and the visual arts discipline. 2) The feasibility and effectiveness of the work within the capacities of the artist and KAF to execute the proposal. 3) Artists and art forms that are marginalized in mainstream art scenes.

 

Please send questions to info@kafny.org.