Soundwave partners with Gray Area to ask ‘What’s Next?’ in sound-making and the sonic experience

Soundwave NEXT is a new partnership between Gray Area and Soundwave, two veteran San Francisco arts organizations to explore the future of sound. The program invites curators, artists, producers, or collectives to present new performance-based works or productions based in sound.

For nearly two decades, Soundwave has provided a platform for artists to explore sound and create immersive experiences that captivates, inspires and challenges our own experience and reality. During the same time, Gray Area has become a leading force and institution using art and technology for civic and social impact.

With this new decade, Soundwave X Gray Area ignites a new program to inspire new ideas in sound making and the sound experience while building a new generation of artists and producers working in sound.

This program seeks to answer what is the future of sound as a construct and ask “What’s next?” for the medium as it relates to our collective social, cultural, technological and/or political experience. Selected proposals are awarded $4,000 to produce their event on one night at Gray Area Theater in San Francisco.

The application deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications.
To apply to our Spring 2020 call Soundwave NEXT: Translocality, visit this page here.

Some ideas to consider:

How can we see, hear and experience sound in the future?
How can we use the sound medium to advance our cultural, social, technological or political experience?
What is the future of sound making or sonic performances?
How do we imagine new utopias/dystopias in our sonic world?
What is the future for the sonic human/humanity?
What new forms of instrumentation, performance or experience is possible with new technology?

Selection

Proposals will be evaluated for the extent to which they meet the eligibility requirements, the feasibility of the production, as well as the degree to which they demonstrate innovation and advance the medium of sound.

Three productions will be selected to be premiered at Gray Area. Gray Area will work with the Project Lead to schedule dates as appropriate for their work.

Eligibilty

Proposals must be performance-based and be rooted in digital, new media and/or other new art and technological forms.

Production must be considered a new presentation that has NOT had a public premiere in the San Francisco Bay Area. Productions that have premiered in other countries or cities, as well as work-in-progress productions that have had Bay Area workshops or academic presentations can be considered.

Performances may be interdisciplinary but should have a strong foundation in sound.

Proposals should be for an evening-length production with ~90 minutes of programming (multiple performances and collaborations may be included to complete this requirement and be collective or multidisciplinary).

Projects will take place at Gray Area and should take into account the specific parameters of that location.

All projects must feature or be produced in collaboration with at least one San Francisco Bay Area-based artist.

Budget & Award

Proposals must submit a production budget of a total of $4,000. Reasonable expenses may include artist and curator fees, production (including equipment, technicians, fabrication, materials, documenters) and promotional expenses. A limited amount of funds may be applied to travel.

It is favorable to provide a budget that includes living wages for all artists and production staff involved.

Selected productions will award the Project Lead $4,000 to help produce their event at Gray Area. The Project Lead is solely responsible for the expenses and distributing fees to artists and other production staff as outlined in the proposed budget.