Diverse Actions Publication: Call for Proposals

Background

In 1995, Let’s Get It On – The Politics of Black Performance, a groundbreaking examination of issues of cultural identity and innovative performance practice, was published. It marked an important moment in Live Art and represented the practice of a wealth of UK performance makers. In her essay Catherine Ugwu, the editor, wrote:

“Live art embraces a broad church of overlapping and shifting aesthetics, ideologies and methods of production. Live art’s very resistance to categorisation and containment, and its ability to surprise and unnerve, makes its impact far-reaching. Growing numbers of black artists are engaging in live art practice, viewing it as one of the few remaining spaces available to express complex ideas of identity.”

Twenty-five years later (spring 2020), a new publication made by artists and writers of colour will be released as part of Diverse Actions, reflecting on the current landscape within the live art sector.

Diverse Actions is a three-year project championing culturally diverse ambition, excellence and talent in Live Art. The project is run from Cambridge Junction on behalf of Live Art UK, a 30-member strong network of promoters, producers and facilitators.

Contributions

The scope of the publication will be broad, focusing on the factors that affect the making of, and the themes that can be found in, performance and live art today. Responses will be welcome from artists, producers and audience members alike. Selected work can come in a number of formats:

Longform essays and features (magazine style);
Shorter provocations (such as manifestos or interviews);
Excerpts from pre-existing work (including performances);
Conversations between two or more contributors (say, in the format of an email thread)

The list is not exhaustive. The priority is to work with writers to produce work that is engaging and honest, unafraid to argue for nuance or else be bold where appropriate. Genuine diversity of perspectives is important to the project overall but especially the publication, so there is no set ‘tone of voice’.   

How to Apply

To pitch a contribution to the publication, email Salome Wagaine (Diverse Actions Project Manager and publication editor) on salome.wagaine(at)junction.co.uk with the following:

Subject title: PITCH [Topic of Choice/Working title]
3 – 4 bullet points giving details of your proposed idea and how you would want to approach it
Examples of previous writing, where possible

Contributors will be paid for their writing, with fees depending on length and nature of piece.

The first deadline for pitches is Monday, 10 December at 12pm.