Theater Mitu’s Hybrid Arts Lab supports trans, non-binary, and women artists working at the intersection of performance and technology. With a focus on early career BIPOC artists, this program offers creation and exhibition space, technical resources, training, and mentorship to a small cohort for the exploration, development, and expansion of their practice and a new artwork. The lab culminates in a festival of in-process showings that invites our community into a conversation about process and innovation.
2022 marks our third annual Hybrid Arts Lab and thanks to the generous support of New York Community Trust’s Van Lier Fellowship Program, we will convene a cohort of 3 artists for ten months this year. Each artist will receive support to develop an artwork bridging performance and technology and present it at the end of their time in the Lab. This support includes: a $5,000 unrestricted stipend; two dedicated weeks of space, equipment, and technology at MITU580; mentorship and guidance from Founding Artistic Director Rubén Polendo; training and classes with guest artists in creative uses of hardware and software tools in art-making; and a public festival exhibiting in-process work from the cohort of fellows.
If you are interested in submitting an application for the Hybrid Arts Lab, please review these important eligibility and program criteria:
ELIGIBILITY:
- Artists are required to be local in New York City and prepared for all in-person activities. COVID-19 vaccination is required and proof along with accompanying ID will be kept on file with Theater MItu. Fully virtual or remote participation will not be an option unless the ongoing pandemic demands that we adjust for community health and safety.
- This program is focused on supporting BIPOC trans, non-binary, and women artists working at the intersection of performance and technology. We welcome applications from anyone interested in the program or the organization, however we will be prioritizing BIPOC trans, non-binary, and women artists for acceptance.
- This program is dedicated to emerging artists between 18-30 years old who are not currently enrolled in a degree granting program and have not had a major public presentation of their solo work in New York City.
- As an applied practice fellowship, a commitment to work at the intersection of performance and technology, a hunger to acquire new skills, and a willingness to publicly share in-process aspects of a new artwork at the culminating festival are required components of successful participation in the program.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
The following schedule is subject to change based on participant needs and organizational capacity but reflects the overall time commitment required to participate in the Hybrid Arts Lab.
- The Hybrid Arts Lab will begin on March 1st, 2022 and end all in-person activities by December 18th, 2022.
- During most of the fellowship, participants will gather four times per month. Each week will either contain a Wednesday cohort meeting with Rubén Polendo (3p-6p) or a Friday training session with guest artists (12-3p) in Brooklyn. These will begin on Wednesday, March 1st 2022 and alternate every other week onward, with the exception the weeks that participants are scheduled for project development sessions at MITU580.
- Each participant will receive two development weeks with 24 hr lockout use of MITU580 with access to the venue’s lighting, audio, and video equipment and software. The first project development week for each fellow will be between June and July 2022 (to be scheduled upon acceptance). The second project development week will be between October – November 2022 (to be scheduled upon acceptance). A third shared week will be devoted to technical integration and collaboration with the full cohort from November 7th – 16th 2022. The cohort will then present a festival of in-process sharing for our community from November 17th – 20th 2022.
- Wednesday cohort meetings and Friday training sessions will resume on November 30th and proceed until December 18th 2022.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES:
- Applications for the 2022 Hybrid Arts Lab are due by Friday February 4th 2022
- Perspective applicants should be available for interviews between February 7th – 14th 2022.
- All applicants will be notified by Friday, February 18th 2022.
After submitting your application through the link below, email one attached copy of the following to [email protected]
- Artistic C.V.
- A recent work sample (can be in-process) with accompanying links or optional digital portfolio.
- Contact Information for two references: relationship, email, and phone number.
- A recent photograph of yourself.
We look forward to reviewing your application!
