Urban Culture Project Seeks Exhibition, Performance and Project Proposals for 2010-11 Season

Launched in 2003 as an initiative of the Charlotte Street Foundation, Urban Culture Project creates new opportunities for artists of all disciplines and contributes to urban revitalization by transforming spaces in downtown Kansas City into new venues for multi-disciplinary, artist-driven contemporary arts programming. Over this time, UCP has transformed nearly a dozen spaces in the downtown area into new exhibition, performance, and studio spaces, creating a cross-disciplinary platform and hub for the generation and presentation of original work, projects, and ideas, and encouraging creative collaboration and exchange among artists and audiences from various disciplines and backgrounds.

Urban Culture Project's vision is to serve as a hub for artists and cultural producers, and to contribute to the creative vitality of our area. through its contemporary arts programming, UCP seeks to:
-Encourage and foster new and experimental work of the highest quality
-Provide a platform for presenting work that may be difficult to produce and show elsewhere
-Engage the participation of a diverse community of artists and cultural producers of all disciplines
-Bring together a mix of young, emerging, and established artists, including local, regional and national artists-
-Foster collaboration and exchange among artists, arts and cultural organizations, and audiences

Urban Culture Project invites proposals from artists, curators, and culture producers working in all disciplines. Proposals accepted will include, but are not limited to, visual art exhibitions, installations, original live performances (dance, theater, music, performance art, spoken word), film and video screenings, literary readings, lectures and other public programs, and hybrid forms thereof. Work/projects that are site-specific, experimental, collaborative in nature, challenge established methods and models of presentation, and/or engage non-traditional participants and audiences are encouraged. Exhibitions typically run 4-8 weeks; performances range from one-night events to month-long runs and beyond. UCP will also consider proposals for a series of related exhibitions, performances, screenings, events, etc.

Urban Culture Project offers a small honorarium in most cases to help support expenses directly related to presenting the project to the public. UCP also manages promotion and press relations for all projects, including producing printed cards in most cases. Installation and deinstallation is the responsibility of the artist or curator. Assistance can be arranged as available and appropriate.

Proposals are reviewed 1-2 times per year by UCP's Curatorial Committee, a multidisciplinary panel of Kansas City area artists and arts professionals. Notification of decisions will be provided within 8 weeks of submission deadline. Note, in some cases artist/curators will be contacted to revise/or further develop proposals based on feedback from the committee, to then be re-considered at a later date.

Urban Culture Project will give preference to proposals that are original and contemporary, feasible based on project description and demonstrated ability, inclusive of more than one artist's work (Paragraph + la Esquina), inclusive of and responsive to ethnic, cultural, and ideological diversity, and conducive to outreach/inreach opportunities, such as related public programs.

Proposals for solo or collaborative artist exhibitions, installations, performances, projects should consist of:

1. Name, title of project, preferred UCP space or spaces, desired timeframe if restricted;
2. Narrative project overview/summary (no more than 500 words). Please include an overview description of creative & conceptual intent, specific project components, and how the space will be used, floorplans/drawings/renderings of planned project as appropriate, ideas for related public programs/activities (gallery talks, workshops, open rehearsals, panel discussions, screenings, excursions, publications) and/or potential partnerships with other organizations, educational institutions, etc. as appropriate.
3. Selection of 10-15 jpegs (at least 200 dpi but no larger than 1MB each) and/or up to five (5) minutes of up to three (3) audio/video on DVD of work to be included or past work relevant to proposed project;
4. Corresponding numbered list of works, including title, date, materials, dimensions and brief descriptions if not self-evident. In the case of performance-based work, include presenting venue and names of other performers if applicable;
5. Current resumes for lead/primary artist(s)/performer(s);
6. List of special needs/equipment needs as applicable;
7. Supplemental materials relevant to proposal - reviews, catalogues, etc (optional; no more than three).

Charlotte Street Foundation (CSF) supports and recognizes outstanding artists in Greater Kansas City; presents, promotes, enhances and encourages the visual, performing and interdisciplinary arts; and fosters economic development in the urban core of Kansas City, MO. In all endeavors, CSF places artists at the center of its mission and has built an infrastructure that depends on and reflects their involvement. As a result, CSF is an organization that continually evolves in response to artist input and in relation to the city's larger cultural ecosystem.

For more information, visit www.charlottestreet.org.

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