Artists

About the Festival

rEvolver is an incubator of new work with a focus on formal innovation, supporting artists or companies who identify as emerging and/or early-mid career at transformative junctions in their careers. The festival presents adventurous and high energy works, bringing audiences the full range of contemporary performance, from script-based theatre to devised and site-specific works, dance, and installation. rEvolver features primarily new Canadian work, although we will also consider submissions wishing to premiere reinterpretations of existing works. We program work with a strong artistic vision that takes risks, and is reflective of diverse voices and experiences.

We invite artists of all ages, abilities, cultural practices, races, ethnicities, socio-economic status, genders, religions, and sexual orientations to apply and to participate in the festival.

Proposal Formats and Categories 2025

Upintheair is seeking proposals in the following performance formats and types. Shows may qualify for multiple formats:

Formats

1. Live Format Performance: theatre, dance, interactive art installation, performance art and/or interdisciplinary works for live, in-person performance
2. Digital Format Performance: presentation ready live or pre-recorded performances/experiences for virtual space such as: websites, VR, mixed reality tech, or interactive online shows that require minimal technical support.

Categories

1. Interactive works: such as games, micro-performances, roving/site-specific performances or other processes engaging audiences in a participatory fashion.
2. Off Site “Bring Your Own Venue” Presentation: live presentations staged at other venues provided by artists not at the Cultch.
3. Works in Progress: short run live presentations of new works in early stages of development.
4. Updrafts Readings: by donation live, zoom-based or hybrid live & online readings of new scripts.
5. One Day Conversations & Workshops: live or online artist talks and/or workshops.

Application Requirements

1. Application Form: Fill out all fields of the form and submit.  
2. Project Information:
   • Project Summary: Maximum 150 words.
   • Letter of Intent: Give an overview of your proposed project.  Include what excites you about this project, and why you think it is appropriate for rEvolver. 
     • Please include the following in your Letter of Intent:
       1. Where it stands in its development, what you plan to do, and how you plan to do it.
       2. Detail the nature of your production and the elements that make it up.  Examples:
          • Production elements including set, audio, projection, production team size/composition
          • Needs for technical and/or digital support. 
          • Touch on what communities or audiences your project speaks to or engages.
          • Are there outreach or additional activities that might be associated with the show?
          • Artist or team accessibility and/or cultural safety requirements
          • Does the work integrate accessibility in any of its production elements? (ie ASL interpretation, low-vision friendly, subtitles, relaxed performances etc.)
          • Any other information you believe will be relevant to our understanding of your work.
   • The Show: Submit a script, maximum 10 page excerpt that gives us a sense of your piece, or a one to two-page outline. For non-text-based work, include a detailed description of the work. 
   • Artistic Team – List of Key Artists, Short 150 word max. Bios and if applicable, Company History. No resumes. 
   • Tech Rider: A document outlining the show’s venue, tech/digital needs and specifications. 
     • Note: rEvolver has a limited technical budget, equipment and venue options.  Proposals with multiple technical needs may be less successful due to festival technical capacity.
3. Support Materials (optional): May include reviews of your work or letters of support.
4. Promotional Materials (optional): Any available promotional material including but not limited to promotional or production photos, press kit, press release, posters or fliers.
5. Production Video (optional): A link to an online video of the work, work-in-progress or previous works. If the link requires a password, please include this.
6. $35 Reading Fee: If the submission fee represents a barrier to application, please select the No-Fee Option.
   • Reading Fees are Payable by 
     • Cheque made out to Up In The Air Theatre Society
     • Paypal via link. (A processing fee may be charged by Paypal)
     • E-transfer to [email protected] (with note including project title)

If a written application or Google Forms is a significant barrier to your participation, please notify us in advance (at least 2 weeks before deadline) to discuss how we can accommodate your needs, such as through a verbal process, video, or assistance with your application. Contact us at [email protected] or our Access Coordinator: Amy Amantea [email protected].

Presentation Details

Upintheair Theatre will provide selected artists:

• A performance guarantee, festival tickets, and box-office split and/or donation collection options.
• Financial assistance with access and cultural safety needs.
• A venue and/or workshop space.
• Festival advertising and marketing including website, social media, brochure, and press releases.
• Front of House and Box Office services.
• Professional Archival Video. *This is dependent on the festival film schedule.
• Access to professional development and training opportunities.
• If required, a venue technician, support from the Festival Technical Staff and/or technical equipment.
• Festival Partnership with a local community organization to assist with marketing and promotion.
  
• Local Companies/Artists Only: Shared use of rehearsal space leading up to the festival.
• National Companies/Artists Only:  Assistance with Travel Costs OR Technical Expenses to support rehearsal and/or streaming activities  in your home city. 

NOTE: National Submissions must be minimum 400km away from Vancouver to receive Travel Costs

NOTE: Readings and Works in Progress do not qualify for Assistance with Travel Costs

NOTE: Partnerships are not guaranteed for all presentations and are subject to availability.

Key Information For All Applicants – Please Review prior to submission

Festival Venue Stage Manager Requirement

rEvolver Festival requires that all presentations held at The Cultch (including Readings and Work In Progress) have a Stage Manager or Technical Lead to call the show and connect with venue and festival staff during tech rehearsal and the performance run. rEvolver does not provide presentations with show-specific production staff. If this is a barrier for your application, please contact us for support.

rEvolver Technical Infomation

Please review the information on our venues to provide prospective on the technical limitations of our presentation spaces. Technical Riders should reflect our venue configurations and space limitations.

Got questions?

For further information contact Artistic Director Dave Mott or Resident Curators Sarah Roa or Sindy Angel.

– contact [email protected] or call 604-649-1559

– contact [email protected]