Artists Call for Submissions

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 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 2027

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

Multiple Categories may apply to your application. Please note all that apply.

1. Mainstage Performance Run: 3-5 performances of a show that is performance ready
2. Interactive works: such as games, micro-performances, roving/site-specific performances or other processes engaging audiences in a participatory fashion.
3. Off Site “Bring Your Own Venue” Presentation: live presentations staged at other venues provided at artists’ expense.
4. Works in Progress Presentation*: short run live presentations of new works in early stages of development.
5. Work in Progress Readings: by donation live, zoom-based or hybrid live & online readings of new scripts.
6. One Day Conversations & Workshops: live or online artist talks and/or workshops.

*NEW this year: Works in progress presentations will now have the option to be considered for a mainstage performance run at the following rEvolver Festival in 2028. 

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. Maximum 2 pages.
     • 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 but recommended): May include reviews of your work or letters of support.
4. Promotional Materials (optional but recommended): Any available promotional material including but not limited to promotional or production photos, press kit, press release, posters or fliers.
5. Production Video (optional but recommended): 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. Indigenous applications are encouraged to 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)

** NOTE: Submissions using AI generated content will not be considered.

If a written application or Online 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], [email protected]  and/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. SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
• 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

1. 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.

2. rEvolver Guaranteed Fee Calculation Information

Artists receive a performance guarantee and box-office split and/or donation collection options based on the category of submission, the number of artists involved and number of performances allotted by the curatorial team.

• National Presentation Fees 
  • $250 minimum/performance for each Performing Artist/Stage Manager 
  • $100 royalty honorarium/performance for writer and design team
  • Maximum 4 performances
  • National Fees are based on the presentation of a remount of a pre-existing fully rehearsed, designed and directed performance. 
  • National artists do not receive box office splits.  
  • Travel fees are based on per diem of $150/day, return flight costs from place of origin to Vancouver, and approved freight for set, props, costumes and equipment.

• Local Presentation Fees
  • $150 minimum/performance for each Performing Artist/Stage Manager
  • $50 royalty honorarium/performance for writer and design team
  • Maximum 5 performances
  • Local Fees are based on the presentation of a remount of a pre-existing fully rehearsed, designed and directed performance. 
  • Local artists receive 50% of net box office receipt

• Work in Progress Presentations Fees: 
  • $100 minimum/public sharing of work for each Performing Artist/Stage Manager/Director
  • $50 royalty honorarium/public sharing of work for writer and design team
  • Maximum 2 public sharings
  • Work in Progress Fees are based on the presentation of creation projects that are not “set,” and are still in development, but may include design and technical elements
  • Work in Progress artists receive 50% of net donations/box office receipts

• Work in Progress – Reading Fees:
  • $75 minimum/reading for each Performing Artist/Stage Manager/Director/Writer
  • Maximum 1 Reading Presentation.
  • Work in Progress Reading Fees are based on the reading of new scripts that are in development. Readings do not include design and technical elements.
  • Work in Progress Reading artists receive 100% of net donations/box office receipt
• Workshop/Conversation Facilitator Fees:
  • Scaled $100 – $300 based on event details and number of facilitators/scope of the workshop and/or conversation

3. rEvolver Technical Information

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.

Feel free to use this template when building your tech rider:

Got questions?

For further information contact Artistic Director Dave Mott or Resident Curators Sarah Roa or Argel Monte de Ramos.

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

– contact [email protected] or [email protected]