LINKS HALL’s mission is to encourage artistic innovation and public engagement by maintaining a facility and providing flexible programming for the research, development and presentation of new work in the performing arts.
Program Description
Links Hall announces the new Apprentice Producers Program. Designed to strengthen the longevity of self-producing artists’ processes and their ability to create public work, as well as to mentor production support and strengthen their abilities for the future community.
The Program is for artists who have self-produced their own work and are ready to:
- create two weekends of performances separated by 3 to 9 months, and
- involve a dedicated apprentice administrator and the expertise of professional performance managers in their production process.
Artists in the program will need to commit to two performance weekends – one at Links Hall, and the second at The Menomonee Club/Drucker Center – at a minimum of three and a maximum of nine months apart.
The Artist works with an Apprentice Producer through the course of both performance weekends, facilitating the Artist’s creation of a season of work. Each Apprentice Producer works directly with the Artist and is overseen by a Mentor with extensive professional producing experience. The Apprentice also works in the Links Hall office for first-hand interaction with a presenting organization.
It is our hope that artists and apprentices who participate in this program will remain active and vital members of the Links Hall community, and in the future avail themselves of advanced producing and creative opportunities such as Artistic Associates.
Call for Artists:
The primary goal of the Apprentice Producer program is to provide administrative support for artists that will maximize the time devoted to art making.
Artists/groups utilizing performance as the core element in their work are invited to apply. This is a program of mutual support between independent Chicago artists and Links Hall, recognizing the interdependence of artists and arts managers.
Selection
Links Hall will select five artists/groups that are interested in the program. Each artist/group will book a Linkage weekend (for more information on the Linkage program, go to www.LinksHall.org) during the 2011/12 season. Each will interview an Apprentice Producer recruited and vetted by Links Hall, and be matched appropriately.
Artists will be selected by a special jury within Links Hall’s Programming Committee, comprised of Links Hall staff and board members, Chicago artists, and local arts administrators to ensure:
- Artistic proposal fits within Links Hall’s mission;
- Artist will be able to effectively utilize an Apprentice Producer not as a Director or Stage Manager, but as a promoter and organizer of the artists’ administrative needs;
- A diverse range of artistic disciplines and audiences served will be selected.
Artists MUST have previously self-produced their work for a public audience to be considered for this program.
Selected artists/groups will receive:
- Support of a paid Apprentice for the three months prior to each performance weekend.
- A discounted Linkage – a full weekend of performances at Links Hall, complete with technical equipment, marketing, and box office services.
- A discounted performance weekend at The Menomonee Club/Drucker Center, to follow the Linkage within 3 to 9 months.
Both weekends must be booked and contracted as the first step after being selected to participate in the program.
To Apply:
Email to rdamon@linkshall.org by 5pm, December 22 and include in ONE email:
- Your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and website address (if applicable), as well as the name(s) and above information for each partner/group member (if applicable).
- Artistic Bio/resume listing your previous self-produced performances, locations and ticket price, and at least one professional reference
- List your website OR 1-3 links to online documentation of your work (video, still photos, website, review, etc.)
- And one page that addresses:
- Brief description of the work you would like to perform through the program.
- Paragraph discussing how you imagine an apprentice producer will allow you to focus your attention on creating your work for performance, and any previous experience you have working with production staff.
- Paragraph discussing how you would use the two weekends of performance to advance your art and why this is important for you right now.
- A sentence stating who the ideal audience would be for your performance.
Please keep the following in mind:
- Succinct, specific descriptions are appreciated.
- Allow the panelists to understand and visualize your approach to your show-making process. Imagine the relationship with an Artist or Apprentice Producer (as appropriate) and what you want to come from it.
- Margins must be at least 1 inch on all sides and font must be at least 12pt.
- Do not exceed one page for required items listed above.
- Do not exceed one page for artistic resume.
DEADLINE AND DELIVERY
EMAIL ONE COPY OF YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION AND RESUME TO LINKS HALL, NO LATER THAN 5PM ON December 22, 2011.
EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION AND RESUME IN PDF FORMAT TO rdamon@linkshall.org
Questions? Contact Rachel Damon at Links Hall: (773) 281-0824 or rdamon@linkshall.org.
Call for Apprentices
Applicants interested in the opportunity MUST currently be enrolled in a degree program. Applicants with prior experience working on productions (events, performances, etc.) will be given priority.
Selected Apprentice Producers will receive:
- A monthly stipend, for a total of six months (paid out during the three months preceding each performance weekend);
- A professional Mentor;
- Work experience above and beyond what is available in a degree program
Through working one day per week at Links Hall in advance of the Artist’s Linkage, the Apprentice will:
- Work to coordinate the performance weekend to which they are assigned;
- Assist with marketing distribution, Box Office, and/or front-of-house duties;
- Help on other jobs determined by the skills-building needs of the apprentice.
To Apply:
Email to rdamon@linkshall.org by 5pm on December 22:
- Your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and website address (if applicable).
- A one-page cover letter explaining what you most want to learn through the program and why you are interested in it at this time.
- Resume listing ALL of your work experience. Be sure to include any prior experience working on events, productions, etc. – state whether paid or unpaid. Two pages maximum.
Questions? Contact Rachel Damon at Links Hall: (773) 281-0824 or rdamon@linkshall.org
