Call for Performers, Artists, Nautical Artisans, and Storytellers
18th Annual Richmond Maritime Festival
Deadline to apply: June 25, 2021
The 18th Annual Richmond Maritime Festival is getting ready to set sail! The Richmond Arts Coalition, Anigraph Productions, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, and the City of Richmond will be artfully celebrating our ocean-side past and present here at the mouth of the river. But to make all that happen, we need you!
This year’s event will take place August 21-22, with in-person, family-friendly performances, artisan showcases, and heritage storytelling alongside accessible art installations. Working within health and safety regulations, we are hoping to build an exciting, one-way walking journey through the Britannia site. The event will also feature a digital showcase of maritime artists, for which we want pitches!
We are looking for maritime-heritage-themed interactions in a multitude of mediums.
Performers:
Whether you’re an operatic mermaid, sailors with a story to tell, a dancer with a maritime jig, a singer with the soul of the sea, or a puppeteer who has felt the call of the ocean, please get in touch! See some of last year’s performers here: https://richmondmaritimefestival.ca/festival-performers/
Actors to share History:
We are looking for actors who can take existing recorded oral histories, whittle them down, and craft them into short, in-person stories to share with small groups of people. If this appeals to you, please send us a link to a video of yourself telling a story, along with any relevant writing experience you may have.
Art Installations:
Think fishy chalk art along the Steveston boardwalk, a structure made of sea supplies, or a watery weave to hang at a heritage location! We expect to have the Net Loft available as an indoor exhibition space. Check out artist Glen Andersen’s Log Nest Monsters from 2020 for inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH1xZ4ge8XQ&t=2s
Maritime Artisans:
Steveston’s history is built on hand-crafted wooden boats, woven fishing nets, and so much more. We would love to include maritime-related artisan demonstrations, presentations, and hands-on workshops! Take a look at 2019’s artisans here: https://richmondmaritimefestival.ca/things-to-do/artisans/
Maritime Knowledge-givers:
Is the sharing of boat and river safety your pride and joy in life? Do you enjoy getting people to recognize the danger of hopping out to Shady Island? We want to hear from you!
Heritage Storytellers:
Do you have a captivating story to tell about Richmond’s maritime history? Tales of its communities along the water’s edge? We would love to include you as part of this year’s festival.
Recorded Content:
With the goal of keeping our festival accessible, we also want to create an online program of maritime performances, stories, and understanding. If you are able to produce your own professional-quality, short video content (2-10 minutes) that fits the event, we want to hear from you!
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Some Inspiration:
Here is a window into what a less physically-distanced festival looked like in 2019: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17857744468527137/
Budget and Compensation:
For art installations, please include a budget with your proposal. Performers, artisans, and storytellers will be offered professional rate fees for their time and work, as per our Canadian Heritage grant.
Please keep in mind that we have limited funding and limited artist spots for this event, so applying for the event is not a guarantee that you will be selected.
To Apply:
Fill out our online form below or email richmondartscoalition@gmail.com with your pitch. If applying with a pitch for recorded content, please include a link to video content you have created in the past.
Got questions? Feel free to email me at richmondartscoalition@gmail.com or leave a phone message at 778.985.1617.
Cheers,
Andrew Wade,
Executive Director,
Richmond Arts Coalition
