NOW OPEN: Call for Submissions – Digital & Theatrical Art The end of work & USELESS Double Bill - Micro Commission Online and at Brixton House, London, 2025 Marisol Spensieri is pleased to announce the first call for submissions for the Double Bill theatrical performance of ‘the end of work’ and ‘USELESS’ 2025.

WHO IS MARISOL SPENSIERI

Marisol is a Latinx actor, theatre and performance maker. Her practice currently sits somewhere between theatre, dance and technology, creating and performing pieces that are thought-provoking, and highly visual and physical. It often draws inspiration from the visual arts.

Her creative exploration is around questions of social relevance in relation to contemporary capitalism, class and the future of our society, and its implications on personal identities/experiences. She is interested in shaking the status-quo through art that pushes formal boundaries.

At the core of what she does, there is a transnational, multicultural and multilingual approach.

Her work has been supported by Arts Council England, Young Vic, Brixton House, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Theatre Deli, Camden’s People Theatre, CASA Festival and more.

One of her latest pieces USELESS premiered in July 2023 at Brixton House; an immersive and interactive piece that blends theatre and technology to interrogate the concept of human productivity. 

Since 2021, she’s part of the international contemporary theatre project Interactiones and has been participating in creation+development residencies as performer/creator at Nave (Chile, 2024), Teatro Libero di Palermo (Italy, 2022), Teatro Piccolo di Catania (Italy, 2022), Teatro Koreja (Italy, 2021). 

Marisol is a 2024 bursary recipient of Artistic Directors of the Future Development Fund.

ABOUT THE DOUBLE BILL

We are going through a Research and Development process, supported by Arts Council England and Brixton House, to develop a double bill of two thematically linked pieces. 

USELESS is an immersive and interactive performance that actively engages audiences in the exploration of our relationship with technology, accepted work patterns, and the concept of human productivity.

The end of work (currently in development) explores the impact of AI and tech on labour, in a satirical ensemble piece, with a mix of actors and dancers.

In March 2025, we will test the double bill model with a community showcase and an industry showcase. 

www.marisolms.com

Deadline for submissions: 5.00 pm (GMT), Sunday 5 Jan 2025.

LOCATION

Spensieri’s Double Bill will be shared to community and industry members in March 2025 at Brixton House, London. 

The digital micro-commission will be launched on Spensieri’s website and hosted for one month from Feb - March 2025. The micro-commissions will also be exhibited at Brixton House. 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Spensieri’s Double Bill offers a unique opportunity for digital artists who identify as female (inclusive of gender non-binary) and from the Global South. 

We are seeking three digital artworks by three artists (or collaborators)  to submit an artistic proposal which responds to one of the following questions relating to the creative research that Marisol and her team of collaborators is going through.

These questions explore themes of the future of workforce and AI development.

You can choose to respond to one of the following questions:

• What processes do we miss when we take shortcuts?

• What would you do if you didn’t have to work anymore?

• What memories do you have from the future?

• Do I feel better when I obtain an answer?

• How do you feel about living and working with machines?

The call for submissions for the Double Bill is now open for digital artworks suitable for online display from Feb 2025 to March 2025. Selected artworks will be on view on Spensieri’s website from Feb 2025 and at Brixton House, London on 6 & 7 March 2025. 

Submitted proposed artworks must be suitable for online digital display. Only fully completed submissions and those relevant to the specified subject matter will be considered.

The Double Bill offers a unique opportunity for artists to submit any form of digital artwork. This is inclusive of, but not limited to:

• Digital image

• Moving image

• Film

• Sound 

• Apps

• Games

We only accept a maximum of three applications per artist (or collaborators)  , and applicants must identify as female (inclusive of gender non-binary) and from the Global South.

Collaborations (inclusive of AI collaborations) are welcomed.

We encourage all artists whose work meets the above criteria to apply. 

CONTACT

For questions, please contact: Alice Sandon, Project Manager via CuratorSpace tab. 

Applications must be submitted via CuratorSpace.comDEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 5.00 pm (GMT), Sun 5 Jan 2025.

THE SELECTION PANEL

A diverse selection panel, engaged with the subject matter, creative & production developments is responsible for the selection of artworks.

Members of the Selection Panel:

Marisol Spensieri - Lead Artist of The Double Bill

Rena Iizawa - Lighting Designer for The end of work 

Rena is a 2D and 3D designer who is currently working in lighting and video design in the UK. She is in the events industry designing for performance arts, fashion shows, parties and immersive experiences. She studied Graphic Design in Tokyo and has also studied puppetry, which is also an area she would like to continue pursuing.

Alice Sandon - Project Manager

Alice is an Arts & Cultural Producer with projects in film, theatre, festival, live art and contemporary sculpture. She has a specialism in accessibility and community engagement. Alice is the Arts Producer for leading cultural studio - Lacuna. Here, she works on projects such as Sculpture in the City and London Sculpture Week.

linkedin.com/in/alice-sandon

Kenichiro Nakajima - Performer in The end of work

Ken Nakajima is a movement director, theatre director, and visual artist working in the fields of theatre, fashion, and contemporary performance. His practice blends dance, theatre, and visual arts crafting archetypal narratives that explore iconoclasm, image and philosophy. 

He has collaborated with venues such as the Royal Court Theatre, Camden People’s Theatre, and Rich Mix, directed productions including An Odyssey (2019), I’m Going Away Now (2023), and SEEKING SHADOWS (2024), and exhibited performance works at Tate Modern, DWIRL New York, and Candid Arts Gallery. His fashion works include JADED London, Johanna Parv, VOGUE, DAZED, and The Face Magazine and more.

He Zhang   - The end of work Community Participant

He Zhang is a Han Chinese theatre maker currently based in London. Primarily working as a director, dramaturge and video artist, his practice works along the boundary between different media and languages to push the boundary of contemporary theatre space. His previous works include Project Atom Boi (Director, awarded Artist Choice Award at 2023 VAULT Festival), Rehearsal Room (Director, Young Theatre Shanghai 2024), Transit (Video Design, The Space London 2023) and etc.

SELECTION PROCESS

Submitted proposals are presented for shortlisting to the Selection Panel. Shortlisted artists will meet with the artistic and production team to develop the digital commission in preparation for the launch in Feb 2025. 

The Selection Panel will assess each submission on the following:

• Response and engagement with one of the questions

• Cultural and social relevance 

• Artistic merit of your portfolio

KEY DATES

Sun 5 Jan 2025, 5.00 pm (GMT) – deadline for submissions

Mon 6 Jan - Wed 8 Jan 2025  – Selection Panel shortlist

Sun 12 Jan 2025 - Three successful digital artists notified 

Mon 13 Jan - Fri 17 Jan 2025 - development meeting with creative & production team

Mon 3 Feb - Mon 10 March 2025 - digital exhibition goes live 

6 & 7 March 2025 – Brixton House exhibition opening and Double Bill community & industry sharing

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

Participating artists receive full credit on all marketing and press materials and are invited to attend the sharing of The Double Bill. Artists (or collaborative artists) will receive an all inclusive fee of £300. 

We do not cover any materials or equipment required to develop the digital artwork. 

HOW TO SUBMIT

Applications must be submitted via CuratorSpace.com.

For questions please contact: Alice Sandon, Project Manager via curatorspace messenger. 

Please review this document and the FAQs before contacting the Project Manager.