Artist Residency Commissioning Program
Winter 2013 Residency
Residency period Nov 2012 – March 2013
Performances: March 22-24, 2013
- Letter of Intent Deadline – Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 11:59pm (via email submission)
- Letter of Intent Notifications – Friday, May 18th , 2012
- Full Application Deadline (if invited) – Thursday, May 3oth, 2012, 11:59pm
- Final Selection Notification – Tuesday, June 12th, 2012
Summer 2012 Residency
Residency period May – Sept 2012
Performances: Sept 13-16, 2012
- Letter of Intent Deadline – Wednesday, Nov 30, 11:59pm (via email submission)
- Download here – CLOSED
- Letter of Intent Notifications – Friday, Dec 9th , 2012
- Full Application Deadline (if invited) – Wednesday, Jan 4, 2012
- Final Selection Notification – Tuesday, Jan 31st, 2012
To sign up for artist opportunity notices email julie@counterpulse.org.
About the program
The ARC program has evolved in direct response to the needs of artists. It is designed to offer maximum support for experimentation and risk-taking by lifting many of the responsibilities associated with self-production. Elements of the program include:
- Studio Space– Artists receive up to 100 hrs. of studio space during the residency period, and have the luxury of developing their work in the space where it will be performed.
- Work-in-Progress Showings– Artists participate in monthly work-in-progress showings where they receive and offer feedback on each other’s work using the Critical Response Process developed by Liz Lerman. The final two showings are open to the public.
- Web Presence– Artists will have the opportunity to share their developmental process in a flourishing interactive online community through a dedicated page on the CounterPULSE website. Artists will create regular blog entries, participate in YouTube interviews, and have their Work-in-Progress Showings posted online.
- Performances– The work developed during the residency is presented during one weekend of shared performances. We cover production costs and artists receive payment for their work. These performances frequently receive press coverage.

Sara Kraft
Additional Opportunities– Artists may have the opportunity to work with paid mentors, and may also have the opportunity to teach master classes as part of ARC.
- Long-Term Support– CounterPULSE supports artists and their work long after the residency period has ended. We work to create connections with other presenters that will enable the work to tour, and we frequently present or co-present full-length works developed by former Artists in Residence.
Who we’re looking for
CounterPULSE is seeking emerging and mid-career Bay Area artists and companies who:
-

Amara Tabor Smith
Are making exciting and innovative movement-based performance (dance, dance theater, physical theater, butoh, etc.).
- Are interested in participating in artistic feedback sessions and are excited by the possibilities of cross-pollination with other artists.
- Are (or want to become) articulate about their work, and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to share their process in a blog forum.
- Are willing to fully and enthusiastically participate in promotion and publicity for residency activities.
- Can clearly articulate their proposed project and where they are in their process. (We are open to supporting both the beginning stages of new works, as well as the completion and premiere of works-in-progress.)
- Can clearly articulate why CounterPULSE is a good home for their work.
- Can demonstrate the existence of an audience for their work.
What we expect
Becoming an Artist in Residence at CounterPULSE involves a commitment to participating in the CounterPULSE community, and openness to working collaboratively with staff and fellow artists. We expect our Artists in Residence to:
- Remain in the Bay Area for the majority of the residency period.
- Attend events at CounterPULSE. Artists receive complimentary tickets, and may be asked to speak or present short performances at CounterPULSE events, including fundraisers.
- Provide volunteer support for publicity, including flyering and postering.
- Participate in monthly work-in-progress showings.
- Provide content for community outreach materials, including the CounterPULSE blog.
- Maintain a long-term relationship with CounterPULSE, and credit CounterPULSE as a co-commissioner of the work developed during the residency.
Financial Details
Each Artist/Company in Residence receives a support package valued at over $7,000 that includes:
- 50% (25% per artist or company) of box office proceeds
- A stipend of $1,000, payable directly to the artist
- An additional $1,000 budget for production costs, administered by CounterPULSE
- Up to 100 hours of rehearsal space over the course of 4 months (value of over $1,700)
- Publicity, technical support, and documentation for performances (value of over $3,000)
Our curatorial philosophy
We are open to many different proposals from a wide variety of artists, and there are no hard and fast rules about who we will select. However, we tend to choose applicants who:
- Blend more than one performance genre or discipline. Collaboration with other artists is strongly encouraged.
- Are community-based and socially aware. We are interested in work that addresses current social, political or environmental issues.
- Have a distinct and compelling vision for how they would like to take advantage of CounterPULSE’s physical space and organizational resources.
We particularly encourage queer artists, artists of color, and artists with disabilities to apply.
For questions email Julie Phelps, Program Manager, julie@counterpulse.org
*Programmatic offerings and facets are subject to change without prior notice









