COMMISSION CALLOUT BRIEF: DIGITAL PUPPETRY

FREELANCE CONTRACT

 

Moving Parts Arts CIO is looking to commission an artist to create a short piece work which explores elements of digital puppetry. 

 

Fee: £1,800 fee + £200 for materials and/or music licensing

 

What is digital puppetry?

Digital puppetry can be many things and is very much open to interpretation. A live-streamed show may use real puppets against the backdrop of a green screen. A handheld camera following a puppet-led story may take the audience on a journey not possible in a seated theatre. The puppets in the piece may be built by a 3D printer, laser cutter or exist only in virtual reality. Stop-motion animation passages may be infused with live puppetry. Digital puppetry can be low-fi or slick and shiny; can mix old techniques with new techniques; has the potential to reach new audiences - the focus of this commission is experimentation.

 

How will the commission be shared?

The results of the commission will be shared with audiences in-person and/or online as part of Moving Parts: Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2023. Depending on what is created, this may be a pre-recorded video upload, a live-stream performance or something else. We will adapt to the artists needs with the resources we have available.

 

How long should the commissioned piece be?

This is very much up to the artist but we imagine something between 4-10 minutes. Depending on what is created this could be shorter or longer. 

 

How much is the fee?

We expect the commission to reflect the fee of £1,800, which we equate to approximately 12 days @ £150 per day. We’re able to contribute a further £200 to the cost of materials and/or music licensing. The total of £2,000 can be spent by the artist however they wish.

 

When would the commission need to be created by?

The commission will be shared with audiences between 8th-16th April 2023 so the work will need to be completed by the end of March 2023 at the very latest, ideally sooner.

 

Who can apply?

Anyone who is a UK resident can apply to the commission. We particularly welcome applications from those who feel their voices are underrepresented in puppetry, theatre and animation, particularly Global Majority artists and disabled artists. The commission can be completed remotely. 

 

What tools do I need to fulfil the commission?

If you do not have fancy equipment please do not let this put you off applying! However, you will need access to any equipment that is needed to realise your idea and for you to get the finished work to us. It could all be filmed on a smartphone or it could be filmed in a super high-tech home film studio - as long as you can utilise what you have access to then we want to hear from you. 

 

How do I apply?

Send an expression of interest (maximum 2 x A4 pages), which includes links to examples of your previous work to Kerrin Tatman at info@movingpartsarts.com 

Please include DIGITAL PUPPETRY COMMISSION in the email subject line.

It would be brilliant if you can outline any initial ideas that you have for the commission, even if these ideas are not fully formed.

 

Closing date: Sunday 15th January 2023 at 10pm
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Zoom chat to talk about their ideas further.
The selected artist will be chosen by the end of January.

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You can see the 2021 Digital Puppetry commission here: https://www.movingpartsarts.com/post/digital-puppet-kit