Open Call 2021, a call for proposals from NYC-based early-career artists
Peter Hristoff forwarded the following information about The Shed’s Open Call 2021, a call for proposals from NYC-based early-career artists and art collectives:
Calling all early-career NYC artists
We’re seeking proposals for the second edition of Open Call, our large-scale commissioning program for early-career NYC-based artists. Please share with your artist friends! The deadline for applications is May 31.
If you have questions, join us for one of our Q&As.
General Q&As
April 29 at 7 pm
May 6 at 1 pm
Q&A with past Open Call Artists
May 14 at 7 pm
May 22 at 11 am

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Apply APR 13 – MAY 31
About Open Call 2021
Born out of The Shed’s commitment to supporting early-career artists and a diverse range of voices and experiences, our Open Call program selects, fosters, and presents new work across all forms and media from NYC-based artists who have not yet received major support. Participants for Open Call’s second edition will be selected in summer 2020 by leaders in their fields, including other artists, cultural programmers, academics, and members of The Shed’s staff. The Shed will support these projects with a commissioning fee of up to $15,000 per artist or collective, paid in installments based on milestones.
In 2021, Open Call will occupy various spaces at The Shed, including one of our galleries, The Griffin Theater, and our outdoor Plaza, allowing for the presentation of a diversity of artistic experiences and perspectives in these newly commissioned works. We will accept applications for Open Call via the Submittable website between April 13 and May 31, 2020. There is no processing fee for The Shed’s Open Call application.
For a list of past Open Call artists and more information about their commissions, please visit the page for Open Call’s first edition here.
Organized by Emma Enderby, Chief Curator; Tamara McCaw, Chief Civic Program Officer; and Solana Chehtman, Director of Civic Programs, with Madeline Aleman, Open Call Assistant. The program was conceived by The Shed’s Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots, Tamara McCaw, Emma Enderby, and Senior Program Advisor Hans Ulrich Obrist.
Apply APR 13 – MAY 31
The second edition of Open Call will support NYC-based early-career artists and collectives as they make and present urgent new work
–
About Open Call 2021
Born out of The Shed’s commitment to supporting early-career artists and a diverse range of voices and experiences, our Open Call program selects, fosters, and presents new work across all forms and media from NYC-based artists who have not yet received major support. Participants for Open Call’s second edition will be selected in summer 2020 by leaders in their fields, including other artists, cultural programmers, academics, and members of The Shed’s staff. The Shed will support these projects with a commissioning fee of up to $15,000 per artist or collective, paid in installments based on milestones.
In 2021, Open Call will occupy various spaces at The Shed, including one of our galleries, The Griffin Theater, and our outdoor Plaza, allowing for the presentation of a diversity of artistic experiences and perspectives in these newly commissioned works. We will accept applications for Open Call via the Submittable website between April 13 and May 31, 2020. There is no processing fee for The Shed’s Open Call application.
For a list of past Open Call artists and more information about their commissions, please visit the page for Open Call’s first edition here.
Organized by Emma Enderby, Chief Curator; Tamara McCaw, Chief Civic Program Officer; and Solana Chehtman, Director of Civic Programs, with Madeline Aleman, Open Call Assistant. The program was conceived by The Shed’s Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots, Tamara McCaw, Emma Enderby, and Senior Program Advisor Hans Ulrich Obrist.
Information Sessions
We recommend that prospective applicants participate in one of our information sessions via Google Hangouts. We will hold both general information sessions (including a Q&A) with Shed staff and Q&A sessions with past Open Call artists. Live closed captioning will be available through the Google Hangouts platform for all sessions.
To join us for one of these sessions, please RSVP by submitting this form.
Registration to attend will remain open until 15 minutes before the start time of each session.
General sessions with Q&A
- April 29 at 7 pm
- May 6 at 1 pm
In partnership with CUNY Arts
Q&As with past Open Call artists
- May 14 at 7 pm
With Justin Allen, Analisa Teachworth, and Kelsey Pyro
In partnership with Bronx Council on the Arts
(ASL interpretation and audio description will be available for this session.) - May 22 at 11 am
With Fyütch, Thanushka Yakupitiyage, and Kiyan Williams