Northern Spark and ZERO1 Biennial Call for “Platform” Project

This is an open call in collaboration with Northern Spark for a "platform" project.
Application deadline: February 13, 2012
Apply!

WHAT IS THE ZERO1 BIENNIAL?
The ZERO1 Biennial, distributed throughout Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area, is North America’s most significant showcase of work at the nexus of art and technology. Through exhibitions, public art, performances, and speaker events the ZERO1 Biennial presents work by a global community of innovative artists who are reshaping contemporary culture. Established in 2006, the ZERO1 Biennial has presented the work of over 500 artists from 50+ countries, commissioned 80 original works of art, and attracted over 100,000 visitors from around the world. In 2012, opening events take place September 12-16, 2012 and feature a nighttime street festival in downtown San Jose’s SoFA District on Friday, September 14th.

WHAT IS NORTHERN SPARK?
Northern Spark is a free, dusk to dawn, participatory arts festival that presents visual arts, performance, films, and interactive media indoors and outdoors in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 2011, during the course of one night, there were 50,000 visits to 100 projects by more than 200 artists at 34 venues in collaboration with 60 partner organizations and sponsors. Explore a constellation of urban arts and discover the city in a new light. In 2012, Northern Spark takes place from dusk, Saturday, June 9, to dawn, Sunday, June 10.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
The theme of Northern Spark in 2012 is “Think and Wonder.”
The theme of the 2012 ZERO1 Biennial is “Seeking Silicon Valley.”

For this call, we are looking to co-commission a nighttime public art project that would work within the dynamic contexts of both Northern Spark and the ZERO1 Biennial. By “platform” project, we mean a temporary project that will include the creation of a re-deployable platform for activation within the city infrastructure that has the potential be reused for future project.

Examples of potential platforms include:

• A social media or urban game that encourages participants to interact with the city environment.
• Mobile or “pop up” platforms that are easily stored, transported, and redeployed
• Projects that focus on activating storefronts and streetscapes, such as interactive outdoor lighting, sound or projection artworks that create opportunities for the development of a creatively engaged city.
• Creation of technology-enabled “hot spots” for art that may include power, data, or video feeds.

WHAT ELSE ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
While none of the following are strict requirements, they are each important factors in making our decisions.

• Artistic quality. The proposed work can be serious or funny, spectacular or intimate, high or low, or any combination thereof.
• Participatory. It is not required that your project have a participatory element, but it is desirable.
• Location. Northern Spark is especially interested in projects that add to the density of the public experience at key venues within the Zones identified on the Northern Spark website, especially around the Stone Arch Bridge and Loring Park in Minneapolis, and Rice Park and Upper Landing Park in Saint Paul . The use of any private or out-of-scope venues must be cleared in advance by the artist.
• The ZERO1 Biennial street festival will take place along South 1st Street between San Carlos and Reed Streets in downtown San Jose’s SoFA District - see images
• Duration. One of the distinctive aspects of Northern Spark is its duration. Does your project take advantage of this? The ZERO1 Biennial street festival is approximately 6 hours long. It may be possible for the project to remain in place for multiple nights, if budget and production allow.
• Feasibility. At Northern Spark, you only have 513 minutes. At the ZERO1 Biennial, you only have 2 hours for setup. Make sure your project will work within budget, and that we understand how.

BUDGET
The budget is $10,000, including all travel, equipment rental, and set up. It is expected that you or someone you designate will be present at both events.

OTHER RESOURCES
Northern Spark and ZERO1 will provide the following to the selected project(s):

• Production advice
• Permitting and insurance as reasonable, appropriate and possible
• Liasing and negotiating with the city related to the creating of longer term platforms as reasonable, appropriate and possible
• Marketing and promotion

Apply!