2019-684-E Arts - Ginger Wagg arts grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID:62270D65-F7C3-4540-9334-58AC9C9FOFB8 Summary present four new scenes for our performance series, Frivolous Artist (FA). We will produce two free public presentations in the form of Critical Feedback sessions on 2nd Friday Art Walks. The first will be specifically for local artists and WA colleagues, and the second will be open to the public (no art background or experience needed). These casual events will begin with an explanation of the evening, we'll provide complimentary snacks and drinks, and we'll end with a discussion and feedback session. In July 2019, WA will invite local artists (dancers, actors, and musicians) to create and rehearse four-six new FA scenes from August-December 2019. In January 2020, WA will schedule both feedback events. Between March-May 2020, Nightlight Bar & Club will donate rehearsal space and will host both our 2nd Friday Frivolous Artist Critical Feedback sessions. The information and research we gather from these public interactions will be invaluable to honing new FA material and will create a deeper connection to current and future audience/participants. We will be prepared to book and present our second full-length evening performance of Frivolous Artist in Fall 2020. Critical feedback from our arts communities and the general public are absolutely essential to creating successful immersive, interactive performances. By "successful" WA means: appropriate and effective design of the space; a coherent trajectory of the content and non- linear narratives; creatively using comfort and discomfort of audience/participants; intelligible transfer of information and content from performance to audience; clarity of invitations to interact; an attainable experience for the audiences — of their imagination/body/mind, their perceived and real roles in the event, and their sense of self. At the heart of "Frivolous Artist" there is not one subject but a quicksand of questions, interrogations, and dualities considering what makes art and artists worthwhile and meaningful. We believe it's critical to not just ask these questions in the creation process but present the labor of answering these questions publicly, in order to purposefully inspire a dialogue with audiences. As art makers, DO we and HOW DO we discuss amongst ourselves and our communities AGENCY, RESPONSIBILITY, LEGITIMACY, VALIDITY, VALUE, ACCOUNTABILITY, and LINEAGE? WA is examining what is forced, fake, fake by intention, real, real by action, authentic and/or necessary. We question how this affects our identities as "professional" artists. If and after we create a "professional" identity, is there any need, want, or ability to prove ourselves to audiences, venues, funding bodies, press/critics or anyone? Furthermore, it is important for WA and its audiences to know how this process changes depending on our race, education,