**This is the application for just the Artist Circle role at Velocity. If you would like to also apply to the Curating Artist in Residence program, please complete the CAiR application, and answer the optional Artist Circle questions at the end.**
About Velocity:
Founded in 1996, Velocity is an artist-led nonprofit in Seattle, WA that is dedicated to providing Seattle dance-makers with the resources, advocacy, and collaborative support they need to blossom their ideas into impactful art and community actions. This is central to our mission to advance contemporary dance and movement-based art by fostering the creative explorations of artists and audiences. We do this through flexible and responsive platforms that support dance research and creation, movement education, and opportunities to share and experience contemporary dance performance.
Our core programs include Velocity’s Creative Residency Programs, a ladder of new work incubator programs and process-driven residencies; Movement Education Programs, which provide training and classes for beginning through professional dancers, including the Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation; and Velocity Presents, a full season of performances, discussions, and community collaborations.
Velocity’s programs create employment and artistic opportunities for more than 100 artists each year and our work reaches up to 20,000 audience members and class-takers annually.
About the Role:
Title: Artist Circle Member 2023-24 (seeking 4 members total)
Starting: September 2023
Application Deadline: March 28, 2023
Service Dates: September 2023 – October 2024 (13 months)
Hours per year: 40 total, with an expectation of four total 8hr retreat days in September and November 2023, two 8hr retreat days in Spring 2024, and eight hours of offsite work. Retreat days will be scheduled together, and they will take place in-person in Seattle, WA.
Place of Work: Ongoing administrative work will be performed remotely. Core season events will take place at 12th Avenue Arts | 1620 12th Ave. Additional events may take place in other venues across Seattle.
While we are open to considering Artists that reside outside of Seattle, a key aspect of this role is community involvement, an understanding of the local dance scene, and ability to attend meetings in person. So preference will be given to local candidates.
Stipend: $1000 for the full term. Additionally, Velocity’s Artist Circle members receive free participation and tickets to all Velocity produced programming, including SFD+I, for the duration of the residency.
Role Overview:
Velocity’s Artist Circle is the second iteration of the Artist Think Tank instigated in 2020 to ensure that artists are involved in the visioning of Velocity’s core programming. Serving as an accountability and big-picture support system for Velocity’s curatorial team (the Curating Artist in Residence, Creative Producer, and Executive Director), this group of artists will support Velocity this year in re/visioning our core programs and long-term artistic programming initiatives.
Responsibilities include:
Curation + Leadership
Attend, in-person, the four 8 hour retreat days during tenure
Contribute to organizational conversations about strategies and ideas for Velocity’s present and future informed by the organization’s lineage and the input of our artists and supporters. The Artist Circle was created to think outside the box, and we also encourage creativity of how to tow the line between following and upholding current practices and structures of Velocity’s programming, budgets and timelines, with the ability to vision and think beyond our current structures.
Offer perspective, insight and ideas about the needs of the greater Seattle experimental dance community and how Velocity can grow to expand and meet those needs.
Act as an ambassador for Velocity Dance Center, by being aware of the season’s performances and programming, promoting and engaging involvement with artists, community partners and audiences.
Desired Skills/Qualifications:
Be a working artist and or arts community member involved in dance, performance, and/or interdisciplinary arts with a passion for movement based forms and experimentation.
A familiarity with the Seattle arts and dance landscape. Candidates are ideally tapped into a broad network and are seen as leaders or innovators in their respective community
We are seeking a diversity of lived experiences and identities, in order to have a vantage point that we do not currently hear enough from in the Velocity team.
Be passionately creative and possess the ability to develop original ideas for artistic programming in line with Velocity’s mission and organizational goals.
Have great communication skills and a passion for creative thinking - expansive and practical - with an ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of the Artist Circle.
An interest in Velocity’s programming, including constructive criticism.
Be able to operate inside of institutional priorities, budgets and deadlines as well as have a fresh perspective for ways to re envision the systems and programming.
How to Apply:
To apply, complete the online application by midnight on March 28, 2023. Online applications will open on February 28, 2023. We are not able to accept late applications.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact erin@velocitydancecenter.org
