GBC is seeking proposals for workshops, panel discussions, and/or PechaKucha style presentations for a day long hybrid intensive on April 20h, 2024. Our audience for this event is individuals who are trauma-informed movers, educators, creatives and art leaders committed to divesting from old systems and societal norms and are ready to invest in the evolution of their organization, their communities and themselves.
'What is a Value Scale Hybrid Intensive: GBC will host a day long, hyrbid intensive focused on creativity, collaboration, and community. This hybrid intensive event theme is "Value Scale." the theme was inspired from the visual arts world where a value scale allows artists to understand and organize different shades from light to dark. It includes a graduated scale from the lightest value to the darkest value and various gray tones in between. Now in other fields, values scales can refer to psychological inventories used to determine the values that people endorse in their lives. They facilitate the understanding of both work and general values that individuals uphold. This event is for working artists and creatives who wish to invest in their personal evolution and development of their practice. In order to maintain the accessibility our audience has come to know during COVID and meet the needs of artists unable to attend in person, we will offer these workshops in a hybrid model.
Opportunity & Commitment Details: The event is Saturday, April 20th. Presenters are expected to be present for the entire day from 9a - 4p. on April 20th. Proposals can be for a 45-minute workshop, a 45-minute panel discussion or a PechaKucha style presentation (approx. 7 minutes). We are interested in proposals on topics that are focused on creativity, collaboration, and community and connected with our Play in the Grey tracks which are: Play in the Grey Philosophy, Trauma-Informed Creative Practices, Creative Tools and Practices, and Somatic Movement Technique. Example titles include: Interpersonal Communication in Collaborative Creative Spaces; Innovative Movement Choices; Creative Producing 101; Decolonization in the Arts; Embracing the Freelance Artist Life for Sustainable Arts Ecosystem; Dancing with Disabilities; Neurodivergent Collaboration in the Arts, and Rediscovering Creative Capacity in a Post-COVID world. There will be approximately two hours of trauma-informed creative practices facilitator training prior to the event that is required of all presenters. Depending on the format of your proposal, compensation ranges from $50-$200 (exact amount will be discussed prior to agreements being sent out). Please note, all presenters are considered freelancers who are contracted for specific services and projects. Must be 18+ to apply.
More about the hosting company: Grey Box Collective (GBC) produces interdisciplinary, experimental, and post-dramatic performances and projects about social-emotional wellbeing (i.e. we make weird art about tough stuff). We work primarily at the intersection of performing arts, visual arts, design, and educational psychology. We aim to explore new forms of expression and make choices to rebel against the “norms”. Our work prioritizes investigating broad ideas and typically steps away from traditional plot lines or characters. The works are considered artistic vehicles for social change that offer brave and supportive spaces for audiences and artists. We share our creative process through educational workshops and podcasts. GBC is a one-of-a-kind arts organization in the nation. The way we work (as in how we develop performances, how we communicate with each other, how the organization is structured overall) is incredibly forward-thinking. The past few years have provided the space to realign the organization and it's time for big strides moving into next season. This student worker would be able to be a part of those big steps. All of GBC's creatives over the past are from historically underrepresented communities. The following communities are well represented in each season: LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC/ALAANA, disabled, and neurodivergent. Grey Box Collective is a small organization of creative chameleons and we welcome Jack/Jill/Jaimes of all trades. We welcome individuals from a wide range of training and experience within and outside of the arts or other creative fields. Individuals are expected to embody and practice radical compassion, intrinsic virtuosity, and efficient, effective and consistent communication. Individuals in this role must be open to evolving professional practices and dynamic responsibilities within the framework of a contemporary arts company. We operate in community which sometimes requires us to adapt to circumstances beyond our control to support the humans we create with. We are particularly interested in working with individuals who are interested in the intersection of trauma and creativity and/or trauma-informed creative practices in theory and practice. Individuals who wish to work with GBC must understand that Grey Box Collective is a trauma-informed arts organization committed to holding compassionate spaces for ourselves and others and ensure sustainable practices are embedded in all that we do. Through our actions, reflections, and art-making, we aim to challenge and re-shape the status quo in our organization, in our bodies, and our communities.
More About GBC's Founder: Molly W. Schenck (MFA, MEd., RSME/T) is fascinated with human movement - whether that is a social justice movement, individuals persisting through systems, or how a body moves through space and time. She is also interested in what interrupts the full expression of movement (stress, trauma, burnout, injuries, chronic pain, etc.). This has guided the evolution of her studies and career path. She worked in higher education as an adjunct professor and administrator in the arts for ten years. She taught mindbody and group fitness classes for twelve years. She specializes in the intersection of creativity and trauma, is the creator of Trauma-Informed Creative Practices and author of Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices for Dance Educators. She is the founder of Grey Box Collective (an interdisciplinary, experimental, post-dramatic, trauma-informed arts organization that devises original performances around topics of social and emotional wellbeing i.e. makes weird art about tough stuff). She is also a certified Trauma Support Specialist, Personal Trainer, a 500-hour experienced yoga teacher (focused on asana, pranayama, and meditation), and a Registered Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist. For more information visit mollywschenck.com
Information collected below: We collect demographic information below because the grants we apply for to fund our collective are interested in who we connect with and your answers help us write more impactful grants. (That being said, we understand identifies might not fit in a box, might be fluid, hidden, undefinable, unknown, and/or undiscovered so, answer as much as you're comfortable with). The information on this form will be shared with Grey Box Collective leadership. Demographic information may be synthesized and disseminated as deemed necessary for grant writing and reporting purposes. If there is any question that does not apply or your prefer not to answer, please put "N/A".
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting March 8th and will continue until the event is complete. There will be a brief interview via Zoom with Molly before presenter agreements are offered.
Applicants can expect communication from info@greyboxcollective.com regarding next steps and scheduling interviews.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@greyboxcollective.com
If you are interested in additional roles within GBC, please visit greyboxcollective.com/getinvolved for artistic, volunteer, and/or board opportunities.
Thank you for your interest in being a part of Grey Box Collective!
