Emergency

The 24th Emergency will take place on Saturday 28 September 2024 in its seventh home, Contact, Manchester — combining daytime durational, installation, intervention, and limited capacity work; followed by an evening of short (max 20 min) show-type pieces of work, works-in-progress, or extracts of longer works.

The event’s objectives are to be
 • a free to access public micro-festival and open submission platform;
 • an opportunity for artists to meet, show, and peer review work;
 • a selection event for a number of small Works Ahead commissions to be produced by hÅb.

Artists working in Live Art, contemporary performance, time-based media, and interdisciplinary arts are now invited to submit proposals. Work can be in any relevant artform/medium, though some live presence is desirable.

Spaces available (please see pdf document below)
Contact is a big multi-space building which has recently undergone a major capital expansion and refurbishment.
 • Spaces available include a theatre, a black box studio, a multi-purpose events space, a large + smaller rehearsal rooms, a meeting room, a café-bar, various landings + alcoves.
 • For daytime work: Bar, First Floor Foyer, Meetings Room, Space 1 Lobby, Space 3, Space 4, and possibly Space 0.
 • For evening work: Space 1, Space 2, Space 0. All evening show-type works have a maximum duration of 20 mins per piece.
The Spaces Information in the pdf below outlines the main rooms, but there may be other small areas – which we might put work in.
If you are looking for a type of space not listed, please select “Other – public” or “Other – private” and describe the kind of space you want and we’ll see if anything fits!

Please note
Emergency 24 will offer an honorarium of £200 per piece selected, to cover fees/expenses.
For artists coming from beyond Greater Manchester we may be able to offer an additional discretionary contribution to travel.

The event’s objectives are to be:

• a free to access public micro-festival and open submission platform;
• an opportunity for artists to meet, show and peer review work;
• a selection event for a number of small Works Ahead commissions to be produced by hÅb + Contact;

Artists working in Live Art, contemporary performance, time-based media and interdisciplinary arts are now invited to submit proposals. Work can be in any relevant artform/medium, though some live presence is desirable.

Spaces available (please see document below)

• Contact is a big multi-space building which has just undergone a major capital expansion and refurbishment.
• Spaces available include a theatre, a black box studio, a multi-purpose events space, a large + a smaller rehearsal rooms, a meeting room, a café-bar, various landings + alcoves.
• For daytime work Bar, First Floor Foyer, Meetings Room, Space 1 Lobby, Space 3 + Space 4 and possibly Space 0.
• For evening work Space 1, Space 2 + Space 0. Evening show type work max 20 mins. 

The Space Information below outlines the main rooms, but there may be other small areas – which we might put work in. If you are looking for a type of space not listed, please select “Other – public” or “Other – private” and describe the kind of space you want and we’ll see if anything fits!

Please note: Emergency 2022 will offer an honorarium of £150 per piece selected, to cover fees/expenses. For artists coming from beyond Greater Manchester we may be able to offer an additional discretionary contribution to travel. Proposals needing a higher level of budget, or additional access costs please talk to us via emergency@habmcr.org; before applying.

If you feel you want a conversation before applying - you can book a 30 minute slot with Tamsin via GM Artist Hub on Mon 4 + Mon 11 Jul between 12+2pm.

Selection process & criteria:

Final selection will be by a panel from hÅb and Contact on the basis of suitability to artistic parameters and technical and logistical feasibility.

• Deadline for proposals – Friday 5 August , 5pm
• Selected artists will be notified BY 2 September.
• There will be a technical meeting either in person or remotely on Sat 17 September.
• Emergency takes place on Saturday 1 October, 12-10pm (times tbc)

How to apply

• All applicants must complete the online application form at https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/m1opaj9n0l0hxsl/
• All Proposals uploaded will be acknowledged by automated email. If you have trouble with the form, please contact us. If you do not receive an acknowledgement you must contact us as it indicates a problem with receipt.
• We would also be grateful if you would complete an online monitoring form at https://forms.gle/HV5demqBwvcBLmS47

A live, socially-distanced walkthrough event for durational and/or looping live art and contemporary performance.

Necessarily, Emergency 2020 will be somewhat different. A socially-distanced, walk-through event for durational and looping performance. Small booked audiences will be guided through the building in gallery fashion, pausing en route to watch the work. 

So Emergency 2020 is looking for durational, performance installation; looping + intervention-based live works that can run over a minimum period of 4 hours. 

We realise this won't be for everyone as the ask is constrained by the current circumstances and we have to put the caveat on that it might just not happen - but we really think we should give it a damn good go! Please also bear in mind, this will be subject to lifting of local lockdown in Manchester.

*By durational we mean work that unfolds over its time period, by looping we mean short work that can repeat over and over (suggested max loop 10 mins). 

Artists working in live art, contemporary performance, time-based media and interdisciplinary arts are invited to submit proposals for durational, performance installation; looping + intervention-based live works that can run over a minimum period of 4 hours.

Work can be in any relevant artform/medium, though some live presence is desirable; please note we aren’t looking for black-box type shows nor for online work. 

The event’s objectives are to be:

·                an informal free (donations welcome) public open submission platform;

·                an opportunity for artists to meet, show and peer review work in socially distanced conditions. 

Contact is a big multi-space building which has just undergone a major capital expansion and refurbishment. It will not reopen fully to the public in its finished incarnation until Spring 2021 and, for Emergency 2020, will not have fully installed technical infrastructure. Emergency 2020 will be taking a sited approach to the building, using it as a gallery-style space for a walkthrough audience journey. Technical provision will be basic and largely imported for the event. 

Spaces available include a black box studio, a large + a smaller rehearsal rooms, a meeting room, a café-bar (not operating), various landings + alcoves. For Emergency 2020 we are specifically looking for durational, performance installation; looping + intervention-based live works. The audience will be taken on a one way journey through the building in timed slots - estimated journey time 75mins.  

Please note: Emergency 2020 will offer an honorarium of £100 per piece selected, to cover fees/expenses. If your proposal need a higher level of budget, or additional access costs please talk to us via emergency@habmcr.org before applying. 

The callout for proposals is open until Friday 9 October, 5pm. Selected artists will be notified by 23 October.

Please note:

New for 2020, Emergency StopGap is a small informal platform for live art: to bridge the gap between gallery and theatre, and to fill the empty months of winter.

Taking place on Thursday 27 February 2020, 6-10pm at Manchester's NIAMOS, we see it as an informal evening of durational, small capacity and intervention based work.  

The callout for proposals is open until Friday 17 January 2020, 5pm.

Artists working in live art, contemporary performance, time-based media, and interdisciplinary arts are invited to submit proposals for:

Opened in 1902 and formerly a theatre, cinema, BBC recording studio and church, NIAMOS is now being run by a co-operative as a holistic well-being and radical arts space. (More background and images here). 

Please note, whilst very atmospheric, it is in significant state of disrepair, and a site-specific approach might be best taken when thinking about work for it.

 • our technology resources are limited, please bear this in mind when making a proposal; 
 • we apologise but physical access to the building is challenging — please ask for specifics if you have physical access needs and are considering making a proposal;

 • whilst we don’t encourage it, you are permitted to submit more than one proposal but it is unlikely that more than one would be successful from a single artist/group;

 • Emergency StopGap will offer an honorarium of up to £100 per piece selected, to cover fees/expenses.

To apply: 
• download the Emergency StopGap Open Call Guidance Notes (see attachment below); 
• complete the Online Proposal form; 

• complete the Online Monitoring form (please do, it really helps us!). 

Actual links for both forms, to cut + paste into a web browser:

Proposal Form https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/z1xxw6gq1plmq3n/

Monitoring Form https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/r19tdg9m0h21yu0

Enquiries: emergency@habmcr.org  | 0161 232 6086 | emergencymcr.org | #EmergencyMcr

DEADLINE: Friday 17 January 2020, 5pm

Emergency StopGap is presented by Word of Warning; produced by hÅb; supported using public funding by Arts Council England + by NIAMOS.

 

Download Emergency_StopGap_info.pdf

Timings are approximate and subject to change! Go back to Emergency

Thanks to all who put a proposal in for Emergency - the call has now closed and the process of selection from the 76 proposals received has now started.

If you successfully submitted a proposal then you will have received an automated email confirmation, If you haven't received an email, your proposal was not received - please contact us immediately at emergency@habmcr.org

Emergency, hÅb's annual platform for live art and contemporary performance is now open for proposals.

Our twentieth Emergency takes place on Saturday 21 September, 12noon-10pm.  This year it's a little bit different as it takes place in two locations: daytime (12-5pm approx) in Manchester's NIAMOS; and evening (5-10pm approx) in Z-arts (incl. STUN Studio).

The callout for proposals is open until Friday 9 August, 5pm.

With a whole range of spaces to fill — what we now need is a lots of great work! 

Artists working in live art and contemporary performance are invited to submit proposals of short pieces of work, works-in-progress, or extracts of longer works for inclusion in this event. 

For daytime work at NIAMOS we are looking for durational, performance installation, intervention and limited capacity and 1-2-1 work.  Opened in 1902 and formerly a theatre, cinema, BBC recording studio and church, NIAMOS is now being run by a co-operative as a holistic well-being space. Please note, whilst very atmospheric, it is in significant state of disrepair, and a site-specific approach might be best taken when thinking about work for it.  Wherever possible work should be low tech using domestic or battery powered equipment. Access is challenging. 

We are particularly looking for a bigger durational piece that might work for the NIAMOS main auditorium/stage area (see info attached) and recognise this might need more resources.  If you have an idea for this, please get in touch to discuss. 

For evening work at Z-arts/STUN we are looking for short (20 min max) show-type work. 

To get a feel for it, have a look at the 2018 programme + gallery of images.

• a selection event for a number of small Works Ahead commissions to be developed + supported by hÅb.

Work can be in any relevant artform/medium, though some live presence is desirable. Show-type work should be 20 minutes maximum in duration; low-tech or no-tech, and suitable for quick turnarounds; self-supporting in terms of props, set, equipment, and specialised technology.

As this seems to be a recurrent question: whilst we don't encourage it, you are permitted to submit more than one proposal but it is unlikely that more than one would be successful from a single artist/group. 

Please note: 
• Emergency typically features at least 20 short pieces of work throughout the day/evening; 
• our technology resources are limited, please bear this in mind when making a proposal; 

• Emergency 2019 will offer an honorarium of up to £100 per piece selected, to cover fees/expenses.

• There may be more resources available for a larger durational piece for the NIAMOS auditorium/stage area.

To apply: 
• download the Emergency Open Call Guidance Notes (see attachment below); 
• complete the Online Proposal form; 

• complete the Online Monitoring form (please do, it really helps us!). 

Actual links for both forms, to cut + paste into a web browser:

Proposal Form https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/z1i31f0m03ovwoe

Monitoring Form https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/r19tdg9m0h21yu0

Enquiries*: emergency@habmcr.org  | 0161 232 6086 | emergencymcr.org | #EmergencyMcr

DEADLINE: Friday 9 August, 5pm

Emergency 2019 is presented by Word of Warning; produced by hÅb; supported using public funding by Arts Council England, NIAMOS, STUN + Z-arts.

 

Emergency, hÅb's annual platform for live art and contemporary performance is now open for proposals.

Our nineteenth Emergency takes place on Saturday 6 October 2018, 12noon-10pm, in Manchester's Z-arts (incl. STUN Studio), with the callout for proposals open until Wednesday 15 August, 5pm.

With a whole range of spaces to fill — what we now need is a lots of great work! 

Artists working in live art and contemporary performance are invited to submit proposals of short pieces of work, works-in-progress, or extracts of longer works for inclusion in this event. Proposals are also encouraged for durational, one-to-one and limited capacity work, as well as performance installation and intervention-based works in-and-around the spaces available.       

To get a feel for it, have a look at the 2017 programme + gallery of images.

Emergency our annual platform for live art and contemporary performance, is coming of age! 

To get a feel for it, have a look at the 2016 programme and gallery. In 2017 the eighteenth Emergency takes place on Saturday 30 September, at Z-arts, Manchester (12-10pm) with the callout for proposals open from Wednesday 5 July to Friday 11 August, 5pm 

With a whole range of spaces to fill - what we now need is a lots of great work! Whilst Emergency isn't themed, if anybody would like to create an eighteenth birthday celebration, we'd be more than amenable, and might be able to top the budget up a bit for the right project!     

So…  
Artists working in live art and contemporary performance are invited to submit proposals of short pieces of work, works in progress or extracts of longer works for inclusion in this event. Proposals are also encouraged for durational, one to one and limited capacity work; performance installation and intervention-based works in and around the spaces. 

Emergency is:  
• a free, public micro-festival + open submission platform; 
• an opportunity for artists to meet, show and peer-review work;  

• a selection event for a number of small Works Ahead commissions to be developed + supported by hÅb. 

Work can be in any relevant artform/medium, though some live presence is desirable. Show-type work should be 20 minutes max in duration, low tech and suitable for quick turnarounds, self-supporting in terms of props/set/equipment and specialised technology. 

We also strongly encourage durational, one to one and limited capacity work; performance installation and intervention-based works in and around the spaces. 

As this seems to be a recurrent question... Whilst we don't encourage it, you are permitted to submit more than one proposal but it is unlikely that more than one would be successful from a single artist/group. 

Emergency will offer an honorarium of up to £100 per piece selected, to cover fees/expenses. If you have an idea for a larger 18th birthday piece, please get in touch to discuss first. 

To apply:  
• Download the Emergency Open Call Guidance Notes (below)
• Complete the Online Proposal form;  
• Complete the Online Monitoring form (please, it really helps us!);       

DEADLINE Friday 11 August 2017, 5pm.

Actual links for both forms:  
https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/z1i31f0m03ovwoe/
https://habarts.wufoo.com/forms/r19tdg9m0h21yu0/
Enquiries: emergency@habmcr.org ¦ http://emergencymcr.org ¦ #EmergencyMcr 

Emergency 2017 is presented by Word of Warning; produced by hÅb; supported using public funding by Arts Council England, and by Manchester City Council, STUN + Z-arts.