Open Call for Text Contributions to the Publication Perceptions (Working Title)

What position do I watch a production from? Does our identity, our self-perception, play a role in the reception of art? And if so, what is it? To what extent do the performance venue and the media used also affect my perception?

The Berlin Performing Arts Program is looking for: interested parties from Berlin’s independent performing arts community who have already developed audience formats or artistic projects that grapple with these questions or who have collected observations regarding them – and who would like to write an article about them for the publication Perceptions (working title) by the end of April 2022.
The submission deadline for suggestions is February 11, 2022.

The selection of the articles will take place in collaboration with a panel of experts and our performance venue partners for the project.

The project sees itself as a platform for exchanges about the diversity of perceptions of artistic productions. The publication will be published both as a print brochure as well as online as a PDF. The goal is to sustainably, tangibly and effectively support the members of the independent performing arts community in the communication of their artistic work.

Open Call for Text Contributions to the Publication Perceptions (Working Title)

What shapes our perception as audience members? Under which (physical) prerequisites do I make an aesthetic experience? How is individual reception influenced by a specific combination of modes of perception? To what extent does a neurodiverse or non-neurotypical perception influence my experience of art? Can we see with our ears, hear with our body - what do we actually know about sensory perception? To what extent does the space in which the production takes place and the media used influence my experience?

We are preparing a publication that addresses these questions: Perceptions (working title). We are inviting members of the independent performing arts community to consider the diversity of perceptions of the audience and to share their impressions as part of this publication.

The publication will consist of two parts. In the first part, communication formats will be described that were created as a part of this project. These formats were already the subject of a public call for applications in 2021 and were selected last year as well. In the second part, we would like to collect additional articles by different members of the community about existing formats within Berlin’s independent performing arts community and provide a more in-depth examination of the topic of space.

We are planning on including a total of six articles for the publication. The selection of the articles will take place in collaboration with a panel of experts and our performance venue partners for the project. (You will find more information about the selection panel below).

Who can participate?
All interested parties from Berlin’s independent performing arts community who have already developed audience formats or artistic projects that grapple with these questions or who have collected observations regarding them and who would like to write an article about them for the publication Perceptions (working title) by the end of April 2022.

What are we looking for?
We are asking you to send us short suggestions (a maximum of 800 characters including blank spaces or a two-minute audio file) for articles that will be written between February and April for the publication in editorial collaboration with us. All forms and formats of printable articles can be suggested (text, comics, drawing, et cetera). Final text-based articles will have a maximum length of 5,000 characters.
In addition to the printed publication, brief audio or video contributions that will be published online aside the PDF are also warmly welcomed.

We are planning to translate parts of the publication into simplified language. Articles in simplified language may also be submitted.

How can I participate?
The application deadline for the suggestions for articles is February 11, 2022.
The applications should include a short biography as well as a brief description of the suggestion (max. 800 characters including blank spaces or a two-minute audio file) with the following information: a description of the idea and the context of the idea with questions regarding the topic of perceptions.

The description can be provided in written form (in German or English) or submitted as an audio file. We strive to reflect the diversity of society within our team as well and thus expressly welcome interest by those who represent marginalized perspectives. If you have any questions about accessibility, please do not hesitate to contact us.

This project sees itself as an experimental platform for exchanges for considering perspectives in perceptions from the point of view of audiences and productions. The articles will be published in the publication and accredited to their creators and their contact information will also be listed, if desired. All selected authors will receive compensation in the amount of 250 EUR (which is contingent upon them finishing and submitting their article of up to 5,000 characters in editorial collaboration with us by the end of April 2022).
In the event of suggestions in the form of comics, drawings, audio or video contributions, it is possible that we may adjust the amount of compensation in agreement with the author.