CALL FOR ARTISTS FIRST NIGHT MONTEREY 2025
Celebrating Over 30 Years Together in Monterey!
December 31, 2024 in Historic Downtown Monterey
First Night Monterey, Monterey County's premier New Year's Eve celebration of the arts is in its 32nd year, and the event on New Year's Eve 2024 promises to be the best one yet! First Night Monterey is inviting visual and performing artists to submit their applications to be part of this annual family friendly, alcohol-free community arts celebration ringing in 2025!
YOU ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
that will help create an exciting evening to Celebrate First Night Monterey's 32nd year. We are seeking performances and art activities of all types!
First Night Monterey is an interdisciplinary celebration of the arts and invites proposals for the following event activities:
LARGE SCALE PUBLIC ART - Temporary site-specific installations of visual and/or environmental art that utilize the city landscape. For example, sculpture, projections, and large-scale installation art that encourages public participation. Works that incorporate the celebration's theme in some way are desirable.
PERFORMANCES - Short repeated performances of around 30-45 minutes each are sought for both afternoon and evening programs. Examples are: musical acts (musicians, bands, choral groups), theatrical presentations, dance, poetry and performance art. New and innovative works that are not technically complex are encouraged - First Night Monterey uses a range of traditional and non-traditional venues for its presentations.
RESOLUTION PIECES - These are interactive sculptures and installations that mark the passage of time, inspire a sense of renewal, incorporate and/or respond to the public hopes, wishes and resolutions for the New Year. These pieces usually involve First Night participants writing a New Year's wish or resolution, and attaching it to the sculpture or artwork. Works that employ ways to bridge the day and evening sections of our celebration are highly desirable.
WORKSHOPS and ACTIVITIES - Hands-on, fun events that get the First Night participants involved in making a hat or musical instrument, painting a picture, writing a poem or learning to dance, drum or juggle. The possibilities are endless for activities to bring people together on New Year's Eve.
ABOUT OUR EVENT
The Afternoon Family Festival - Kids’ Night Out!
The first act of FNM Celebration includes performances and hands-on activities that focus on children, children's participation and family entertainment. Examples of programs include face painting, juggling and acrobatics, music, storytelling, puppet performances, crafts and games.
Indoor/Outdoor Evening Performances:
Most programs are 30 - 45 minutes and will be repeated at least once. Technical support will be limited, and based upon the nature of the performance, site location, scheduling and cost. First Night indoor sites include theaters, churches, and public auditoriums that seat from 100 - 4,000 people. Outdoor venues include Alvarado and Pacific Streets, and Colton Lawn.
Visual Art
Site-specific, temporary installations that are presented outdoors on the Colton Lawn, Alvarado Street or other sites throughout historic Downtown Monterey. We are open to site suggestions from artists. Proposals that incorporate participation by audience members are encouraged. A limited number of indoor exhibition sites are also available particularly in the Monterey Conference Center and the Church of Religious Science, as well as the Golden State Theater.
Artists may propose projects that directly involve participation of community-based organizations through the First Night ArtWorks! Outreach program, our community outreach and education program. During the year, and the weeks and months leading up to the Celebration, young people and adults in communities in and around Monterey County work under the direction of an artist to plan and create pieces, exhibitions and performances that are showcased during First Night. Community organizations, churches and schools as well as individuals are welcome to apply. Artists and organizations may propose that their projects be considered as an ArtWorks! program. An ArtWorks! Program must involve community members in developing, fabricating, and displaying the artists' work.
SELECTION PROCESS
A diverse panel of creative professionals will review and select proposals for visual and performing arts participants. Selection criteria will be based on artistic merit, feasibility, and the availability of funds. First Night Monterey awards artists whose proposals are accepted commissions and/or artist/performance fees.
ABOUT FIRST NIGHT MONTEREY
First Night Monterey is an independent, California nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation working in partnership with the City of Monterey. It is supported by sponsorships, foundations and corporations, as well as by individual donors.First Night Monterey's mission is to foster public appreciation of visual and performing arts and celebrate families and community through workshops and the New Year's Eve celebration.
PLEASE SUBMIT PROPOSALS ONLINE! Apply NOW!
PROPOSAL DEADLINE: September 15, 2024. All proposals must be made on the online form. No faxed, e-mailed or incomplete proposals will be accepted.
NOTIFICATION DATE: We will mail out confirmations for FNM 2025 beginning October 1, 2024.
QUESTIONS? If you would like to discuss your proposal prior to submitting it, please email: info[at]firstnightmonterey[dot]org.