CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades is looking for artistic projects in development!

Under the new artistic leadership of Mary Ellis (Artistic Director) and Kyle Ahluwalia (Artistic Producer), Horseshoes & Hand Grenades (HHG) is committing to helping Ottawa and Gatineau based creators to workshop their new works. This is a chance for HHG to meet new (or new to us) projects and creators, while helping to foster and develop work in Ottawa by creators based in the National Capital Region. This workshop opportunity is open to projects in any stage of development, and will be scheduled based on the availability of the artists in the latter half of 2022. Contingent upon mutual interest and granting opportunities, HHG may continue support for projects from this workshop series toward a full scale production in the future.

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades is looking to support projects that resonate with our mandate:
we’re drawn to where the political and the personal intersect – the politics of everyday life. We explore stories of idealism, corruption, compassion, love, violence and redemption, both within the individual and their communities. We tell under-told stories, and we create theatre that reveals a vulnerability of heart and doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations. We do this through a collaborative process that supports boldly imaginative concepts, new forms of theatre and an inclusive definition of theatre artist. 

While English is the working language at Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, we are open to supporting projects in other languages. This could be through a translator, hiring cultural or language consultants or other supports as appropriate.

Projects will be provided 35 hours of rehearsal or workshop time as well as budget for core creators (writer, director, dramaturg etc), performers and some production staff (PM, SM, Technicians) based on the needs of the project at its current state of development. This could be working with a dramaturg or cultural consultant, staging a first reading or workshopping a production with designers. This workshop is intentionally flexible to be able to adapt to the needs of the projects, with an expected overall budget of $7500-$9000 (per project).

To apply, please submit a proposal of up to 3 pages or 10 minutes to info@horseshoesandhandgrenades.ca by August 24th outlining the following. Video, voice and other non-text based submissions are welcome, and we ask you to limit yourself to a 10 minute maximum.
Your project and its current state of development
Your ideal framework for support (i.e. what are you looking for in terms of help: dramaturgy, outside eyes, space, etc.?)
Names and bios of main artistic collaborators

If available, relevant artistic sample(s) for THIS project. This may be a script (or part of a script), photos, audio or video recordings, or any other relevant artistic content.

Projects currently being considered or developed by other organizations or programs are welcome to apply, but please indicate this in your application. 

If you require any support, please do not hesitate to contact Artistic Producer Kyle Ahluwalia at kyletheatre@hotmail.com for any clarifications, questions, or accommodations. We’re seeking electric, political works in development by exciting artistic voices. We’re hungry to hear from artists of any level of experience, age, race, ability, gender, orientation, and class. We’re interested in the expression of your artistic voice in this submission process, so reach out and we’ll be happy to accomodate if you have specific access needs (for example, a video/audio submission, etc.). If this is your first time applying to a call for submissions, we strongly encourage you to reach out and ask questions. 

Unfortunately we will not be able to support all projects submitted, but we will acknowledge the submission by reply email within 48 hours. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, please email kyletheatre@hotmail.com to follow up.

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades recognizes that we are settlers on traditional Anishnabeg territory, and that this land remains contested and unceded by the Anishnabeg, the traditional guardians of this land.