2025 Commission Call for Proposals
Application Opens: January 22, 2025
Deadline: March 7, 2025
BACKGROUND
SAY THEIR NAMES: Remembering Black Americans Killed by Police Violence is a memorial and interactive map that tells the stories of the lives of Black Americans killed by police. As part of SAY THEIR NAMES (STN) and with the support of Healing Illinois, NON:op and Guild Literary Complex are commissioning two to three poet/composer teams to create new works in response to SAY THEIR NAMES — whether in response to individual cases, groups of cases, the map, or the entire project. Commissions will be publicly announced at the April 6, 2025 STN engagement salon and will be presented in a concert with other works in the Fall of 2025. Selected commissions will receive a total of $1,000 for their commissioned work. Additional funding and production assistance may be available for the performance.
APPLICATION OVERVIEW
Project proposals must be for an original work that is literary based (poetry, spoken word, or other written text) and that must include music or sound. Selected projects must be performative and time-based in nature, though they may include additional media such as visual art, video, or recorded materials. Collaborative teams are encouraged to apply together, however, a single artist may apply as long as the proposed commission is, at a minimum, literary based and includes music or sound.
This opportunity will be competitive with up to three commissions awarded. Each commission will be awarded $1,000. The duration of the commissioned work shall be between five and ten minutes.
Proposing artist(s) must demonstrate copyright ownership. Samples may be included in the commissioned work if appropriately licensed.
The adjudication panel will consist of one representative from NON:op, one representative from Guild Literary Complex, and one at-large judge.
Artists or teams may submit more than one proposal, however, only one proposal will be selected. If you would like to submit more than one proposal, you must fill out a separate application form for each proposal.
While not required, commissioned artists are strongly encouraged to attend the April 6 Public Announcement at Experimental Station in Woodlawn. Additional details will be forthcoming.
AWARD PAYMENTS
- Initial $500 will be paid on receipt of the signed commission agreement
- Final $500 will be paid on receipt of the completed commissioned work
APPLICATION TIMELINE AND REQUIREMENTS
- January 22: Application Opens
- March 7: Application Deadline
- March 21: Decision
- April 6: Public Announcement at the SAY THEIR NAMES Public Salon
- June 30: Commissions Completed
- Fall 2025: Public Presentation of Commissioned Works (date and location TBD)
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Application must be made using the online form located HERE. (Application questions are listed below.) All fields are required unless otherwise indicated.
You must include a description of your commission, how it relates to the SAY THEIR NAMES project, and the media you anticipate using (poetry, sound, etc.), in your commission—200 words or less, please!
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Please include one or more of the following support materials. You may provide a link to online documentation, upload a file or files through the form, or attach to your emailed proposal.
- Poetry/Spoken Word/Other Written Samples (PDF)
- Audio samples (mp3 files or online link) (please be sure that the sample is not password protected)
- Video samples (online link only) (please be sure that the sample is not password protected)
- Preliminary Sketches or Other Preliminary Details (pdf, word, or text document)
Information on the SAY THEIR NAMES project, proposal requirements, and application form may be found at https://www.nonopera.org/WP2/voices/say-their-names.
Please send your completed application form (if emailing) and questions to Christophe Preissing at stn@nonopera.org.
SAY THEIR NAMES 2025 Commission
Application Questions
Name (collaborator 1)
Email Address
Phone/Text
Website and/or Social Media
Name 2 (collaborator 2)
Email Address
Phone/Text
Website and/or Social Media
Commission Title (if known)
Anticipated Duration Anticipated Media (in addition to text & sound/music)
Project Description (please limit to 200 words)
Additional Questions or Comments (100 words)
Support Documentation (optional if you would like us to review your website or social media instead)
- Poetry/Spoken Word/Other Written Samples (PDF)
- Audio samples (mp3 files or online link)
- Video samples (online link only)
- Preliminary Sketches or Other Preliminary Details (pdf, word, or text document)