Snug Harbor has been a springboard for visual and performing artists since the 1970’s through artist residencies and opportunities to incubate new work. We support emerging and established artists from all over NYC and the region, and at times international artists. Two 19^th-century cottages transform into live/work accommodations with access to dance studios, studio space, gardens and grounds. Additionally, the Snug Harbor Studio Program provides long-term studio rentals for visual artists, musicians and creatives in buildings across the campus.

2023 PASS Open Call

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (Snug Harbor) is excited to announce its annual open call for the Performing Arts Salon Saturdays (PASS) artist residency and performance program. Snug Harbor is soliciting applications to select four (4) residencies* that will support the creation and development of new works in dance, music, theater, and multi-disciplinary performance.

PASS is a unique, sought-after opportunity in offering space for living, creating, and presenting new performance work in New York City. Snug Harbor is proud of its role as an arts incubator for artists to explore new dimensions in their practice.

*Note: an additional PASS artist is selected in partnership with the CUNY Dance Initiative, with a separate application process currently closed.

LOCATION

PASS residencies take place at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, located on Staten Island’s North Shore. Easily reachable via public transportation, Snug Harbor is a 10-minute bus ride from the free Staten Island Ferry (runs 24/7). For more information, please visit: https://snug-harbor.org/visit/directions/

SNUG HARBOR’S ARTISTIC VISION

Snug Harbor is a springboard for artistry that is bold and unexpected, which reflects and celebrates the vibrant diversity of Staten Island. We explore collaborative and interdisciplinary connections between the historical, cultural and environmental aspects of our campus.

PASS PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• Provide space and support for performing artists at different stages in their careers to develop and deepen their craft
• Incubate discourse and community engagement around new ideas and artistic expression
• Cultivate a supportive environment for artists to take creative risks in their process, practice, and vision

AWARD

• Selected artists receive $1500.00 residency and performance honorarium
• Selected artists receive up to 100 hours of rehearsal time in the Dance Center (scheduling contingent upon availability). Learn more about our dance studios: https://snug-harbor.org/dancecenter/
• Selected artists receive 1-month access in private residence to one historic cottage located on Snug Harbor’s campus, preceding their culminating performance/public showing

ELIGIBILITY

• This call is free and open to all NYC-based artists (artists living and/or consistently working in NYC metropolitan area) with a demonstrated history of creating original works in live performance: dance, music/sound composition, theater, and multi-disciplinary
• Artists must be 18 or over to apply
• Artists who are or will be enrolled in a college or university degree-granting program between August 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 are not eligible to apply
• Previous PASS artists are not eligible to apply

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Selected artists are required to develop their proposed project at Snug Harbor during the agreed upon residency timeframe
• Selected artists are required to meet with curatorial staff a minimum of 3 times: 1x prior to residency, at least 2x during residency (can be arranged via Zoom)
• Selected artists are required to present their work during a culminating, work-in-progress public performance. Artists should commit to presenting at least 30 minutes of material (with a recommended limit of 45-50 minutes). While in person programs offer a unique experience for all, virtual program ideas will be considered as part of this presentation
• Selected artists are required to participate in a talkback session (a “Q & A”) with the audience, moderated by the VP of Curation, following the performance
• Selected artists are asked to participate in a blog post and/or social media engagement (ex. blog post interview or other writing/media, IG live, IG reel, etc.) during their residency
• Selected artists are required to complete an exit survey at the end of their residency

CRITERIA

• Application Narrative (40%)
  • Project proposal is aesthetically compelling and clearly articulates themes and ideas motivating the applicant’s workApplicant demonstrates a history of committing to, producing and completing quality performance work that is bold, socially relevant, and pushes forward new ideas and artistic expressionApplicant communicates goals that are feasible within the residency timeframe and appropriate to program objectives and the organization’s mission

• Artistic Merit – Work Sample (40%)
  • Work sample reflects rigor and originality in aesthetic voice

• Site Responsiveness (20%)
  • Project proposal considers and/or is in conversation with the historical, cultural and environmental aspects of our mission. This does not have to be overt in the project’s intended outcome but should contribute to the processThe project’s size, scale, and technical needs are appropriate to the spaces and resources available at Snug Harbor. Please note that this is a low-tech format in a non-traditional space. Basic light and sound equipment is availableWork sample demonstrates the artist’s ability to successfully translate their written ideas and vision into their performance practice

SELECTION PROCESS

A juried panel comprised of Snug Harbor staff and arts professionals will select the awarded projects.

TIMELINE

Applications are due by Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST. All applicants will be notified by May 20, 2023. Residencies will begin in Fall 2023. 

APPLICATION INFO SESSION

Snug Harbor staff will host two PASS application information sessions:

Tuesday, March 14 at 2:00 PM
Thursday, March 16 at 5:30 PM

Both sessions will be held via Zoom. We will share the recorded info session via our YouTube page as a tool for prospective applicants. We encourage all applicants to familiarize themselves with Snug Harbor’s campus before applying to this opportunity.

APPLICATION CHECK-LIST

The following application materials should be submitted via Google Form (link below) by Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST

1. Completed application form. The application form on Google has three sections:
   • Eligibility
   • Applicant Information: Short and long form responses
   • Work sample: one video or sound link of the applicant’s existing original work (video preferred; no more than 5-minutes in length). Please include hyperlink via Vimeo, YouTube, Dropbox, Soundcloud, etc. If password protected, please include password. If the video is longer than five minutes, please indicate viewing cue
2. Demographics Survey: We invite all applicants to fill out a brief demographics survey. This information is used for internal assessment and evaluation as we work toward facilitating processes that are more equitable. Your responses in this section will be kept confidential and will not be shared with the selection panel (except for an anonymous, aggregate snapshot of applicant demographics). All questions in this section are optional

For questions regarding your application, please email Shawna Salmon at ssalmon@snug-harbor.org

PASS: Performing Arts Salon Saturdays is made possible through generous lead support from the Howard Gilman Foundation, with additional support from the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Snug Harbor is a proud partner with the CUNY Dance Initiative.

Image credit:
odon, 2016 PASS artists in residence
Maho Ogawa, 2021 Porch Plays artist