CALL FOR PROPOSALS

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: November 15, 2019 @ 5PM

CHOSEN APPLICANTS CONTACTED: December 4, 2019

We welcome proposals by artists/collectives/organizations from all disciplines including

but not limited to: Performance/ Exhibition/ Production/ Art Installation/ Community Events

In June of 2020 Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan (SOTS) will be opening our brand-new site, including
a permanent amphitheatre, bar/concession, box office, and dressing rooms. For this grand opening, we
will be adding a new initiative- our Guest Series! We are excited to open our gates and provide dates at
our venue to showcase a cohesive series of Saskatchewan events. The Guest Series will take place on all
Monday Nights from July 6 - Aug 10 as well as the entire week of July 20-26. Utilizing our mainstage
and/or throughout the site, this programming is intended for individuals or groups to showcase their
work and/or provide an event to the Saskatoon & Area community.
Those submitting proposals are encouraged to think outside the box and be bold when applying for this
additional programming. We are certainly interested in arts-based events but also are keen to hear
about any sport, culture, recreation programming or other exciting ways to animate this space. We
open the door to proposals from community organizations who would like to host a special event they
wish to provide to Saskatoon. In the tradition of our 35-year history, SOTS encourages people of all
backgrounds, experimentation, and risk-taking to apply!

The SOTS goal with this program is to open up our new space to a wide variety of
groups. There will be future opportunities for rentals outside of our season as well,
but these specific dates have been made available within our season in order to build
partnerships and provide an exciting offering for the public.

We highly encourage ALL interested parties to get in touch with Will Brooks, Artistic
Producer at SOTS to discuss their proposals prior to submission.

We are open to requests for single dates or multiple dates.

SOTS reserves the right to accept or decline any application at its sole discretion.
The Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan 2020 Festival
Guest Series Model
➢ Through Rental of our facilities (rental fees available upon request) selected groups will have
the opportunity to present their work to the public.
➢ Guest Series is assembled through an adjudication process to provide cohesiveness.
➢ Adjudication process will consider if proposal is in alignment with SOTS mission and principles
(see later)
➢ It is not the intention to present the work as the work of SOTS but instead to present the work
as a guest rental series facilitated by SOTS and its partner On The Boards Staging Company in an
effort to encourage accessibility to our new space.

SOTS can provide (at rental rates):

The Venue, available options include:

o Approx 270 seat Main Stage Theatre within our Festival tent.
o Community Stage area with a small performance stage, seats approximately 75 people.
o Courtyard which is central to Mainstage and Community Stage. Approximately 150 people
can be within this space at the same time comfortably.
o Patio which overlooks the river and seats approximately 25 people.
o The grounds along the secondary Meewasin Trail Path that runs throughout our site.
o Box Office Staff and the sale of tickets through our website and on Festival site. (all box office
revenue after fees goes to the artist/group
o Rental Rate sheet (available upon request)

Access to:

o Bar/Concession Staff and Supplies (sales of all sold go to SOTS)

o Access to dressing room facilities
o A lighting/sound technician to work lights and sound on the Mainstage (as needed)

Marketing:

• Advertising on our website for when tickets go on sale in February

• Advertising in our festival program (seen by all festival patrons)
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SELECTED
Individuals/Groups
Individuals/Groups who are selected for the available performance slots will be notified
by email by December 4, 2019.
Selected Individuals/Groups from this point on will be working with our third -party
management team On The Boards (OTB).
Individuals/Groups will be expected to:
✓ Confirm they have received the email and that they will perform in the 2020 SOTS Festival
within 2 business days.
✓ Sign contract, provide all ticket info, production description, advertising imagery for website &
technical requirements by January 2nd, 2020.
✓ Employ a collaborative approach with OTB and SOTS Festival, continuing to build and foster
positive working relationships with artistic community, community organizations, and general
public.
✓ Work with OTB to finalize exact project locations and working with them to realize potential
constraints.
✓ Provide images, written copy and project statements to the specifications of Marketing
Department when requested.
✓ Be available (upon Marketing department requests) to media for interviews (by email, phone,
and on-camera). While also taking personal responsibility to develop media releases and contact
media for interviews and promote ones show/piece.
✓ Pursue one’s own sponsorship and funding needed for the production (this is not the
responsibility of SOTS or OTB). As SOTS is a non-profit that relies on sponsorship, we require
that we be notified of all sponsors that the Artists/Groups plan to pursue and that these be
approved by the SOTS Marketing Department (please contact us if you need clarification).
✓ Pay all rental fees.
✓ Be responsible for all production duties and expenses.
✓ Be responsible for all union or other agreements appropriate to the event.
✓ Be responsible for all expenses, contracts, agreements or other arrangements to produce their
work.
✓ Be aware of and comfortable working with the stage layout and set pieces that will be in place
for the SOTS season – this information will not be available until the new year and as such all
projects must be flexible enough to accommodate.

Other

✓ Artist/Group/Organization will pay for all required rental fees.

✓ Artist/Group/Organization will obtain & provide proof of necessary insurance for their event.
✓ Artist/Group/Organization will receive ticket revenue for their event.
✓ SOTS will receive all Bar/Concession revenue from the event.
EXPECTED TIMELINE

•October 1: SOTS Call for Applications is released

•November 15: Call for Applications closes
•November 16 - 25: Potential interviews as needed
•November 25 - 30: Adjudication and Finalizing Projects by Artistic
Producer
2019 •December 4: Selected Artists/Groups/Organizations notified
•December 5- January 1: All required info submitted by those selected

•January 2: OTB has received Info required from those selected

•January 3 - 31: Ticketing, website, & program info implemented by
SOTS admin staff
•February 1: Tickets go on sale

2020 •July 6 - August 10: Selected Tech times and Performances take place
as schedule by OTB.

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan

Mission & Principles
Shakespeare On the Saskatchewan Festival, Inc. is a registered non-profit theatre company which
produces a minimum of two fully staged performances each summer during our Festival,
considerable number of outreach & special activities, and our Community Stage, the only summer-
long FREE performance venue for emerging local artists.
Our Mission: To mount professional productions of plays by William Shakespeare and other related
works, and to celebrate the skills and talents of Saskatchewan artists, in a manner accessible to all
Our Principles:
• To maintain our identity as a summer festival while exploring other venues for performance
• To be professional
• To employ local artists
• To maintain fiscal responsibility
• To be accessible
• To provide opportunities for other local performers
• To recognize the educational opportunities and benefits that Shakespeare on the
Saskatchewan can provide
 APPLICATION
All interested parties are encouraged to set up a phone call or in person meeting with SOTS to discuss
their proposal before they begin working on their application.

Project Submission must include the following information:

• One-page cover letter outlining your qualifications and experience

• A detailed project description (maximum 800 words)
• The performance area that you are intending for your performance with your submission
(Mainstage, Community Stage, Courtyard, Patio, Pathway or Grounds). Or any combination
thereof
• A brief description of how the project is funded
• Potential Installation and technical requirements (including diagrams if applicable)
• Support material as needed

NOTE:
• Submit proposal no later than November 15, 2019 @ 5PM
• Proposal must fulfill all the information requested above in order to be
eligible.
• SOTS rental info, contractual obligations, and tech details are available
upon request.

How to Submit:
Submission materials may be delivered by email, or for larger files Dropbox, WeTransfer, or other
suitable large file transfer service may be used. Include website URLs or .pdf copies of publications,
press clippings relevant to your proposal.

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for further discussion will be
contacted. Regarding the adjudication process, SOTS reserves the right to choose the
artists/collectives/organizations that they wish in order to ensure cohesive programming throughout
their Festival Season and in which is in line with our Mission & Principles.

For more information, please contact:

Will Brooks, Artistic Producer
(306) 653-2300 ext.222
ap@shakespearesask.com