POPLARISM! – A digital arts festival celebrating the centenary of the Poplar Rates Rebellion of 1921.
The Finborough Theatre and Poplar Union are inviting anyone with a connection to the Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Kensington and Chelsea to submit a proposal outlining their creative response to the events of 1921.
This is an open call out to celebrate and showcase the creativity of both our communities and is an opportunity for those who do and don’t consider themselves ‘artists’. Whether you’re a musician, an actor or a teacher who likes to paint in their spare time, we want to hear from you! Applicants should respond to the theme as naturally and instinctively as possible, though the work should be in some way a response to the events, personalities and issues of 1921 – though this is very much open to interpretation. We’re absolutely not looking for a historical saga. This can be from people of any age and can be presented in any way – music, dance, a performance, drawing, poem, talk, zine, anything that can be presented digitally.
The programming teams at Poplar Union and the Finborough Theatre will select 10 submissions (5 from Tower Hamlets, and 5 from Kensington and Chelsea) to receive a micro-commission of £300 each to put towards the creation of the work. The artists selected will also receive guidance and support from the Poplar Union and the Finborough Theatre in developing their piece.
Poplarism! is a unique collaboration between two very different venues in two very different parts of London – the recently opened arts and community space, Poplar Union, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, one of London’s most deprived boroughs, and the long-established Finborough Theatre, located in one of London’s wealthiest areas, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The two venues are now joining together in a spirit of cross-London partnership and reconciliation to celebrate this milestone in London’s history.
When’s the festival?
Saturday, 1 May 2021 to Tuesday, 4 May 2021
The winning submissions will be streamed online – submissions from Tower Hamlets will be streamed on Finborough Theatre’s YouTube/digital channels, and submissions from Kensington and Chelsea will be streamed on Poplar Union’s YouTube/digital channels.
There will also be QandA sessions online every day during the festival with the artists involved.
Useful Dates
Festival announced 18 January 2021
Submissions open 1 February 2021
Submissions close deadline 15 March 2021
Winning submissions announced 1 April 2021
Winning submissions submitted 24 April 2021
To apply or find out more information, visit the Finborough Theatre’s website here.
Deadline: 15 March 2021
Source: Finborough Theatre