The 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival R.A.W.! Calling for Commissioned Works of Stage Performing Arts
Established in 2012, China Shanghai International Arts Festival Rising Artists’ Works program (hereinafter referred to as R.A.W.!) is a leading comprehensive original artwork incubation platform in China. It provides young artists with high-quality soil for their all-round growth and mutual collaboration, and has set up a broad platform for international cooperation. In 2023, R.A.W.! established Visual Arts project. To this day, R.A.W.! has commissioned 118 young Chinese artists in various fields and created 100 diversified original artworks. Close connection has been made between R.A.W.! and Asia Society, USA; Budapest Spring Festival, Hungary; Southbank Centre, UK; New Vision Arts Festival, Hong Kong; and Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Romania. For 29 times, R.A.W.!'s commissioned works have been showcased in USA, Hungary, UK, Australia, Isarel, Norway, Romania, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong China, etc.
In 2025, R.A.W.! will play a greater role as a platform, promote the incubation and display of global young artists' works of stage performing arts and visual arts, and reflect the new developments, trends and characteristics of this field. All artists in the world under 45 years old (45 included) are welcomed to apply for R.A.W.!, including but not limited to professional young artists, amateur young artists, and curators. Both individuals and teams are accepted. Encourage and support the submission of debut works and premieres, integrating art and technology works.
The selected artists will receive multi-aspect support in work/project production funds, premiere venue, technical equipment, and publicizing, and may receive one-on-one guidance from arts panel formed by leading figures in each discipline. To promote cultural exchange among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and to support young artists from these countries, R.A.W.! encourages submissions of works created by individuals or teams from Belt and Road countries, or works that reflect the themes of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Stage Performing Arts
I. Requirements
Theme unlimited, works shall display a distinct creativity with unique artistic style and explores the relationships between the present, the society, the audience, and the performing space. The content shall be artistic, meaningful, and pleasing to the eye, with nothing in defiance of Chinese laws and regulations.
II.Terms of commission
1. The applicant submitting a work of stage performing arts (music, dance, drama/opera, etc.) shall have professional competence, and be able to create independently and lead a professional team to complete the entire process from creation, design and production to performance.
2. Length of the work: 30-60 minutes; no limit on form or theme; no more than 10 actors; no more than 15 crew members including technicians and management. For works created by artists or art groups from the Belt and Road Initiative countries and regions, or works related to the Belt and Road Initiative theme, the length of the works can be 20 - 60minutes.
3. The work shall be original; the applicant must ensure that he or she owns the copyright of the independent creation, which has never won an award in any competition, and has not been published or performed in public.
III. How to apply
Only email application is accepted for the commissioned works of stage performing arts. The applicant shall send complete application materials (see the ”What to have ready” part for details) to youngtalents@163.com, with "2025 Commission Application + Genre+ Applicant Name" as email subject. Netdisk download links and passwords of audio and video files written in email body are highly appreciated.
IV. What to have ready
1. Complete Application Form for the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival (2025) R.A.W.! Commissioned Works
2. 1 or 2 recent photos of the applicant.
3. Videos, audios, media reviews and the comments of previous works.
4. For drama works, the applicant shall submit a complete script or outline and a no-less-than-5-minute video clip (No lower than 720P) of script reading or audition piece; for musical works, a music sore or a no-less-than-5-minute audio file; for dance works, a complete structure description and a no-less-than-5-minute video clip (No lower than 720P) of dance piece; for fusion and others, an outline and a sample/samples.
5. For non-Chinese-language works, please submit an English version or an English translation of the above application materials.
6. The total size of application materials shall not exceed 1GB.
V.Deadline for Application
March 31st, 2025 (subject to the time when the email is received)
VI. How to evaluate after your submission
The selection for this year's R.A.W.! Commissioned Works of Stage Performing Arts consists of two stages: first-round review and second-round review.
The first-round review is conducted through online material browsing; the second round review is conducted through onsite/online presentation and Q&As.
After the selection is completed, a list of selected commissioned works will be released. The expert panel offers guidance and assessment opinions regarding the artistry, creativity, feasibility and rationality of the commissioned artist's works.
The selected works will be premiered in China Shanghai International Arts Festival Rising Artists’ Works. The copyright of all selected works shall be shared by the author and the organizer, who both own the rights and interests of the selected works' premieres (including but not limited to sponsorship, ticketing, photography and videography).
VII. Contact
XU Xin
Tel: 0086-21-52654032
Fax: 0086-21-52654026
Email: youngtalents@163.com
Note:
The organizer reserves the right to final interpretation of the program.
For more information, please visit the WeChat account: RAW_CSIAF (RAW扶持青年艺术家计划).