2014 Call for Workshops & Presenters Great Labor Arts Exchange Including: Creative Organizing & Focus on Youth
This year’s events will be held at Montgomery College, where Takoma Park meets Silver Spring, June 20-22. Proposals should be submitted April 30st 2014. As labor artists, organizers, and cultural workers we gather annually to learn from each other and to reenergize individually and as a group through music, art, film, theater and workshops. This year our theme is “Carry it On: Celebrating the Life and Work of Pete Seeger;” and there will be an emphasis on the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer.
We are interested in proposals that build on best practices, shared and real life experiences. We also encourage proposals that promote multi-generational, cross-cultural, and cross movement solidarity and envision the future success of artists, cultural workers, and creative organizers. If your voice, experience, and struggle will make a dynamic, interactive workshop to enhance our collective and our network, we invite you to submit your workshop proposals.
We are also looking for presenters/instructors for Focus on Youth. Presenters/Instructors are asked to submit short simple lesson ideas that will help the young explore union/labor history and culture, social justice, human rights, and civil rights through the creative arts. Unlike other summer experiences, Focus on Youth also includes unique and powerful explorations of progressive movements. Workshop lessons should be interactive in nature and can be as creative as you are!!
Proposals should be submitted now through April 30, 2014. We encourage you to submit your proposals early.
Important Information
We are looking for workshops/presentations that will create an atmosphere where the arts and culture of the labor movement are highlighted creating useful tools for strengthening the movement and our work on the ground; using cultural tools to combat fear and inject “excitement” into union, community, and political campaigns.
The Great Labor Arts Exchange is a supportive space that uses arts, culture, and creative organizing for movement convergence, movement collaboration, and relationship building. We are looking for workshops and presentations that will be invigorating, dynamic, and insightful. We are particularly interested in workshops that encourage audience participation, skills building, networking, and participant take-a-ways (meaning something participants can use at work, in the community, at home and in their lives).
Guidelines & Procedures for Workshops/Presentation Proposals
- Present material in a manner accessible to all educational levels.
- We encourage interactive and popular education formats. However, the final presentation format is up to the presenter.
- Multigenerational presenters are encouraged to foster intergenerational continuity.
- Action steps, skill building, visions and solutions are key. We strive for a good mix of both issues-based and skill-share workshops.
- Inclusion of an artist or cultural worker in your event to foster alternative forms of facilitation and methods that address the multiple ways in which individuals learn and retain information is highly desirable.
Submission procedure
Proposals may be submitted by anyone; final workshop selection will be from registered participants/organizations.
- Submit your proposal for the Arts Exchange by April 30, 2014. You are encouraged to submit early.
- We prefer proposals to be submitted electronically to KNewman@Laborheritage.org. However, you may also submit proposals on paper at the following address:
Workshop Proposal Submission
815 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
- Register and pay for yourself/organization using the registration form or online at www.laborheritage.org
- Notification of acceptance to present at the 2014 GLAE including creative Organizing and Focus on Youth will be communicated to the contact person listed on the proposal. The final list of accepted proposals will be posted after the final submission date.
Sponsoring Organization and Presenter Responsibilities
- Register and attend the Great Labor Arts Exchange.
- Cover own expenses for travel and lodging to and from the event.
- Provide up-to-date contact information leading up to the event.
- Notify LHF of any changes in content, format, names, or numbers of presenters after proposal has been accepted
- Agree that the focus of the workshop will not be exclusively selling products or services.
- Submit any resources or materials presented during the workshop (handouts, links, etc.) to the Labor Heritage Foundation immediately following the conference for possible posting on the website. Electronic format preferred
- LHF will provide supplies and equipment, such as flip charts, markers, projectors, cables. Presenters should bring laptops, copies of handouts, or other presentation specific materials. Additional limited supplies will be available for those needing them; please contact our office with your requests directly.