Mad House open call for 2024
*Opencall in English here
The open call for the 2024 programme of Mad House Helsinki has opened.
Mad House's future performance space on the 6th floor of Tekstin Haus, Lintulahdenkatu 3.
In autumn 2023, Mad House Helsinki will open a new performance space in Sörnäinen, Helsinki, as part of the House of Text. The space is accessible and located at Lintulahdenkatu 3, on the 6th floor of the building.
The current open call is open until Fri 31.3.2023 and is open until 2024 . As the contract for the new space was only confirmed in February, the programme for autumn 2023 will be made up of invited works and previously agreed collaborations.
The performance space in the House of Text is used by Mad House for 6 months each year. In 2024, productions in the performance space will take place in February-May and September-October. Alongside the performance space, Mad House will continue to run its programming year-round in other performance spaces and online. Mad House provides a stage for performing artists from a wide range of backgrounds. We aim to create space for new forms of performance and bridges between the arts.
Proposals for the 2024 open call can be submitted in two categories
Works set in the Mad House performance space for February-May or September-October
Works in other spaces (e.g. urban space) for which schedules can be negotiated
Proposals can take the form of partial productions of premieres, visits, events or workshops, for example. The call is open to professional artists. Works produced in the context of education, such as theses, are not included.
The programme is co-curated by Maija Mustonen and Anne Naukkarinen. Mustonen is primarily responsible for works in performance spaces and other physical spaces, while Naukkarinen is responsible for works that use the online environment. A separate call for online works will open in autumn 2023. You can meet the curators and Mad House staff at here.
On production:
The resources for each partnership are discretionary and negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The Mad House partial production grant may vary from year to year. As a general rule, production collaborations require a self-financing contribution from the teams.
The allocation of sub-production aid is negotiated on a work-by-work basis.
In addition, Mad House offers:
Performance space on the 6th floor of the Text House. The working time in the space and the number of performances will be agreed on a work-by-work basis.
Curatorial support per work.
Mad House's presentation technology.
Technician's work approx. 2 working days to build the technology and 1 working day to dismantle it, the presentation time is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
The producer's work to make the show happen at Mad House.
Communications and marketing (Mad House website, social media & other channels).
For photographic works (3-5 images).
Ticket sales and the orderly management of performances.
Licence and copyright fees.
Under the cheapest option, travel costs in the home country.
Inquiries: maija@madhousehelsinki.fi and emmi@madhousehelsinki.fi
Maija Mustonen will answer inquiries related to artistic content and Emmi Vainio will answer questions related to production and space. Emmi can be contacted on weekdays between 10-16 at 044 791 5944 (call back if necessary).
We will arrange a meeting with the curators and production staff on Tue 14.3.2023 at 14.00-15.30 at Café Bruket upstairs (Kaikukatu 4B, Helsinki). The premises of Tekstin Haus are under renovation, so unfortunately it is not possible to visit the performance space. Please let us know in advance if you are coming emmi@madhousehelsinki.fi.
How to search:
Send your proposal to curators@madhousehelsinki.fi by Fri 31.3. EDIT Selections will be made by the end of August 2023.
Message titled: Open call 2024
Content:
free-form proposal 1 A4 (pdf)
CVs (combined in one pdf)
financial plan (pdf)
links to websites and work samples (please include these at the end of your free-form proposal)
technical implementation plan, if known (pdf)
Write clearly at the beginning of your free-form proposal:
the type of performance (premiere, visit, workshop, etc.)
search category 1) Mad House performance space or 2) other space, specify which
preferred date and time
working group and contact person
other production partnerships
Please attach a maximum of one A4-length proposal and other attachments as pdf files. Do not write anything in the text field of the email.
Language: we accept applications in Finnish and English.
Information about the presentation style:
Mad House's new performance space is located at Lintulahdenkatu 3, 00530 Helsinki, in the so-called Elannon block. The space is located on the 6th floor and is accessible. The same space was previously used as a lighting studio for the Theatre Academy, which means that the space is basically a black box type of performance space. At one end there are small windows which can be covered if necessary. The side walls have black curtains. The window header has a fixed screen. The flooring is plywood, which can be covered with black or white dance mats.
The performance space is a rectangular open space, approximately 16m x 7m. It has a height of about 8m and long sides with technical bridges (lower space). There are approx. 36 dimming channels and 4-6 longitudinally movable suspension lines. The space does not have a fixed grandstand but can be arranged according to the needs of the work. The capacity of the space will be 250 people, but the realistic capacity per work is around 50-100 people. The Mad House's current performance technology can be found here. The technology will be updated in the spring. More information about the space (photos and floor plans) can be found at emmi@madhousehelsinki.fi.
