Downstage is now seeking submissions for programming for the 2010-2011 season in Motel, a flexible 56-seat black-box performance venue located in the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts. Emerging and established artists and performing arts companies working in all disciplines who are interested in showcasing their work in Motel are invited to submit proposals for consideration. Unfortunately, as demand for the space generally exceeds the time available, we will not necessarily be able to program all submissions.

Upon the successful scheduling of a proposal, artists/companies will be contacted to arrange more specific details of the tenancy. In partnership with the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, Downstage is committed to ensuring Motel is highly affordable and accessible for Alberta's arts community. However, all work programmed maintains its autonomy, with no mandatory co-production arrangement. All work to be presented in Motel will be featured on the new Motel website, scheduled to launch in September.

We will respond to all proposals once scheduling decisions have been made.

Interested artists/companies are asked to submit a project proposal at least one page in length describing the work to be presented, the artists involved, the ideal presentation dates (please give more than one option) and why Motel is the venue of choice for the project. Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis until all available dates are filled; however, tentative scheduling of projects will begin on June 1st and we anticipate availability to become limited very quickly. We are primarily seeking proposals for one or two week time slots, though shorter projects will also be considered. A weekly booking in Motel runs Sunday to Saturday, unless otherwise noted.

At present, available weeks are as follows (* denotes weeks which are tentatively programmed but may become available):

August 29-September 4
September 5-September 11
September 12-September 18
September 19-September 25
September 26-October 2
October 3-October 9
October 10-October 16
October 17-October 24 (Sunday)

November 28-December 4
December 5-December 11*
December 12-December 18*

February 6-February 12*
February 13-February 19*
February 20-February 26
February 27-March 6 (Sunday)

April 17-April 23
April 24-April 30
May 1-May 7
May 8-May 14
May 15-May 21

May 29-June 4
June 5-June 11
June 12-June 18
June 19-June 25

July 18 (Monday)-July 23
July 24-July 30
July 31-August 6
August 7-August 13
August 14-August 20
August 21-August 27

For more information on EPCOR CENTRE's Motel and to see a ground plan of the space, visit www.downstage.ca/motel.html. Downstage also operates birds and stone, an affordable venue for rehearsals and performance - visit www.downstage.ca/birds.html for more information.

Please send any questions and submit proposals by e-mail to Downstage Artistic Producer Simon Mallett at simon@downstage.ca. Thank you for your interest.