Participate in ARTS FIRST 2024!
Harvard’s annual ARTS FIRST Festival is one of the largest collegiate arts festivals in the country. In 2024, we will present a variety of hybrid and in-person on-campus events celebrating the creativity of Harvard's community. Students, faculty, staff, and alums are invited to join in the festivities by performing or presenting their artwork, publicizing their own independently-produced arts events and exhibitions happening during the festival dates, or joining the team of festival volunteers.
Apply to Perform
Apply here to perform in Into the Wild: An ARTS FIRST Drag Show.
Calling all performers in all performing arts genres to participate in Into the Wild: An ARTS FIRST Drag Show, emcee'd by critically acclaimed drag queen, artist, environmentalist and LGBTQ+ activist Pattie Gonia, and featuring performances and fashion inspired by, and in celebration of, nature and the outdoors! This is the first-ever ARTS FIRST Drag Show. Participation is open to all Harvard students, staff, faculty and alums. No prior drag experience necessary. All participants are required to be in drag and to include some aspect of environmental/outdoors appreciation and/or sustainability in costumes, content, etc.
The event takes place Thursday, April 25, 7:30-9pm in the Science Center Plaza Tent.
Presented by the OFA in partnership with Common Spaces, Harvard College Office of BGLTQ Student Life, and Harvard Office for Sustainability.
Theme
Into the Wild: A drag event where the performance and fashion are inspired by, and in celebration of, nature, the outdoors and environmental sustainability.
Mission
Reuse, Repurpose, Reimagine: We encourage and celebrate the use of repurposed unconventional materials in your performance concepts. Materials from Harvard’s surplus and recycling center will be made available to all performers who request them.
Requirements
• All applicants must be available Thursday, April 25, 7:30-9pm plus an afternoon rehearsal (time TBD).
• Each applicant's performance can be up to 10 minutes long.
• All performances must address the theme and mission of this event in some way (costume, content, etc.)
• All performing arts genres and art forms welcome.
• No prior drag experience necessary.
• This free event will welcome audience members of all ages, open to the public and livestreamed.
Apply here to perform in the 2024 ARTS FIRST Performance Fair.
Final deadline: January 24, 2024
The Performance Fair is a dynamic one-day celebration of the performing arts, featuring simultaneous performances in many venues around Harvard's campus throughout the day on Saturday, April 27, 2024. All Harvard affiliates (undergraduate and graduate students, staff, alums, faculty, visiting researchers, etc.) are welcome to apply.
Volunteer
Apply here to volunteer for ARTS FIRST 2024. Join the ARTS FIRST festival team as a volunteer! Volunteers help the ARTS FIRST Performance Fair run smoothly by helping set up or put away chairs, music stands, and signs; greet visitors and provide basic directions to performance venues; check in performers; and other tasks as needed.
In advance of the festival, volunteers may help deliver ARTS FIRST guides and t-shirts to various locations on the Harvard campus, or organize festival materials.
All volunteers receive an ARTS FIRST t-shirt, free snacks, and the opportunity to see exciting ARTS FIRST performances.
Publicity
Apply here to publicize your arts event or exhibition in the ARTS FIRST Festival Program and online calendar of events.
Final deadline: March 8, 2024
Funding
Funding for your ARTS FIRST project is available through the OFA's Project Grant Program. The deadline for applying for Spring 2024 project grants was December 7.
Questions? Contact Marin Orlosky, ARTS FIRST Coordinator.