Call for Submissions

Native Earth, in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, announce an open call for submissions for 2-Spirit, Queer and Trans-identified Indigenous Artists to take part in the fifth annual

2-Spirit Cabaret

The 2-Spirit Cabaret is an evening celebrating performers through music, dance, spoken word, drag, performance art, poetry and comedy. In previous years, this evening of live performance would coincide with Native Earth’ Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival; this year, we have moved the Cabaret to June 2021 with an additional artistic development component. 

The fifth edition of the 2-Spirit Cabaret will be presented in June 2021 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, as part of Buddies in Bad Times’ Queer Pride Festival. While we hope to be able to have in-person programming by June 2021, the 2-Spirit Cabaret will be responsive to Public Health directives and artists’ comfort levels. For this year’s iteration, we are considering artists in the Greater Toronto Area. 

All participating artists will be offered Masterclasses to further develop their craft, taking place between February – May 2021. Artists will be paid a total of $1100.00, which includes the development phase of their projects, and a presentation fee.


Deadline to Submit
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2021
11:59 PM

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please submit a one-page Letter of Interest describing your proposed performance piece (5-7 minutes in length) and connection to 2-Spirit and/or queer / trans experience or identity.  In order for a submission to be eligible, the primary artist(s) must identify as Indigenous.

 Please also include with your submission:

  • Name, Address, Phone number, Email address;
  • High resolution headshot in JPG, PNG or EPS format;
  • 100 word bio;
  • Your Indigenous identity and/or Nation;
  • A writing sample (up to 5 pages) or video (up to 5 minutes) for the proposed piece.

Please submit your Letter of Interest and the required support material by email to [email protected] with the subject line: 2-Spirit Cabaret Submission.

Projects will be selected by a committee, headed by an invited curator and host for the Cabaret (to be announced). 


For questions or accommodation requests related to the 2-Spirit Cabaret submission process, please email Daniel Carter, Interim Programming Director at Buddies at [email protected].

If telephone is preferred, please call Daniel at 416-975-9130 x31 (Office Hours December 3, 10, 17, 2020 from 10 AM – 6 PM).

Learn more about Weesageechak Begins To Dance Festival here; and learn more about the 2-Spirit Cabaret here. 


Header image features (L to R) Midnight Wolverine, Tygr Willy, Red Rhythm & Blues (Valentina Morell & Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone), Jennifer Alicia Murrin, Brian Solomon, photos by Connie Tsang