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UNO and Local Nonprofits Partner to Launch New Performing Arts Ventures to Expand Access to the Arts in North Omaha

Local and regional performing and sound artists and students can apply by Jan. 31.

  • published: 2023/12/13
  • contact: Kaylea Kuhlman - Partners for a Livable Omaha
  • email: kaylea@livable.org

Local and regional performing artists and students have two new opportunities to apply to participate in community events taking place in early May 2024 in two North Omaha neighborhoods.

Open call applications are available for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)-led SOUNDSPARK and the two-day Pull Up and Vibe Open Mic Festival at www.OmahaMobileStage.org.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2024. There is no fee to apply. Selected artists will be featured in May at free public events held in Omaha’s Benson Creative District and along Omaha’s North 24th Street.

Current UNO students are strongly encouraged to join TAPEnsemble in order to participate, but it is not required.

All submissions will be considered.


SOUNDSPARK

SOUNDSPARK, led by UNO's School of Music, is a brand new sound art event in Omaha. “SOUNDSPARK is about activating familiar public spaces with new auditory experiences,” said Seth Shafer, Ph.D., assistant professor of music at UNO. “We are bringing together students from UNO, sound artists from the region, and community members from across Omaha to present sound installations that invite public participation.”

The public open call for this event invites artworks centered on sound as well as works integrating any combination of the visual, conceptual, and performative with the aural that activate, catalyze, inspire, and surprise.

Anticipated work will likely consist of sculptures, environments, performances, and installations.

SOUNDSPARK will take place in the historic Benson Creative District during Benson First Friday on May 3, 2024, from 6-10 P.M. To apply for SOUNDSPARK, visit www.OmahaMobileStage.org.

SOUNDSPARK is organized by UNO’s TAPEnsemble, Omaha Mobile Stage, BFF Omaha, and the Benson Creative District. Dundee Bank is a sponsor.

“TAPEnsemble is excited to be partnering with Omaha Mobile Stage again after working together to create Noisefest last May 2023,” said Shafer. “It’s so important to give students new creative opportunities in their city while connecting them with the broader professional and artist community.”

Public sound art installations are artistic projects that use sound as the primary medium. They are designed to encourage the general public to explore familiar environments that have been activated by novel, often interactive sound-making artwork. SOUNDSPARK aims to engage and interact with the Benson community by creating immersive auditory experiences in various indoor or outdoor environments.

TAPEnsemble and collaborators will be organizing, running, and presenting work in SOUNDSPARK. TAPEnsemble is a student technology-oriented artist-creator collective anchored in the UNO Music Technology program. The organizers will conduct an open call for community artist participants. Selected artists will receive modest compensation for their work and access to a maker space for building their installations. TAPEnsemble members will also be developing and presenting original sound installations at SOUNDSPARK.


Pull Up and Vibe Open Mic Festival

Pull Up and Vibe (PUAV) Open Mic Festival invites all performing artists and vendors with a passion for making a positive impact in the North Omaha community. The festival is on the lookout for talented local and regional artists to headline their 2024 calendar. “By partnering with Pull Up and Vibe, you can not only elevate your influence, but also add value to the vibrant tapestry of our community,” said Keiria Marsha, director and curator of the Pull Up and Vibe festival. “We're thrilled to collaborate with artists who want to make a difference.”

PUAV is a project of Collaborative Creative Visions, in partnership with Omaha Mobile Stage, BFF Omaha, Benson Creative District, Healing Roots African Diaspora Garden, North Omaha Trail, Skatefest Omaha, and Icon One Recording Studio.

Selected headliners from the open call will perform on May 3 and 4, 2024, at the Pull Up and Vibe Open Mic Music Festival in the Benson Creative District and at the Healing Roots African Diaspora Garden at 3617 North 24th Street.

This dynamic open mic two-day festival is an ode to the diverse tapestry of talents thriving within our communities. During the festival, performers from all walks of life gather to share their artistic expressions. From music to spoken word and beyond, Pull Up and Vibe warmly welcomes artists from every genre and discipline, creating an inclusive space for creativity and collaboration.

”We're bringing you an event that celebrates cultural richness,” said Marsha. “This year's Pull Up and Vibe promises a welcoming and supportive environment, providing a stage where every artist's unique voice can resonate. Whether you're a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, this festival is your opportunity to shine.”

Performing artists and vendors can apply for Pull Up and Vibe now at www.OmahaMobileStage.org.


About Omaha Mobile Stage & Partners for Livable Omaha

Omaha Mobile Stage is a mobile, community venue for performing artists of all ages, and a teaching venue to train the next generation of creatives. For more information, visit omahamobilestage.org. Omaha Mobile Stage is a project of Partners for Livable Omaha, an Omaha-based nonprofit dedicated to the educational and charitable support of the live performing arts. For more information, visit livable.org.