Rattlestick Theater is pleased to announce the 2024 edition of Global Forms, a festival showcasing the work of immigrant theater artists.
The 2024 edition will take place June 7-9, 2024 at Rattlestick’s beloved home in the West Village, located at 224 Waverly Place. Global Forms will include a bountiful mix of performances, panels, affinity groups, and community events. A centerpiece of the festival will be three in-progress performances of Draupadi - an 18 Nights/ Mahabharata Project Play by actor and writer Mahira Kakkar, with dramaturgy by Amrita Ramanan and directed by Associate Artistic Director at Studio Theatre Danilo Gambini.
Additionally, micro-grants in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to five immigrant theater artists based in New York City. Applications open April 5th and close April 30th. Recipients will be given an opportunity to present a sample of their work during the Global Forms weekend.
“Global Forms is an incredible example of using theater to create action,” said Rattlestick’s Artistic Director Will Davis. “It was created as a direct response to the needs of immigrant artists at the height of the pandemic. Over five years, it has grown into a platform that not only showcases work, but fosters community through mentorships and dialogue between different pockets of New York City-based artists.”
The 2024 edition of Global Forms will be programmed and supported by a team of accomplished immigrant theater artists who will bring insight, mentorship, and expertise to every aspect of the weekend. The curators include director Tea Alagic, theatermaker James Clements, costume designer Mel Ng, director Mei Ann Teo, Associate Artistic Director at Studio Theatre Danilo Gambini, and actor and writer Mahira Kakkar.
Global Forms was created in 2020 to meet the urgent, specific needs of immigrant artists during the pandemic. Since its inception, Global Forms has grown to a major annual event that has hired over 150 artists from 50+ countries.
Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH
3:00 - 5:00 pm
Kick-off Happy Hour & Artist Speed-Networking
Join us as we kick off Global Forms! Come enjoy drinks and snacks with the Global Forms curators and the Rattlestick staff. And get to know each other with an optional Speed-Networking activity for immigrant artists in the community.
at the Greenwich House Music School
46 Barrow St. New York, NY 10014
Free to attend // RSVP required
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Draupadi - an 18 Nights/ Mahabharata Project Play
written and performed by Mahira Kakkar
at Rattlestick Theater
224 Waverly Pl. New York, NY 10014
Tickets are free
SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH
12:00 - 3:00 pm
Immigrant Artist Panel Series
Panel 1: The O-1/ EB-1 Process
A conversation and Q&A with artists and immigration lawyers who specialize in helping artists with their Visa processes.
Panel 2: The Freelance Arts Career
Featuring Liz Peterson & special guests
A conversation and Q&A with immigrant freelancers who have experience to share about how to navigate artist statements, creative branding, and the balance between what's on your visa form and what's industry standard.
Panel 3: How to Reach Your Audience: Producing and Generating Theater in America
Keynote with Clint Ramos
A conversation about staying true to your identity and finding your platform as an artist.
All panels will take place at Rattlestick Theater
224 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10014
Free to attend
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Draupadi - an 18 Nights/ Mahabharata Project Play
written and performed by Mahira Kakkar
at Rattlestick Theater
224 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10014
Tickets are free
SUNDAY, JUNE 9TH
3:00pm - 4:30 pm
Draupadi - an 18 Nights/ Mahabharata Project Play
written and performed by Mahira Kakkar
at Rattlestick Theater
224 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10014
Tickets are free
4:30pm - 6:30pm
Chay Yew Seed Grants for Immigrant Artists Presentations & Potluck Dinner
Rattlestick Theater will showcase the five winners of this year’s Chay Yew Seed Grants for Immigrant Artists. Each artist will be provided a platform to talk about and showcase their winning project. Close out the Global Forms festival with a community Potluck dinner. Come break bread and share a table with all the festival attendees and presenters from the weekend. And an open mic is available for all who are interested in sharing work with the group.
at Rattlestick Theater (courtyard)
224 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10014
Free to attend
Curation Team
Currently the curation team consists of Tea Alagic, James Clements, Mel Ng, Mei Ann Teo, Danilo Gambini, and Mahira Kakkar.
Mission
Mission
The mission of Global Forms is to create opportunities, visibility, and community for international and immigrant artists. This group of artists is drastically underrepresented and underserved in our industry. Since its inception in 2020, the festival has collaborated with 300 artists from over 40 countries.
All of the artists involved in Global Forms are paid, and the festival does not ask for any form of payment for participation. The festival is funded solely through sponsorships, grants and donations contributed by government agencies, foundations, organizations, and individuals. This year, the festival will maintain hiring collaborators who are immigrant artists, making this the very first festival with 100% immigrant artists employment.
Global Forms is made possible by the Ford Foundation and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. To join them in supporting our immigrant artists, you can donate at the link below.
*by immigrant artists, we mean: artists working under F, J, O, EB, or other forms of eligible Employment-Based Immigrant Visas.
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