FRESH MEAT PRODUCTIONS

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Grant Year

2023-24

Grant Program

Impact Projects

Award Amount

$21,250.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, Fresh Meat Productions (FMP) will organize and produce our 23rd annual FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL of transgender and queer performance June 15-17, 2024 (Z Space, SF).

Our FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL is a beloved community gathering with artists creating and performing new work at the intersections of trans, racial and disability justice.

CAC funds will support Artist Fees of the festival’s 18 performing artists and ensembles, and will also support our festival’s annual commissioning program, FRESH WORKS! — FMP will award FRESH WORKS! commissions of $7,500 each to 5 BIPOC transgender, gender-nonconforming and queer artists, to support the creation of new work. FMP will present the world premiere of these 5 commissioned works at the 2024 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL.

Organization Summary

Since 2002, Fresh Meat Productions (FMP) has presented over 750 Transgender, gender nonconforming (GNC) and queer artists, paying them more than $7.5 million. We are now celebrating our 25th Anniversary Season!

FMP’s year-round programs are intentionally and authentically reflective of – and deeply relevant to – diverse transgender, GNC and queer communities, and are open to everyone:

THE CREATION AND PERFORMANCE OF NEW WORK:
1) FRESH WORKS! Commissions: Awards grants to support the creation of new work by trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit and queer Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) artists. We present these new works at our annual FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL.
2) Sean Dorsey Dance (SDD): Our resident dance company, performs FMP founder and Artistic Director Sean Dorsey’s award-winning original dance-theater, centering trans and queer bodies and stories. SDD teaches across California, and has toured to over 35 cities across the globe.
3) TRANSfutures Commissions: Community-nominated, unrestricted grants to BIPOC Trans/GNC artists each year.

PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
1) FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL of transgender and queer dance and performance: Our annual, multidisciplinary performance festival centering trans, GNC and queer BIPOC artists.
2) Co-sponsorship and financial support of community-based trans arts events.

ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION:
1) Trans-supportive dance classes and workshops
2) Guest teaching and in-school residencies
3) LGBTQ2SI+ community conversations
4) Trans-supportive Cultural Competency Training for dance venues, studios, and service organizations.

ADVOCACY:
– Speaking engagements, panels, lectures, and other field-wide advocacy for trans equity in Dance.

Disability Justice and Access are the FIRST things we consider in all of our programming, communications and events. We consider front-of-house access for audiences AND backstage/onstage access for artists, staff and crew.

Based on our commitment to trans/racial/disability justice, FMP’s year-round programs and events are all FREE or $0+ sliding-scale with no one turned away for lack of funds.

Organization