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The San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS) is issuing a request for proposals from local individuals and ensembles interested in co-producing programs for presentation on the 2012 Berkeley Festival main stage.

SFEMS will present three main stage events during the Festival June 4 - 10, 2012 to be presented at 5:00PM on June 7, 8 and 9, 2012 at St. Marks Episcopal Church, Berkeley.

SFEMS policy holds that the term local includes ensembles based within 180 miles of San Francisco. Acknowledging that early music organizations are often comprised of national and international personalities, such an organization may be considered local if it consists of major membership and activity within the Bay Area. That is, an organization can be considered local even if only one member is based in the Bay Area, so long as that member is central to the organization.)

SFEMS welcomes proposals that explore the following theme:

MUSICAL DIASPORA — Cross-Cultural Influences in Music Before 1800
The dispersion and mixing of peoples have been both a primary theme and a driving force in the history of Western music. Whether migrants are refugees fleeing persecution or hardship, traders, adventurers or colonizers seeking new opportunities, or artists in search of patrons, the cultural encounters that result from these diasporas often inspired bursts of astonishing creativity and innovation. This year's festival main stage will explore and present the finest musical fruits of these great cultural cross-fertilizations.

Proposals should be sent to the Concert Committee, SFEMS, P.O. Box 27495, San Francisco, CA 94127-0495, by January 15, 2011. The Concert Committee has stressed that the submission deadline of January 15 will be strictly observed in order to facilitate early season planning. Questions about procedures and deadlines should be directed to the Concert Committee at 510-528-1725 or at concertproposals@sfems.org.

Selection decisions will be made during January 2012, and ensembles chosen will be notified at that time.

GENERAL GUIDELINES (SFEMS POLICY)

1. Proposals should be accompanied by an audition recording that substantially represents the personnel who are proposed to appear on the series.
2. Curatorship of SFEMS concert presentations is the responsibility of the entire Board of Directors.
3. The SFEMS Board Concert Committee may delegate tasks to non-Committee members, SFEMS staff, or other individuals, except where specifically excluded in the following procedures.
4. All questions regarding concert selection decisions are referred to the chair of the Concert Committee, who may, at her/his discretion, provide the inquirer with decision rationale.

PROCEDURES (SFEMS POLICY)

1. The concert selection process begins with the SFEMS Concert Committee publication of a request for local proposals in the Early Music News and other appropriate media.
2. The Concert Committee shall review proposals and select four programs (including one alternate) from the submitted proposals.
3. The Concert Committee presents the proposed series to the Board of Directors for approval.
4. If necessary, the Concert Committee meets again in executive session to make changes in the series if for scheduling or other reasons the series as originally planned is not practical. Any such changes are subject to Board review.

CO-PRODUCTION (SFEMS POLICY AND DEFINITION)

1. Local and Non-Local Ensembles performing on the festival main stage must have the capacity to co-produce the program.
2. SFEMS will provide the following:
   1. Marketing and publicity including listings on official BFX website
   2. Publication of program materials and playbills
   3. Box office service
   4. Performance venue
   5. House management
   6. Instrument service
3. Local and Non-Local Ensembles performing on the festival main stage must contract all performers and provide the following:
   1. One music performance of at least 90 minutes in length
   2. Visa and/or other required travel documents
   3. Promotion, publicity and program materials
      1. Performer biographies and publicity photos
      2. Ensemble history
      3. Copies of review and feature articles
      4. Discography
      5. Program copy, exactly as it is preferred to appear in program book including title page, program items with intermission (if any) indicated, list of performers and instruments, program notes, texts and translations, ensemble history and performer biographies.
4. Revenue Sharing from ticket sales
   1. SFEMS will retain 40% of net ticket sales
   2. Co-producer will receive 60% of net ticket sales

Last updated 12/07/2011.