Monument Lab—in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and RevolutionNJ—is launched today an Open Call for Artist Ideas to commission a new monumental performance series in New Jersey that will animate histories and legacies of the American Revolution in 2026. Revolutionary Acts invites artists who live or work in New Jersey to propose a performance-based work that will unfold across sites in Camden, Trenton, and Fort Lee. These cities have been selected in collaboration with the State's larger organizing efforts around the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.The selected artist will collaborate with local partners to activate these sites, weaving together stories of the state’s and nation’s past, present, and future.
The goals of this project include:
- Producing an innovative and captivating performance series that appeals to a broad audience and showcases cutting-edge commemorative and artistic initiatives
- Shedding light on undertold narratives of the American Revolution and how they shape common knowledge of significant events
- Highlighting the stories of an expansive group of Revolutionary voices and recognizing the significance of incorporating more histories into places where gaps in the historical landscape are evident
- Demonstrating that the creation of history and memory is a collective and personal endeavor in which we can analyze, evaluate, and actively participate
- Reaching out to newer and younger audiences who typically do not engage with historical and commemorative sites and events
- Facilitating exploration of the complex layers of history found in New Jersey's cities, towns, and landscapes.
This is a project that appreciates and expands upon conventional forms of performance, public art, and public history. Artists of a variety of visual and performance backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Artists are invited to submit their materials via the online form below by Monday, June 16, 2025.
An artist advisory committee will make a recommendation to Monument Lab regarding the selection of up to three finalists. Monument Lab will then select three artists to develop full proposals and present them in mid-August 2025. Each finalist will receive an honorarium of $2,500 to support the creation of a detailed proposal. The selected project will be supported with a total production budget of $150,000, covering materials, fabrication, and implementation costs. The artist will also receive an honorarium of $30,000 in recognition of their creative vision and work, with additional support available for programming, signage, interpretive materials and documentation. Over the course of 2025 and 2026, Monument Lab will support the selected artist in adapting the performance to each historic site’s geography and historical context.
Performance, in this context, is defined broadly. Potential performance formats include but are not limited to:
- Activations
- Block Parties
- Concerts
- Dance Performances
- Gatherings
- Happenings
- Fairs
- Festivals
- Musical Performances
- Pageants
- Processions
- Reenactments
- Reimaginings
- Scavenger Hunts
- Theatrical Productions
- Walking/River Tours
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to New Jersey’s evolving cultural landscape by activating history, creating an innovative, immersive, and participatory experience that invites audiences to reflect on the Revolutionary era and its ongoing impact. We encourage artists with a passion for storytelling, public engagement, and experimental performance to apply.
Revolutionary Acts is a cosponsored project of Monument Lab, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Historical Commission, and RevolutionNJ. Additional support provided by the New Jersey Historical Commission.