High Concept Labs Announces Its Spring 2017 Sponsored Artists

High Concept Labs (HCL) today announces the Spring 2017 lineup of its flagship Sponsored Artist Program. Eight artists and collaboratives will develop, rehearse, and present new work for Chicago audiences this season. In conjunction with rehearsal and performance space, HCL provides Sponsored Artists with administrative, marketing, production, documentation, and development assistance. 2017 marks the seventh year of the Sponsored Artist Program.

For two seasons each year, artists are selected by HCL's staff and Artistic Advisory Council to incubate, workshop, perform, or exhibit new work. "By focusing on the needs of each project at its given point of production, the Sponsored Artists' work matures in powerful and unpredictable ways," says HCL Artistic Planning Manager, Billie Howard. "It is a privilege to support and to watch each new piece born to the world."

This season's Sponsored Artists are a diverse group of emerging and established artists working across a range of disciplines, from film and theater to music and movement. As part of their Sponsorship, artists will participate in Artist Critiques, and present Works-In-Progress showings, Workshops, and other public offerings for Chicago audiences, including the Spring Open House on Saturday, April 29th.

The Spring 2017 Sponsored Artists and their projects are as follows:

1. Rashayla Marie Brown (Film): Reality Is Not Good Enough

(http://highconceptlabs.org/rashayla-marie-brown)

1. Emma Draves (Dance): "Listen..."
   (highconceptlabs.org/emma-draves)

1. Earsight Duo & Danny Clay (Sound/Installation): on/off
   (http://highconceptlabs.org/earsight-duo-danny-clay)

1. Mariel Harari (Video/Installation): Gears
   (http://highconceptlabs.org/mariel-harari)

2. Mozawa (Performance): A Dream Play
   (highconceptlabs.org/mozawa)

1. The Runaways Lab (Theater): DEAD YOUTH, or, THE LEAKS
   (http://highconceptlabs.org/the-runaways-lab)

1. Andy Slater (Sound): Sight As Sound

(highconceptlabs.org/andy-slater)

1. Amanda VanValkenburg (Interactive Video Performance): Unnatural Disasters
   (highconceptlabs.org/amanda-vanvalkenburg)

New this season: High Concept Labs is proud to partner with 3Arts to connect artists supported through 3AP (3Arts Projects) with HCL's Sponsored Artist Program. In 2017, Rashayla Marie Brown was selected as an HCL Sponsored Artist to continue developing her project, "Reality is Not Good Enough," which was successfully funded on 3AP in August 2015.

2017 marks the seventh year of the Sponsored Artist Program, which has supported more than 160 artists and collectives with over 21,000 hours of donated space and professional support.

Additional information on our Sponsored Artists, including dates and times of public programs, will be forthcoming.

High Concept Labs (HCL) supports artists and facilitates dialogue between artists, audiences, and staff. This increases access and transparency to the artistic process and fosters transformational experiences in an environment of experimentation and discovery. highconceptlabs.org

HCL is supported in part by the generosity of Mana Contemporary Chicago, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Chicago Community Trust, MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, Martha Struthers Farley and Donald C. Farley, Jr. Family Foundation, N.A., The Norwottock Charitable Trust, The Samuel J. Baskin Charitable Trust, The Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation, and individual donors.

HCL is based at Mana Contemporary Chicago in the Pilsen neighborhood, at 2233 S Throop St. Chicago, Illinois 60608

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