COME OUT AND PLAY!

This is from our friend Catherine. She's awesome. Check it out!!

TURN THE STREETS INTO A PLAYGROUND BY RUNNING A GAME IN THE FIRST ANNUAL COME OUT & PLAY FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 22-24

THE MISSION

The Come Out & Play Festival seeks to provide a forum for new types of public games and play. We want to bring together a public eager to rediscover the world around them through play with designers interested in producing innovative new games and experiences.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Come Out & Play is the first festival dedicated to street games. It is three days of play, talks and celebration, all focused on street games. The festival will have a headquarters where participants can learn about upcoming games and see documentation of completed games (location to be announced). The games themselves will be run in a variety of public locations around New York City. From massive multi-player walk-in events to carefully constructed play performances, there will be something for every type of player. Throughout the festival players and designers will have the chance to interact during games and panels and jointly conceive the future of this growing form.

Street games is an inclusive term for real world games and game-like performances that transform urban public spaces in meaningful ways. Games played in public spaces are an increasingly popular phenomenon and often mix performance art and urban play, inviting players and spectators to re-examine the tapestry of the city. From city-wide scavenger hunts to the real-life games of Pac-Man played around Washington Square Park, these games invite participants to collaboratively re-imagine their surroundings through a set of simple rules. Players begin to see the very layout of the streets as a game board and never look at the city grid quite the same way again.

The festival will feature roughly 15 official events from September 22-24, 2006. Events will take place throughout New York City at a variety of locations and times.

Come Out & Play will enable artists and game designers to exchange ideas and work in front of and with a diverse audience. During the three-day festival, New Yorkers will engage with playful art pieces and games, discovering meaningful and emergent ways to interact in the public spaces of New York City. This festival will provide a unique opportunity for artists and game designers to meet and create engaging experiences for the public.

For more information visit:

www.comeoutandplay.org

APPLICATION :: To apply, visit www.comeoutandplay.org/submit.php and fill out an application form.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE :: June 30, 2006

NOTIFICATION :: We will notify you by e-mail if your game has been accepted into the festival schedule by July 14, 2006.

We look forward to reading your proposal.

SCHEDULE

Submission deadline: June 30

Notifications: July 14

Festival: September 22-24

INQUIRIES?

Email us at info@comeoutandplay.org

PLAY or VOLUNTEER

Don't have a game, but still want to play or be involved? Visit comeoutandplay.org to sign up for alerts about the festival.