Overview

Locust Projects invites proposals for Locust Late @ The Digital Innovation Lounge + Lab (The DiLL), our monthly Thursday evening series that celebrates experimental workshops and performances at the intersection of art and technology. This BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) event offers a dynamic platform for experimentation, dialogue, and community engagement.

We welcome submissions from artists, technologists, collectives, performers, bands, and creative practitioners who utilize digital tools, time-based media, and participatory approaches. Share a skill, stage an innovative sonic experiment, test a prototype, or present a work-in-progress at Locust Late @ The DiLL.

Proposal Categories

We are currently accepting proposals in three categories:

Workshops

Interactive, beginner-friendly sessions (60–75 minutes) designed to engage the public in learning, creating, or exploring digital tools and ideas in real-time. Ideal workshops are beginner-friendly or help demystify complex digital practices for diverse audiences. Skill-sharing must be relevant to current or emerging creative practices at the intersection of art and technology. Workshops on digital administration (web optimization, grantwriting, etc) are also welcome.

Performances

Live, time-based presentations encompassing sound, video, coding, installation, performance, or hybrid formats. Performances may be fully realized works or works-in-progress enhanced by public interaction. Solo projects, collaborations, and bands are encouraged. Ideal

Collaborative Program

Applicants may also propose a combined workshop and performance program that demonstrate or build on skills shared. Combined proposals must involve at least one collaborator or represent a collective and may prompt further inquiries from our team. 

View past workshops and performances here.

Program Details

Dates: Monthly on Thursdays from August 2025 through May 2026

Priority consideration will be given to proposals that:

• Align with Locust Projects’ mission of supporting innovative art and ideas
• Demonstrate creativity and experimentation
• Clearly engage or interact with the audience
• Offer scheduling flexibility

Selected presenters and performers will receive:

• A $310 honorarium in accordance with W.A.G.E. standards per workshop or performance
• Limited A/V and technical support provided by Locust Projects staff

Deadline + Notification

Application Deadline: Monday, July 25, 2025

Notifications Sent By: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

The PROJECT ROOM 2026-2027 Open Call is open for submissions from June 2- July 28, 2025

Locust Projects invites local, national, and international artists to apply for the opportunity to access the space and resources to experiment and create ambitious, large-scale new work in our 625sq ft PROJECT ROOM. Proposals are reviewed by a rotating jury comprised of local, national and international artists that have previously exhibited at Locust Projects and one local curator. Locust Projects provides selected artists with curatorial guidance, production budget, artist WAGE fee, documentation, and an opportunity to stay in the Locust Projects residence or other accommodations.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Locust Projects is committed to supporting the creation and presentation of ambitious new work. Existing work is not accepted for Open Calls. Proposals for new, installation-based work that has never been presented before should specifically be designed for our Project Room. We present visual artists working in any medium and any stage in their career as long as the work they propose for Locust Projects demonstrably pushes their practice in new directions as part of our mission to invite risk-taking and experimentation. Collectives and artist collaborations are encouraged to apply as long as the work is presented as a singular vision. Artists addressing social justice issues including race, identity, gender parity, basic needs, climate change, environmental advocacy, and more, through their projects are encouraged. Final projects are realized with support from a collaborative environment and supportive Locust Projects staff.

PROJECT ROOM OPEN CALL OPPORTUNITY

• Solo exhibition of ambitious and new, installation-based work created specifically for Locust Projects Project Room (approx. 625 square feet) *see pdf with floorplan and images
• Community engagement with the public through public programs or activations (i.e. conversation, collaboration, performance)

PROJECT ROOM PROJECT SUPPORT

• $5000 Project Budget (may include but is not limited to: production/fabrication, equipment rental, materials, professional/technical support, installation/construction labor, assistants, shipping, de-installation) Final budget determined based upon dates, proposal scope and scale of project, feasibility.
• $3100 Artist Fee plus $50 per diem stipend for out-of-town artists up to 14 days and stipend toward coach class roundtrip flights and ground transport available to artists that live 150 miles away from Miami. (above and beyond travel expenses shall be applied to production budget). Artists may use the Artist Fee at their discretion.
• Accommodation available in a 2 bedroom residence house.
• Basic infrastructure provided by Locust Projects includes access to use existing tool and av equipment inventory, up to 24 hours preparator labor/assistance for install/de-install, signage, installation documentation, and promotional support.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Proposals are reviewed by a rotating jury of artists that have previously exhibited at Locust Projects and one local curator. The following criteria will be used during the review process using a 3 point scale for each:

• Conceptual strength of the proposal, ambitious ideas, scale and/or use of space
• Strength of past work
• Unique or innovative approach to transforming or activating LP's space and extension of the artist's practice
• Feasibility of proposed project and related programs within budget and logistical concerns, ADA access
• Compelling approach to contemporary artistic practice, societal concerns, and/or community impact

Please keep in mind, we are a non-traditional alternative art space. If the project could easily be presented in a traditional or commercial gallery setting or could be realized without the support of our organization, it is unlikely for us to consider your proposal. We do not show existing work, host traveling exhibitions, retrospectives, or group shows. We are not a commercial gallery, we do not offer artist representation.

Locust Projects is proud to be W.A.G.E. Certified (Working Artists in the Greater Economy), ensuring that we have and we will continue to compensate artists fairly, at, or above, minimum W.A.G.E. fees For more information on W.A.G.E. certification, click here.
 

OPEN CALL: PROJECT ROOM GALLERY: The PROJECT ROOM 2024-2026 Open Call is open for submissions from June 2 - July 28, 2025. To submit please send your proposal through Submittable. 

Late submissions will not be accepted. (Please allow  time for possible technical difficulties by submitting well before the deadline.)

Please direct questions to submissions@locustprojects.org

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
 

1. Project description (max. 250 words) 
2. Draft floorplan/rendering of proposed project - see attached PDF for floor plan and images
3. General artist statement (max. 150 words)
4. Production Budget - (provide an overview of approximate expenses for any that apply (see description of Production Budget* below)
5. Project Impact (Explain how your project embraces experimentation and risk-taking in your artistic practice. Max 350 words)
6. CV or Resume (no more than 2 pages)
7. Up to five images of previous/related work or three links to time based works
8. Image details (title, date, year medium of the submitted work and/or links)

*Production Costs may include (but are not limited to): production/fabrication, equipment rental, materials, specialized lighting, professional/technical support, public programs and activations and related participant fees based upon W.A.G.E. fee calculations at $310 per person, additional artist or assistant travel above and beyond that covered by Locust Projects, installation/construction labor above and beyond basic infrastructure of 24 hours labor provided, assistant fees, shipping, disposal, and any other costs required to realize and de-install the Project beyond basic infrastructure costs (signage, documentation, preparator time for install 24 hours) and artist fees and travel expenses provided by Locust Projects.