Roots & Routes: Encounters with Diaspora, Community and Cultural Practice
Call for Artists, Makers, Public Scholars, and Practitioners
Apply by October 6th, 2025
2nd weekend of the month: November 2025 - May 2026
The I-House World Tour Roots & Routes series takes place at I-House Davis during the 2nd weekend of the month from November 2025 – May 2026. Through performances, conversations, community gatherings, and shared space, Roots & Routes invites artists, audiences, and participants to reflect on how diaspora and movement shape identity, belonging, and the communities we create together. Centering artists, musicians, storytellers, makers, and thinkers whose work emerges from diasporic experience and transnational identity, we explore how movement across borders shapes our sense of home, and how creative practice helps us root, reroot, and belong.
We are seeking artists, creators, and culture bearers to co-create this series of events with the I-House staff and volunteer community.
Each creative group will receive an artist fee of $500 – $1500 (depending on the scale of the event) to co-create a 2-4 hour event at I-House.
About the series:
Roots & Routes is a dynamic performance, exhibition and conversation series exploring the intersections of diaspora, migration, cultural identity, and community formation. This series invites artists, public scholars, and cultural practitioners whose work engages with themes of movement, belonging, memory, and creative expression across borders to co-create events with the I-House staff and community.
What are I-House World Tour Events:
World Tour events can take many forms depending on the creative content proposed by the artists/cultural practitioners – a concert, lecture, festival, workshop, social dance, installation, or something else. World Tour Events are usually ticketed ($5-$25) events, often on a sliding scale. Ticket sales cover a portion of I-House’s costs to provide space, equipment, marketing, and logistical support. Events are time-bound and occur (usually) within the 2nd weekend of the month – Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday for 2-4 hours, coordinated with I-House staff. For art installations, there is a possibility to extend the exhibit for up to 2 weeks, depending on availability. Read the full guidelines HERE.
Who and What We’re Looking For:
We seek interdisciplinary artists, performers, storytellers, scholars, and cultural practitioners from diverse backgrounds who investigate diaspora and community through innovative artistic and social practices. Work may include (but is not limited to): visual art, performance, multimedia, spoken word, music, dance, installation, digital storytelling, or community-based projects. Read the full guidelines HERE.
How to Submit an Application and Requirements
1. COMPLETE AND SUBMIT APPLICATION FORM below by October 6th, 2025
The form includes the following questions (and a few others).
- Please provide a brief artist/practitioner statement describing your connection to the themes of diaspora, migration, or community.
- Please outline your proposed project. What are you proposing to create or do at I-House?
- How does this contribute to the dialogue around roots, routes, and belonging.
- Indicate technical or space requirements, if any.
2. SUBMIT WORK SAMPLES VIA EMAIL TO: shelly@ihousedavis.org
SUBJECT: WORLD TOUR ARTIST SUBMISSION – YOUR NAME
- Attach a 1-2 page bio, CV or resume
- Attach or send links: Samples of past work (images, video links, recordings) relevant to the series theme.
- Attachments can be a single PDF or link.
Timeline:
- Launch Call for Artists: September 4th
- Submission Deadline: Rolling deadline until October 6th.
- Selection Panel Meetings: Rolling with final panel during 2nd week of October (select top 10)
- Selection Interviews with top 10: 3rd week of October
- Final Selection by staff: By October 29th.
- Notification of Selection: Nov. 1st
- Exhibition/Performance Dates: Nov 2025 – May 2026
Questions? Contact us at shelly@ihousedavis.org or call 530-723-2288.
