VCU’s ICA calls for story ideas for ‘Richmond: Symphony of a City’

by | Nov 9, 2017 | ART

The Institute for Contemporary Art has launched an open call to Richmond citizens for collaboration on Italian artist Marinella Senatore’s new radio drama, Richmond: Symphony of a City.

Senatore’s work has been exhibited widely throughout Italy, Spain, London, Berlin and New York and now, the world-renowned artist is looking for unique ideas for her radio drama right here in Richmond.

The artist is famous for her tendency to involve entire communities and even cities to create art wherever she goes. She is also popular for her ability to work through different mediums of art for the sake of her storytelling. Her mission in Richmond is to tell stories that only true Richmonders can provide. — stories that highlight the past, present, and future of this River City.

Radio dramas, once commonly broadcast, use highly theatrical dialogue and music to tell stories about extraordinary, and ordinary, people and places. America’s most famous radio drama broadcast was Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds, which actually convinced hundreds of listeners that a real invasion from Mars had taken place.

Senatore is here to bring that drama and that powerful passion back.Those with family legends and critical perspectives or anyone who has a great tale to tell are invited to share their stories.

Using local submissions to create the outline for Richmond: Symphony of A City, Senatore will work with a cross-section of Richmonders to develop the radio drama in 2018, which will be performed as part of Declaration, ICA’s inaugural exhibition which will run April 21 – September 9.

All are welcome to submit, and story ideas must be submitted to icastwk1@vcu.edu by Dec. 10, with a maximum word limit of 500 words.

Photo Credit: ICA

Art Sponsored by Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art 

Nidhi Sharma

Nidhi Sharma




more in art

Can Firehouse Put Richmond on the National Theatre Map?

In the electric and perpetually sincere terrain of Richmond’s theatre culture, there are institutions that do more than merely reside, they lead. They serve as a measure of our city's potential beyond its natural aspirations. I've witnessed Firehouse Theatre inhabit...

Photos | Warriors in Bloom at Agecroft Hall

For one weekend, Agecroft Hall stopped being a museum and became a kingdom.  What began as a fundraiser to help launch Richmond's first Renaissance Faire has grown into a destination of its own. Warriors in Bloom, created by the folks at Virago Alley, returned with...

Everything We Did Was A Bad Idea

Editor's Note: Writer's Block is a space for Virginia writers to share personal essays, fiction, memoir, and works that fall somewhere in between. We’re standing on some corner in downtown Richmond: me, my two friends, a pair of women, and their male friend we had met...

Review | SAFETY! Swings Big But Falls Just Short

WARNING: This review contains baseball metaphors.  Cadence Theatre’s Pipeline New Works Program is at the plate again, with its last batter, Witchduck, staring at home from third base. It is literally the first swing ever for the new musical, SAFETY!, at Firehouse...

Before Anyone Was Watching

I went to Virginia MOCA expecting to hear Andy Howell talk about skateboarding. Instead, I left thinking about community and how people find each other. Howell's installation opens Seamless, the museum's new exhibition exploring the overlap between art and design. At...

The Strange Afterlife of Virginia’s President Heads

Editor's Note: Reminder, the sculptures are located on private property and are not open for general visitation. Access is available only through scheduled guided tours, with Labor Day weekend currently expected to be the final tour on the calendar. Tour information...