Demand To Be Heard
Apply Now!
Apply Now!
We are pleased to announce that applications are OPEN for our inaugural Demand To Be Heard artist/survivor residency program!
The Sunflower Project is excited to announce the inaugural Demand To Be Heard residency, supporting Los Angeles based performing artists who are survivors of gender-based violence, interpartner violence, domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
We encourage survivors from all backgrounds and experiences to embrace their creativity and participate in this transformative initiative. By sharing their art and stories, survivors not only empower themselves but also inspire others who may be on their own healing journey. The Demand To Be Heard residency will support artists in developing work to reflect their lived experience as a survivor, and will provide an opportunity for artists to show their work in a culminating production.
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The resident artist cohort will meet regularly in Los Angeles from May through October 2025, at intervals and times determined by the group as a whole. Artists should anticipate spending 3-6 hours a month in group and individual meetings, plus additional time working on their project.
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Group workshops led by professional performing artists, body workers, writers, educators, and leaders in the gender-based violence field. Presenters include:
One-on-one mentorship with The Sunflower Project’s founder Leah Zeiger
Bi-weekly Body Memory Method sessions (read more about the Body Memory Method here)
The opportunity to showcase their work in a professionally staged production at the end of the program.
Process and project documentation, and a modest production stipend.
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If you identify as a practicing performing artist, a survivor of gender-based violence, and you are based in or near Los Angeles, you should apply! Artists of all performing arts backgrounds are encouraged to apply, regardless of the number of years you’ve been practicing.
This program is best suited for survivors who are no longer in an immediate crisis situation, and have a robust support network to offer strength and care throughout the residency.
There are five spots available.
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Applications will be accepted until March 28th, 2025 at 11:45pm PST.
All applicants will be notified via email of their status by April 13th, 2025.
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Please email any questions to leah@towardsthesun.org
Why “Demand to be Heard”?
A catalyst for self-discovery and personal growth, Demand to be Heard invites survivors to shatter the barriers of stigma, cultivate empathy, understanding, and support among a wider community. This platform raises awareness about the impact of trauma, challenges societal misconceptions, and fosters a culture of healing and resilience.
We encourage survivors from all backgrounds and experiences to embrace their creativity and participate in this transformative initiative. By sharing their art and stories, survivors not only empower themselves but also inspire others who may be on their own healing journey.
Join us in celebrating the strength, creativity, and resilience of survivors as they demand to be heard. Together, we can build a world where survivors' voices are valued, validated, and amplified.
Beyond our Residency Program. Demand to Be Heard is a virtual and pop-up gallery space, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of survivors through art, creativity, and personal expression. Survivors share their experiences, reclaim their narratives, and ignite conversations that challenge societal norms, and through this, these artists not only build camaraderie and share their work with the world, but also inspire change. The platform is open to all mediums including, but not limited to visual art, poetry, music, dance, and more.
Our stories demand to be heard.
The vast majority of sexual assault and domestic violence cases go unreported and unheard due to fear of the abuser and of the public’s reaction.
Today, that ends.
Leah, the founder of The Sunflower Project, shared her story through her film “Untold”, other survivors have shared their work, as part of Demand to be Hears — and now it’s your turn.
Gallery Submission Details:
Share your story with us in any way you feel comfortable: be it a written story, a video, a song, a painting, a picture, a play... we’re open to your creativity in ANY form.
We will protect your identity and respect your wishes, always. And your work will always be your work. Our intention is to create a shared (virtual + occasionally in person!) space where survivors can make their story and their art public.
