Wild Horizon 2026 Flash Call for Artists: Read-Only

What is Wild Horizon?

Wild Horizon is a circus and play festival for young people and families, pushing the boundaries of performance in public space. Audiences of all ages will experience imaginative, play-based performances that transform public space; inspiring wonder, curiosity and connection to one another. Wild Horizon is a project of Almanac Projects in partnership with Ninth Planet and Rebel Arts Movement.

With a full launch across multiple weekends and sites in Philadelphia and Camden planned for 2027, the upcoming 2026 iteration is designed as a testing ground for artists to try new ideas and experiment in public, taking place at Cherry St. Pier (in partnership with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation) May 2-3, 2026, throughout covered outdoor public spaces in an open air setting. The 2026 presentation will serve as a generous offering to local audiences and as a valuable period of research and development before Wild Horizon launches full scale in 2027. 

We seek artists in and beyond our networks to submit their existing works and bold new ideas to our Flash Call, to help build the vision for this exciting festival.


About the Call

Circus, circus-adjacent, and play-based works of all disciplines are welcomed. We invite expansive definitions! 

The Flash Call is open through Friday, February 20, 2026. Submissions of bold, physically daring performance creations are encouraged in two categories: 

• The Cabaret/Variety call offers a flexible format for a range of contemporary and traditionally-inspired short-form performances. This could be an act, a fresh experiment, or a hybrid work that blends styles. 5–15 minutes.

• The Site Specific call seeks proposals and ready-made works that can adapt to unique elements in the environment, such as the concrete-paved gangway in the main space, the amphitheater, the entry archway, the street art corridor, atop the shipping containers (shops and studios live inside), and next door at Race St. Pier. Ideally, these activations will last between 15–25 minutes.

Nimble, ground-based works are preferred. Single point aerial rigging, placed over the performance zone at the amphitheater, has limited availability. Shared pop-up rigging throughout the Pier is a consideration. Submitted works should be open to evolving alongside the 2026 festival as it deepens and expands into being.

All work at Wild Horizon must be appropriate for audiences of all ages, young people or families. Please let us know if your work is designed for a particular age range, or if your work is designed to engage general audiences who inhabit public space.

Cherry St. Pier is an ADA accessible environment with additional built features that require climbing. Artists of mixed abilities are encouraged to apply. The grounds are a mix of concrete floor spaces with some built platforms and installation space. On-site amenities include for-purchase food and beverage vendors, restrooms, and limited in-ground power outlets. Shared dressing and green room space will be available. 


Compensation

Stipends will be available by category. Cabaret/Variety works will receive $200-250. Site-Specific works will receive $500–1000, depending on scale and design. Documentation will become available after the festival. Our hope is that most works can perform 2-3 times throughout the weekend.  

Limited residency/rehearsal space will be available at Cherry St. Pier the week before the festival, as well as earlier if requested, as space allows. Additional residency partnerships are under development and may become available as well.


What else will be needed?

Artists and collectives will be required to:

• Fill out a 1099, sign a liability waiver and photo release, receive payment electronically. 

• Provide clear, high quality images of their work or previous work for marketing purposes.

• Additionally, provide high-quality video clips if available.


Accessibility / Drop Off / Parking

Cherry St. Pier (CSP) and next door Race St. Pier (RSP) are both ADA accessible environments. Both sites have additional features that require climbing steps. The floor at CSP is concrete with some rough spots, with restrooms. At RSP, the floor is a mix of paved and wood composite planks, but no restrooms. 

Drop Off: Limited street and handicap parking and drop off is in front on Columbus Blvd.

Parking: Paid parking is available at nearby garages Waterfront Parking and 325 N Columbus Blvd (Dave & Buster’s), with other lots in the area.Travel from parking to CSP/RSP is about 5-7 minutes. Participating artists will receive a reduced parking rate.


When does this call close?

The Flash Call will close at 11:59pm on Friday, February 20th. Because of the quick turnaround from planning to programming, we will ask for timely responses via email. Do your best to get your work submitted, but it doesn’t need to be perfect. We want a picture of what you’re cookin’ to find the best alignment!

For questions or follow-up, please reach out to the Associate Producer, Adam Kerbel: adam@thealmanac.us

If an artist or collective you know has something remarkable to offer, please send them this call ASAP.

Application Questions

(* Required) All applicants should submit their proposed work through the online form here. If you cannot, please contact the Associate Producer, Adam Kerbel: adam@thealmanac.us, about submitting a PDF version and sending your files separately. Write-in portions are open-ended.

Name of Person Filling out Form: *


Artist/Collective Name (if different):


Title of Proposal: *


Best email to contact for questions: *


Best phone number to contact for questions:


Which opportunity are you applying for? *

  • Cabaret/Variety

  • Site Specific

  • Other:


Have you performed this work before, or is this a new experiment?


Please upload your resume or CV (optional): (1 file, up to 1 MB)


Please include an artistic bio or artist statement:


Briefly describe your proposal and its artistic impulse. What is the ideal environment for this work to take place in, and how does it engage the themes of play, wonder, freedom and/or public space?


Briefly describe the piece logistically and technically. What is its anticipated duration, what kind of space would you like to use, and what are its technical needs (ie sound amplification, live music, rigging, etc).  For more information about Cherry St. Pier, please visit https://www.cherrystreetpier.com/space/. It is possible for performances to take place on the sidewalk outside of the building as well as next-door at Race St. Pier, if those environments would better suit your work. 


Please list any known collaborators and their roles:


Do you have: (Check any that apply)

  • Description of your work for marketing and ticketing page

  • Photos of this work

  • Photos of past work

  • Video of this work

  • Video of past work

  • Press/reviews


If you answered yes to any of the above, please attach a few examples that will help us get a sense of your work. We will ask for more later. (10 files maximum, up to 100MB)


Where is this project based?


Anything else you'd like to say? 


Thank you so much for your time! We can't wait to read your proposals and expand the edges of our shared networks.

Confirmation Message:

Thank you for sharing your work! We will be in touch by the end of the month, if not sooner. We appreciate patience and flexibility. For any pressing questions or follow-ups, please email the Associate Producer at adam@thealmanac.us