Street Arts—also known as Outdoor Arts or Performance in Public Spaces—are among the most vital, democratic, and exhilarating art forms alive today. At its core, this category of performance encompasses work that would be impossible to do indoors: performances where the outdoor environment becomes an active actor, where scale and the elements push the boundaries of what’s possible. Such performances might welcome disruption, with audience engagement being not just encouraged but intrinsic. They are open to—and often embrace—the unpredictable forces of weather, urban life, and nature itself.
In this work, the audience is an inextricable part of the creative context, and the venue is not just a setting but a collaborator in the storytelling. Research shows that this art form draws huge, diverse audiences, often far beyond the reach of historically indoor and ticketed performing arts. For many, these performances serve as their first entry-point into the world of live arts.
Street Arts Nexus and Bandaloop present an unforgettable evening celebrating the transformative power of performance in public space. As part of the OFF WAA Showcase, this dynamic event brings together artists working to reimagine public space as a place of connection, wonder, and shared experience.
Featured artists include: Prescott Circus Theatre, Animal Cracker Conspiracy, Bandaloop, Beatrice Thomas (Black Benatar), Yayoi Kambara, Embodiment Project, Ishami Dance Company, and Bodystorm, along with additional street arts performers and special guests.
From intimate, immersive encounters to breathtaking vertical dance, outdoor family circus, stilt dancer honoring African traditions, monumental puppetry, and a Queer Arts Cabaret, the evening showcases the extraordinary range and artistic ambition of today's Street Arts movement. Together, these artists transform architecture, neighborhoods, and everyday civic spaces into vibrant stages—inviting audiences to experience joy, surprise, and community in entirely new ways.
*We are also partnering with CIPA on engaging artists and promoting of the showcase.
We can use up to 2 more acts.
Here is a call to artists, please forward to any artists, preferably based in Bay Area:
Coffee Talks: Developing Street Arts in North America panel hosted by Kevin Ewing with Monique Martin and Sonia Clark as panelists:
September 9, 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Street arts have long energized civic life, yet the U.S. lacks the presenting infrastructure to support them at scale. Join Sonia Clark, Monique Martin, Kevin Ewing and other members of Street Arts Nexus as we open the floor to a focused conversation: what would it take to change that?
Risk and Impact in Performing Arts for Young & Multigenerational Audiences led by Ruth Wikler with Sonia Clark as a panelist:
September 9, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Join us to talk strategically about creation, presentation, and touring for young & multigenerational audiences. A panel of contributors from the WAA Youth & Family White Paper will share about the tensions between expanding access and ensuring viability. How we wish impact and success were measured. Who inspires us, locally and globally. Our sense of purpose, as individual practitioners and as a field. Ways we take risks: stories of courage and productive failure. What we want the broader presenting field to hear.
Performing Arts Challenge and Luncheon: Street Arts Nexus Roundtable hosted by Kevin Ewing:
September 9, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
How Do We Build the Infrastructure to Support Street Arts in the United States? Join Street Arts Nexus over lunch as we explore together a strategy to respond to this challenge and enhance opportunities for Street Artists in this country.
PITCH: 4 pm - 6 pm
Member of Street Arts Nexus, Sonia Clark of Unicycle Productions will pitch JUSTICE in MOTION (UK) project CODE - a US collaboration at the conference headquarters, Exhibit Hall East.
STREET ARTS NEXUS OUTDOOR SHOWCASE
7 pm - 8:30 pm at Bandaloop (1601 18th Street (at Peralta), Oakland, CA)