Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival
Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival 2027
Where the Art World and Real World Intersect
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street NE l Washington, DC 20002
FOR PERFORMANCES: Friday, February 12 – Sunday, March 7, 2027
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. Online submissions only.
2027 INTERSECTIONS Application
The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival showcases powerful multidisciplinary performances that inform, inspire, educate, and entertain. Centered around STORY, MOVEMENT, and SOUND, the festival fosters community connection, engages artists and audiences, and celebrates diverse perspectives that reflect our shared humanity.
The Atlas Performing Arts Center is a non-profit performing arts venue and a cultural anchor of the H Street, Northeast community in Washington, D.C. The Atlas Performing Arts Center provides spaces for artists to create music, theatre and dance to entertain and engage audiences in exploring the ideas and issues of our time. We nurture an environment that welcomes artists representing our diverse community. We invest in partnerships and programs that reflect the best of the arts and our humanity.
The Festival theme is: Where the art world and the real world intersect.
All performing companies and artists are welcome to apply. Works previously produced are eligible. While artists/companies outside of the DC metro area may apply, strong preference is given to DC metro area artists and DC based artists in particular. All artists must be eligible to work in the U.S. The Atlas Performing Arts Center is committed to nurturing an equitable home for artists that represent our diverse community and diverse artistic expressions. BIPOC artists and BIPOC led arts organizations are encouraged to apply.
Artists/Companies are allotted one performance slot and all works must run either 60 or 75 minutes in length.
Works are selected based upon artistic excellence, artistic merit, relevance to festival themes, innovation, collaboration, audience engagement, potential ticket sales, and marketing and administrative capacity.
All performances selected are presented as follows:
- Atlas provides the performance space, standard venue inventory, one tech rehearsal, production staff (light/sound board operators, stagehand), house management, box office, and marketing support.
- Artists are responsible for all “in the door” expenses, including performer fees, producing costs, and a non-performing stage manager for both tech and performance.
- All artists agree to market and promote their performance(s) as described in the application, and partner and/or collaborate with the Atlas and the INTERSECTIONS Festival community of artists.
- Net box office revenue is split 50/50 between the artist/company and the Atlas INTERSECTIONS festival.
Intersections FAQ
- What is the intersections festival?
- The Atlas Intersections Festival is a performing arts festival in Washington, DC that celebrates its 18th year of presenting artists that look to explore the ideas and issues of our time through their work.
- When is the festival?
- The festival will be held over 4 weekends with up to 4 shows per night. The festival runs from mid-February to mid-March.
- What does it cost to participate?
- Atlas covers the cost of the performance space, standard venue inventory, one tech rehearsal (length of rehearsal varies by space) and provides production support including a light board operator, sound board operator, and stagehand, along with house management, box office, and marketing support.
- Artists and companies cover all “in the door” expenses (all performer fees and producing costs) and a stage manager.
- Artists receive the proceeds from the box office less a percentage for the Atlas. The split of net box office sales is 50% Artist and 50% Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival.
- When is the application due?
- AUGUST 14, 2026
- What is required to apply?
- Submit the online form. Include a description of show, photos, video or sound files to show samples of your work.
- How long is the application?
- The application takes approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
- Are artists outside of the DC Area eligible to apply?
- While artists/companies outside of the DC metro area may apply, preference is given to DC metro area artists and DC based artists. All artists must be eligible to work in the U.S.
- How long does a performance need to be?
- All performances need to be 60 or 75 minutes in length. This run time DOES NOT INCLUDE the 15-minute post show talkback.
- Do I have to do a post-show talkback/community engagement?
- Every Intersections performance needs to include a 15-minute talkback or another form of community engagement.
- Community engagement can include teaching the audience a dance movement that connects to the show, inviting the audience on the stage for a dance party, teaching a song, giving a take home art project, and/or post-performance audience feedback surveys.
- Do I need to bring tech people?
- Atlas will provide a Light Board Operator, Sound Board Operator, and a Stagehand. All artists are REQUIRED to bring a NON-PERFORMING stage manager to run your stage rehearsal and call the performance.
- Where are the performances held?
- The Atlas Performing Arts Center- 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
- Performances are held in our 4 performance spaces
- Lang Theatre- 258 fixed seats, traditional proscenium
- Sprenger Theatre- 164 seats on risers, black box proscenium
- Lab Theatre II- 82 seats on risers, black box proscenium
- Lab Theatre i- 63 seats on risers, black box proscenium
- Actual venue placement is at the discretion of Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival management.
- What if I decide to change the show?
- Festival artists are selected based on the performance described in the application, therefore no major changes will be accepted after you agree to perform in the festival.
- What if I have to pull out of the festival?
- While we understand life happens, Atlas is a nonprofit and will require a fee based on work done to market your performance as well as potential lost box office revenue.
- What does marketing look like?
- Performers are responsible for marketing their shows using the guidelines provided and outlined by Atlas’ Marketing Team. Atlas will market each individual show along with the other shows in the festival.
- Each genre (Story, movement, sound) will have email and social media blasts.
- Each weekend of performances (4-12) will get a special advertisement at the top of the week leading up to the show.
- Each performance will get one special social media post to instagram and facebook and a facebook event will be created by Atlas.
- Atlas will reshare posts about INTERSECTIONS Festival performances as appropriate. Including but not limited to rehearsal footage, costumes, marketing pushes, and behind the scenes photos and videos to promote the performances.
- When will we be notified?
- The adjudication and selection process will be conducted in August/September, and contracting will begin at the end of September/early October. This is subject to change.
- When will the festival artists be publicly announced?
- Atlas plans to publicly announce the 2027 Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival and put tickets on sale by December 1, 2026. This is subject to change.
- When will I be paid?
- All payments will come via bill.com within 30 days of your performance. You do not need to invoice or contact us to receive payment.