Final Call: Sunnyside Rhythm Block 2027 — THE DRUM AS COMMONS

Sunnyside Rhythm Block (SRB) is a free outdoor public art and performance series returning to the 46th Street Open Street beneath the Sunnyside Arch for four weekends in April and May 2027.

Presented by Korea Art Forum and curated and organized by gong, the 2027 series is organized around THE DRUM AS COMMONS—an exploration of rhythm as a way people gather, connect, and participate in public space.

They are inviting proposals in two areas:

[Live Performance]
Drum and percussion practices, movement that generates sound, body percussion, processional and street forms, and rhythm-led DJ or sound practices.

[Participatory Art and Public Programs]
Projects that people can join, make, shape, or transform. These projects do not need to be sound-based and may create a shared rhythm through movement, repetition, exchange, gathering, or collective action.

Practices rooted in or shaped by immigrant and diasporic communities are especially welcome. Applicants are encouraged to work from their own practices and relationships rather than represent an entire country or culture.

Selected artists will receive an artist fee. Compensation will be discussed based on each project’s scope and production needs.

There is no application fee.

Requirements

• Open to individual artists, performers, DJs, sound artists, collectives, and cultural practitioners.
• Applicants must be available to present their program in person in Sunnyside, Queens, during April or May 2027.
• Projects must be suitable for an active outdoor public setting without a conventional raised stage.
• Programs should be accessible to families, neighborhood residents, and passersby.
• Applicants must provide work samples and a current CV or résumé.

Application Instructions

Please prepare:

• Contact information and a brief introduction
• Proposed program category and description
• Estimated program length
• Technical and spatial requirements
• Availability during April and May 2027
• Work sample links
• CV or résumé
• Expected artist fee

Apply by September 15, 2026.