Every commission begins with a voice
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Every commission begins with a voice 🌈
DEADLINE: July 31st
In communications technology, VOX stands for Voice-Operated Exchange or Voice-Activated Transmission, systems that are activated by a person's voice. In music, the term often refers to the human voice itself. For playOUT!, the name reflects a simple but powerful idea: the LGBTQ+ community has voices that deserve to be heard, and those voices should inspire new works of art.
A recent report from the LGBTQ Affinity Fund at the Chicago Community Trust identified arts organizations like playOUT! as an important resilience strategy that fosters safety, belonging, and community connection, particularly for transgender youth. PROJECT VOX builds on that idea by empowering young people to participate directly in the creation of new art. playOUT! received a $1000 microgrant from the Trust to support the pilot program with Trans Up Front Illinois.
In the 2026/27 playOUT! season, a cohort of trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth will learn about the commissioning process and serve as a youth commissioning committee. Over the course of 4 workshops and 2 events, students will develop a vision for a new musical work, create a Request for Proposals (RFP), select a composer, provide artistic feedback throughout the creative process, and ultimately attend the world premiere of a piece they helped bring to life on Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31st, 2027.