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Monday, November 8, 2010

Organize a V-Day Event



2011 Sign ups are now open. Click here to enter the V-Spot and register for an event.

Every year V-Day invites activists in colleges, communities, high schools or youthgroups around the world to present select benefit events (listed below) during & leading up to V-Season (February 1st - April 30th). The purpose of these events is to raise awareness about violence against women and girls as well as raise money for local beneficiaries that are working to end violence. There is no theater or producing experience necessary.

READ Eve's Welcome to 2011 Activists >

To learn more about V-Day, click here


What are V-Day Events? (see below)

Where do V-Day Events Happen? (see below)

When May I Organize a V-Day Event?

How do I Register to Organize a V-Day Event?

What are V-Day Events?

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES (performance) The award-winning play is based on V-Day Founder/playwright Eve Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace the piece celebrates women’s sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. For more than twelve years, The Vagina Monologues has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public.

A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER: WRITINGS TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS (performance) A groundbreaking collection of monologues by world-renowned authors and playwrights, edited by Eve Ensler and Mollie Doyle. These diverse voices rise up in a collective roar to break open, expose, and examine the insidiousness of violence at all levels: brutality, neglect, a punch, even a put-down. The volume features such authors and topics as: Edward Albee on S&M; Maya Angelou on women's work; Michael Cunningham on self-mutilation; Dave Eggers on a Sudanese abduction; Edwidge Danticat on a border crossing; Carol Gilligan on a daughter witnessing her mother being hit; Susan Miller on raising a son as a single mother; Sharon Olds on a bra; Patricia Bosworth on her own physically abusive relationship; Jane Fonda on reclaiming our Mojo; and many more. It is available for you to present as a reading, and includes pieces by and for men. We encourage men to register to host readings in conjunction with other V-Day activities.

ANY ONE OF US: WORDS FROM PRISON (performance) This piece evolved from a decade long writing group with Eve Ensler and 15 women at Bedford Hill’s Correctional Facility. This piece is a collection of stories from the raw voices of fierceness and honesty written by the original 15 women combined with writing from women in prisons across the nation moving forward toward healing, understanding, and change with the ultimate goal of using their writing and voices to impact policy, laws and treatment of incarcerated women. Together these writings reveal the deep connection between women in prison and the violence that often brings them there.

UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS (film screening)


an uplifting documentary that looks at the V-Day movement and the work we have done around the world. It is an inspiring introduction to V-Day for your friends and community. Until The Violence Stops features playwright and activist Eve Ensler in a powerful film that documents how The Vagina Monologues grew into the international grassroots movement stopping violence against women and girls - V-Day. The film highlights the 2002 season, where eight hundred cities around the world participated in V-Day by staging benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues. Until the Violence Stops shows women from Harlem, New York to Ukiah, California; from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the Philippines and Kenya, uniting and courageously revealing their intimate and deeply painful experiences with abuse ranging from rape to female circumcision.

WHAT I WANT MY WORDS TO DO TO YOU (film screening)


An unprecedented look into the minds and hearts of the women inmates of New York's Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The film goes inside a writing workshop led by playwright and activist Eve Ensler, consisting of 15 women, most of whom were convicted of murder. Through a series of exercises and discussions, the women delve into their pasts and explore the nature of their crimes and the extent of their own culpability. The film culminates in an emotionally charged prison performance of the women's writing (the first edition of “Any One of Us”) by acclaimed actors Mary Alice, Glenn Close, Hazelle Goodman, Rosie Perez and Marisa Tomei. The film documents both the wrenching personal journeys undertaken by the inmates to find the words that tell their own stories, and the power of those words to move the outside world.

CONGO SPOTLIGHT TEACH-IN (powerpoint presentation) a downloadable PowerPoint presentation created by V-Day about the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The PowerPoint is designed to educate you, your campuses and communities about the history and current situation in the DRC where women are bearing the brunt of the vicious war in the region. It is a powerful tool to activate and motivate the public to put pressure on elected officials and raise awareness and funds for V-Day projects on the ground in the DRC.

V-MEN (workshop & powerpoint presentation) a powerpoint presentation compiled by a dedicated committee of V-Men along with an overview for hosting a workshop to engage men in a dialogue about ending violence against women.

V-GIRLS (book clubs & academic curriculum)
V-Girls Book Clubs provide girls and their advocates with a platform to explore issues that matter to them, giving them a pathway to ignite their activism through Eve Ensler's newest work, I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World. The free downloadable book club guide will help girls and adults explore the book, reflect and discuss the text together, while also guiding participants through a process to plan a creative response to speak out on global issues facing girls. Girls can write and perform their own monologues inspired by the book, host a poetry slam or benefit concert, or create an art exhibit. Groups may choose to raise funds through their event for V-Day's Safe Houses for Girls in Kenya.

The V-Girls Academic curriculum is now available for 7-12 grades in Social Studies, Language Arts, Theater and Health and is supported by National Curriculum Standards.

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Where do V-Day Events Happen?

COMMUNITY You are a member of a community theatre group, a non-profit organization, a community member and will be presenting your event/s in a community rental space.

COLLEGE You are a college student, faculty member or are otherwise directly affiliated with a college or university and will be presenting your event/s in a venue on campus. (***IF YOU ARE A COLLEGE GROUP, BUT MUST PERFORM OFF CAMPUS, PLEASE CHOOSE THIS OPTION AND ANSWER RELEVANT QUESTIONS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.***)

V-GIRLS You are a student under the age of 18 or an educator working with students of this age and will be presenting your event/s at a school or youth venue.

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When May I Organize a V-Day Event?

V-Day events are usually hosted on or around Valentine’s Day (February 14th) each year. V-Season is from February 1st through April 30th. Performance events (TVM, MMRP, AOOU) must be hosted during V-Season (February 1-April 30), while other event options (UTVS, WIW, TEACH-IN, V-MEN) can be held leading up to V-Season. To register for one of these events after the season has ended, please write to campaign@vday.org.

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How do I Register to Organize a V-Day Event?

REQUIREMENTS FOR HOSTING ANY V-DAY EVENT

Failure to adhere to these rules will result in V-Day's rescinding permission for you to present a V-Day event.

Most Important:

* You must register for the rights to host ANY V-Day event EVERY year. Rights are       free.
* Maximum of 3 performances/screenings for each event. No exceptions.
* You must work collaboratively with all other V-Day events in your area. We will       be putting you in touch with one another!

Money:

* Organizers & all supporting teams should NOT be paid. (Union technical staff       contracted by venue are the only exceptions.)
* Tickets should be charged for theatrical pieces & suggested donations for the       other works are at your discretion.
* Donate 10% of net profits to V-Day 2011 Spotlight Campaign.
* Keep production costs down. Donation goal should be 94 cents of every dollar.

Beneficiary:

* Donate profits to local group that specifically works to end violence against       women (preventative, educational, supportive, empowerment).
* Include your beneficiary in your activities, outreach and publicity.

Organizer requirements:

* Only 1 organizer is approved for each event. (18yrs & under require a dual       application)
* We require an active email address that can be shared publicly.
* Incomplete follow up reports will result in denial of any future applications.

Outreach:

* Focus your outreach to your group affiliation (college, community or high school)
* Strive for diversity of all kinds.
* You must include ALL that seek to be involved in your event in some way.

Venue:

* Your venue must coincide with your group affiliation (college, community or high       school) unless approved by the Directors of the Campaigns.

Scripts:

* Use ONLY the 2011 version of the scripts for your event. NO books or previous       scripts are authorized.
* No edits are allowed to monologues or introductions AT ALL!
* No additions to the scripts are allowed unless specified.
* Do not reproduce any scripts for any purpose other than V-Day events.
* All V-Day events should not exceed 90 minutes.
* Performances should be done without intermissions.

Casting:

* A minimum of 5 people in any performance. No maximum & we encourage you to       include as many people as possible.
* Strive for diversity of all kinds.
* No acting experience is necessary.

Publicity:

* You must use your correct event title, as it appears on the top of your V-Spot       login, in all publicity.
* You must adhere to ‘Identity & Social Networking Guidelines’ found under the       "Publicity" section of the V-Spot.
* Absolutely no excerpt performances of any plays for promotional purposes or       otherwise.
* No filming of events beyond 3-minute publicity limits outlined in “Publicity”       section of the V-Spot.

Requirements for “The Vagina Monologues” performances

* Performances should happen during V-Season ONLY (Feb 1- April 30)
* Charge tickets for your production unless given special permission by the       directors of the campaigns.
* No excluding, editing or order changes to any of the monologues.
* No male actors, but please include & encourage involvement. (We suggest using       the following guideline to determine who "qualifies": People who lead their       lives as women are eligible to perform in your production. This includes people       who are born as women and transgendered individuals, it does not include drag       queens. We leave it to your good judgment and your sensitivity to specific       situations to make the casting decisions for your individual production. If you       would like any help with this issue, please feel free to write to       campaign@vday.org )
* Choose only 1 optional monologue (in addition to the spotlight monologue) to be       included in order to keep productions to 90 minutes
* Your official event name will be: V-Day [your college/city name/youth group]       “The Vagina Monologues” 2011.

Requirements for “ A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer” performances

* Performances should happen during V-Season ONLY (Feb 1- April 30)
* Charge tickets for your production unless given special permission by the       directors of the campaigns.
* Choose between 5 & 10 monologues, but do not edit the monologues themselves.
* Include men as performers in the pieces written for men.
* Consider a beneficiary that is working with men and boys in ending violence       against women and girls.
* Your official event name will be: V-Day [your college/city name/youth group] “A       Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and a Prayer” 2011.

Requirements for “Any One of Us” Performances

* Performances should happen during V-Season ONLY (Feb 1- April 30)
* Charge tickets for your production unless given special permission by the       directors of the campaigns.
* Consider a beneficiary that is specifically working with women in prison groups       addressing the issues of violence against women in relation to incarceration,       laws, policy, advocacy, etc.
* We encourage you to include up to 2 local pieces of writing from formerly or       currently incarcerated women to add to your event. Their writing should be       specifically focused on how their experiences with violence led to their       incarceration.
* Reach out to & include formerly incarcerated women whose experiences with       violence directly led to their incarceration.
* Reach out to local correctional facilities to request permission to perform       inside of the prison.
* Your official event name will be: V-Day [your college/city name/youth group]       “Any One of Us” 2011.

Requirements for “Until The Violence Stops” screenings

* Screenings can happen any time of the year leading up to or take place during       V-Season (Feb 1- April 30)
* You may charge tickets for your screening or solicit suggested donations at the       end of your event.
* The rights are FREE, but you must purchase a copy of the film through       www.vday.org/store.
* Your official event name is “A V-Day Benefit Screening of “Until The Violence       Stops”: [your college/city name/youth group].

Requirements for “What I Want My Words To Do To You” screenings

* Screenings can happen any time of the year leading up to or take place during       V-Season (Feb 1- April 30)
* You may charge tickets for your screening or solicit suggested donations at the       end of your event.
* The rights are FREE, but you must purchase a copy of the film through       www.vday.org/store.
* Reach out to local correctional facilities to request permission to host a       screening inside of the prison
* Consider a beneficiary that is specifically working with women in prison groups       addressing the issues of violence against women in relation to incarceration,       laws, policy, advocacy, etc.
* Your official event name will be: V-Day [your college/city name/youth group]       “What I Want My Words to Do to You” 2011.

Requirements for “Spotlight Teach-In” events

* Teach-Ins can happen any time of the year leading up to or take place during       V-Season (Feb 1- April 30)
* The event should be free of charge or suggested donations at your discretion.
* Your official event name will be: V-Day [your college/city name/youth group]       “Spotlight Teach In” 2011.

Requirements for “V-Men” events

* Attendance at the workshop should be free of charge.
* Workshops can happen any time of the year leading up to or take place during       V-Season (Feb 1- April 30).
* Workshop host & attendees must be male.
* Your official event name will be: V-Day [your college/city name/youth group]       “V-Men Workshop” 2011.

© 2010 V-Day

1 comment:

la fin du siècle said...

Sorry for all of the seeming typos in the text layout.
I was compensating for the lack of alignment in the bullet points, once I cut & pasted the article from the V-Day website, to my blog post!