Demand To Be Heard
Applications Open Due March 20!
Applications Open Due March 20!
We invite you to apply to Demand To Be Heard!
Applications for our annual artist residency program are open NOW and close March 20th, 2026.
The Sunflower Project invites you to apply to our Demand To Be Heard residency, supporting Los Angeles based performing artists who are survivors of gender-based violence, interpartner violence, domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
We encourage survivors from all backgrounds and experiences to embrace their creativity and participate in this transformative initiative. By sharing their art and stories, survivors not only empower themselves but also inspire others who may be on their own healing journey. The Demand To Be Heard residency will support artists in developing work to reflect their lived experience as a survivor, and will provide an opportunity for artists to show their work in a culminating production.
applications are open March 1-20, 2026
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The resident artist cohort will meet regularly in Los Angeles from April through October 2026. Artists are expected to attend at minimum 75% of the program schedule:
Workshop dates: subject to change
First Meeting: May 2, 2-5pm
Workshops — Saturdays 10am-2pm: May 30, June 6, June 20, July 11, July 18, Aug 1, Aug 8, Aug 22, Sept 5, Sept 19
Work in Progress: Sept 12, 6-10pm
Festival: Sept 25-27
Post-residency celebration: October (date TBD with cohort availability)
Additional meetings: set between artist and The Sunflower Project staff, or between artist and mentor, at artists’ request and availability
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Twice monthly Body Memory Method workshops from The Sunflower Project’s founder Leah Zeiger
6 seminars and workshops from leading professionals in the fields of art and activism.
A one-on-one mentor who provides individualized support throughout the residency; a pairing decided upon in tandem by The Sunflower Project, the mentor, and the artist.
Administrative support tailored to what each artist needs to create what they dream, such as: fundraising, timeline creation, running auditions, sourcing additional artists (such as musical accompaniment or actors), connections to possible future producers or funders, and even set design and building.
Cohort-style meetings to learn from and inspire one another.
Unlimited one-on-one support from The Sunflower Project, both during and after the residency.
An artist stipend and project budget.
Production documentation.
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If you identify as a practicing performing artist, a survivor of gender-based violence, and you are based in or near Los Angeles, you should apply! Artists of all performing arts backgrounds are encouraged to apply, regardless of the number of years you’ve been practicing.
This program is best suited for survivors who are no longer in an immediate crisis situation, and have a robust support network to offer strength and care throughout the residency.
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Applications will be accepted until March 20th, 2026 at 11:45pm PST.
All applicants will be notified via email of their status by April 10th, 2026.
Click here to apply!
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Please email any questions to leah@towardsthesun.org
Why “Demand to be Heard”?
A catalyst for self-discovery and personal growth, Demand to be Heard invites survivors to shatter the barriers of stigma, cultivate empathy, understanding, and support among a wider community. This platform raises awareness about the impact of trauma, challenges societal misconceptions, and fosters a culture of healing and resilience.
We encourage survivors from all backgrounds and experiences to embrace their creativity and participate in this transformative initiative. By sharing their art and stories, survivors not only empower themselves but also inspire others who may be on their own healing journey.
Join us in celebrating the strength, creativity, and resilience of survivors as they demand to be heard. Together, we can build a world where survivors' voices are valued, validated, and amplified.
Demand to Be Heard has two programmatic prongs:
It is an Artist Residency, annually supporting a cohort of 5 performing artists in developing and sharing work that explores and celebrates their survivorship. Read more about the Residency and meet the 2025 Resident Artists below!
It is a virtual and pop-up gallery space, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of survivors through art, creativity, and personal expression. Survivors share their experiences, reclaim their narratives, and ignite conversations that challenge societal norms, and through this, these artists not only build camaraderie and share their work with the world, but also inspire change. The platform is open to all mediums including, but not limited to visual art, poetry, music, dance, and more.
Our stories demand to be heard.
The vast majority of sexual assault and domestic violence cases go unreported and unheard due to fear of the abuser and of the public’s reaction.
Today, that ends.
Leah, the founder of The Sunflower Project, shared her story through her film “Untold”, other survivors have shared their work, as part of Demand to be Hears — and now it’s your turn.
Gallery Submission Details:
Share your story with us in any way you feel comfortable: be it a written story, a video, a song, a painting, a picture, a play... we’re open to your creativity in ANY form.
We will protect your identity and respect your wishes, always. And your work will always be your work. Our intention is to create a shared (virtual + occasionally in person!) space where survivors can make their story and their art public.
Support other survivors' work as well! Click here!
Get inspired! Meet the 2025 Demand To Be Heard Resident Artists:
