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Call for Pitches: Short-Form Video from Your Community

by Angela Zonunpari

A person holds up a camera to take a selfie with a group of 20 people.
Photo Credit: Jay Yamada
Post-Q&A session, Jomar Tagatac takes selfie with cast members Kenny Scott, Michael Asberry, Sam Jackson, Cathleen Riddley, and students as part of a Shakespeare in American Communities activity.

Pitch us an idea of something cool and creative happening around you and get paid as a community documenter!

Arts Midwest is looking for more community documenters: people with a passion for documenting creativity around them. Film 8–10 short, vertical phone clips of local art, culture, or community life, and get paid to help us amplify Midwestern creativity!

We’ll handle the editing, scripting, and posting on our channels. You’ll get credit and $250 for your footage and a short write-up.

Want to get involved? The first step is to tell us what’s happening in your community by submitting a pitch via our online form. Right now, we’re looking for events, activities, and creative happenings that will take place between December 8 – January 30.

Bring the view from your corner of the Midwest, and we’ll help share it with others.

Send Us Your Idea!

 

The first step is to tell us what’s happening in your community by submitting a pitch. Right now, we’re looking for events, activities, and creative happenings that will take place between December 8 – January 30.

A brief pitch of what you plan to capture is due Sunday, November 30, 2025, through our pitch submission form. You’ll be asked for the following information:

  • What are you proposing to cover?  (50 words)
    • Tell us about the event, project, or person at the heart of your story. What is distinct about this story?
  • What makes it distinct or creative? (100 words)
    • Elaborate on why this story or subject.
  • What makes it visually interesting? (50 words)
  • When would you be able to film it? (25 words)
  • What is your connection to this story? (50 words)
  • Tell us about yourself. (100 words)
  • Provide links to up to three work samples and/or a portfolio so we can get an idea of your skills.
    • Work samples do not have to be published works, but should show your video filming skills.

You are welcome to submit multiple pitches if you have more than one idea.

A great pitch makes us curious. It spotlights something creative, unexpected, or deeply rooted about the Midwest and the breadth of art and culture happening here. The best pitches:

  • Spark curiosity. Is this something people haven’t seen before, or a fresh take on a familiar tradition?
  • Highlight community. Does it bring people together, or show how creativity shapes local life?
  • Have strong visuals. Will it look dynamic on camera — with movement, color, texture, sound, or process?
  • Connect to the Midwest. What makes this story uniquely rooted in the place you live?

It’s also important to think about the logistics! Before you pitch, ask yourself:

  • Can I film this between December 8 – January 30?
  • Can I provide a 200-word summary of what I’ve filmed?
  • If it features people or events, are they available and comfortable being filmed?
  • Do I have a phone or camera that shoots high-resolution, vertical video?

We plan to select up to 10 pitches from this open call. If your pitch moves forward, we’ll set up a community documenter contract with you. You will be responsible for these deliverables:

  • Video documentation: 8-10 *solid* unedited clips, at least 15 seconds each, shot vertically and high resolution (min. 1080 x 1920)
  • Short summary: 200-300 words (who, what, when, why + any distinct details)
  • Contact info for a recommended source: for proofing and fact-checking purposes

Total compensation for these deliverables (from a selected pitch) is $250. Final videos will be published across social media channels by Arts Midwest.

  • November 11, 2025 – Call for Pitches opens
  • Sunday, November 30, 2025 – Pitches due
  • Week of December 1, 2025 – Notifications to selected community documenters
  • December 8, 2025 to January 30, 2026 – Selected community documenters take videos and send them to us
  • January to March 2026 –  Final edited videos published

Have a question not answered here? Contact us at [email protected].

Can I see examples?

Here are some recent examples of video taken from contributors across the Midwest to spark your imagination. Or, see all our short-form video content on YouTube.


Our Video Guide

You don’t need to be a filmmaker—just a curious, thoughtful observer. Think: “What moments would I want to share with someone who couldn’t be here?”

Read More

People sitting at booths with marked up wooden tables and benches in a dimly lit room. Others are standing looking in one direction. In the background, through glass windows, is a laundromat with people standing around or sitting on laundry machines.
Photo Credit: Taylor Dorrell / Arts Midwest

Submit Your Pitch

We’re looking for events, activities, and creative happenings that will take place between December 8 – January 30.

A brief pitch of what you plan to capture is due November 30, 2025.

We plan to select up to 10 pitches from this open call. If your pitch is selected, you will be paid to be a community documenter.

Submit a Pitch