Karaoke Convention ’08

is a post-partisan, trans-political, artist-led campaign to create a platform for public "re-speech" at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Specially designed karaoke tracks, made from 2008 presidential primary speeches, and a Karaoke Convention Kit will be made available at an informal network of Karaoke Convention Centers, hosted by karaoke bars and performance venues across the city of Denver. The campaign is rooted in the belief that this new form of karaoke is a critical and necessary form of engagement for citizens in a contemporary participatory democracy.

The Karaoke Convention Campaign will span the duration of the convention, offering alternative sites for public discourse through re-performance. A campaign kick-off event is scheduled for Thursday August 21 from 8–11pm at the Supreme Court Hotel Bar (located in downtown Denver's Adams Mark Hotel). You can also use the rehearsal and gallery sections of this site to participate online and post video documentation of your re-speeches from wherever the Karaoke Convention Campaign finds you.

Karaoke Convention '08 is part of the curatorial project Dialog:City, scheduled to coincide with the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Prior to arriving in Denver the Karaoke Convention ’08 will make brief stops in Pawtucket, RI, Linköping, Sweden and Obama, Japan.