About

• Chorus America

  Chorus America is the organization that serves the spectrum of professional, volunteer, children/youth, and symphony/opera choruses. Chorus America's mission is to build a dynamic and inclusive choral community so that more people are transformed by the beauty and power of choral singing. We envision a future where choral singing is valued and supported as a vital part of every community and accessible to all - bridging cultures, ethnicities, and generations. To accomplish this mission, Chorus America provides information, publications, conferences, consulting, training programs, surveys, networking, and awards to support choruses in North America. Chorus America is known for its unparalleled ability to enhance the organizational strength of choruses through services that address infrastructure, management, and board development issues. No other organization currently offers the array of programs that support the public presentation of choral music. In addition, Chorus America's conducting programs have a reputation for providing artistic directors with skills, tools, and advice that help them in their day-to-day efforts to present first-rate and appealing concerts. Nearly 1,600 choruses, individuals, and businesses are members of Chorus America. This powerful group of conductors, arts administrators, board members, singers, music business executives, and choral music lovers are at the core of a vibrant choral movement in North America.

• Dance/USA

  Dance/USA is the national service organization for professional dance. Established in 1982, Dance/USA is a membership organization currently comprised of over 400 ballet, modern, culturally specific, jazz, and tap companies, dance service and presenting organizations, individuals, and related organizations. It believes that dance demonstrates the infinite possibilities for human expression and potential, facilitates communication within and across cultures, and is essential to a healthy society. Dance/USA sustains and advances the art form of dance by addressing the needs, concerns, and interests of professional artists, administrators and organizations.

• League of American Orchestras

  The League of American Orchestras exists to improve the constantly changing environment in which American orchestras and their supporters operate. It exists to become a transformative and unifying force—a catalyst for understanding and innovation, a place for the conversations that matter and a champion for orchestras. The Orchestra in twenty-first century America is an essential component of a vibrant, diverse and economically successful community. Its ability to entertain and educate multiple audiences is unique and can take place in numerous settings: a traditional concert hall; in schools and colleges; the shopping mall; baseball field or church. The range of music played by orchestras is immense and more new music is being commissioned than ever before. Since its creation in 1942, the League has expanded its programs and services to address the needs of its nearly 1,000 member symphony, chamber, youth and collegiate orchestras of all sizes. It occupies a position at the center of a national network of thousands of musicians, conductors, managers, board members, volunteers, staff members, and business partners, providing a wealth of services, information, and educational opportunities to its members. The League is determined to help orchestras do those things they cannot do alone. It is focusing on the future, finding and strengthening future leaders, making its voice heard in all the right places and improving the information and analytical tools that will help write the next great chapter in the development of America's orchestras.

• OPERA America

  OPERA America - the nonprofit service organization for opera - leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera. Artistic services help opera companies and artists to improve the quality of productions and increase the creation and presentation of North American works. Information, technical and administrative services to opera companies reflect the need for strengthened leadership among staff, trustees and volunteers. Education, audience development and community services are designed to enhance all forms of opera enjoyment. The international membership network includes over 250 professional opera company members; 2,000 affiliate, individual and business members; and more than 18,500 online subscribers. To learn more about membership in OPERA America, visit www.operaamerica.org.

• Theatre Communications Group

  Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American not-for-profit theatre, offers a wide array of services in line with its mission: to strengthen, nurture and promote the professional not-for-profit American theatre. Artistic programs support theatres and theatre artists by awarding approximately $3 million in grants annually, and offer career development programs for artists. Management programs provide professional development opportunities for theatre leaders through workshops, conferences, forums and publications, as well as industry research on the finances and practices of the American not-for-profit theatre. Advocacy, conducted in conjunction with the dance, presenting, opera and symphony orchestra fields, includes guiding lobbying efforts and providing theatres with timely alerts about legislative developments. As the country's leading independent press specializing in dramatic literature, TCG's publications include American Theatre magazine, the ArtSEARCH employment bulletin, plays, translations and theatre reference books. As the U.S. Center of UNESCO's International Theatre Institute, a worldwide network, TCG supports cross-cultural exchange through travel grants and other assistance to traveling theatre professionals. Through these programs, TCG seeks to increase the organizational efficiency of its member theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field, and promote a larger public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre field. TCG serves over 460 member theatres nationwide.

• Alternate Roots

  A regional arts service organization with over 30 years of history, Alternate ROOTS is an invaluable national resource to artists, organizers and cultural workers. As a visible champion of activist artists, ROOTS is looked to for leadership particularly in the Southeastern United States, where it provides its most direct services to its members. Alternate ROOTS provides the connective tissue for a distinct segment of the arts and culture field—artists who have a commitment to making work in, with, by, for and about their communities, and those whose cultural work strives for social justice. Alternate ROOTS contributes to the sustained artistic development, increased visibility and stability of activist artists.

• American Association of Community Theatre

  The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is the national voice of community theatre, representing the interests of community theatres across the U.S. and with the armed forces overseas--and the individuals who support them. AACT also offers a wide range of member benefits and services.

• American Composers Forum

  The American Composers Forum supports composers' artistic and professional growth through a variety of programs and services, including commissions, performances, readings, fellowships and recording distribution. Membership is open to all self-identified composers and performers of music worldwide. Members come from virtually every musical genre, including orchestral, chamber, choral, opera and music theater, jazz and improvisational music, electronic and electro-acoustic music, sound art. In addition to the tangible benefits of membership (i.e., newsletters, access to opportunity listings, invitations), members are part of a national community of artists who share commons concerns, aspirations and goals.

• American Music Center

  The American Music Center (AMC) was founded in 1939 by composers Marion Bauer, Aaron Copland, Howard Hanson, Harrison Kerr, Otto Luening, and Quincy Porter to support the creation and presentation of new American music. Since then, the Center has been a leader in providing field-wide advocacy, support, and connection for the field of new American music. Its programs include NewMusicBox, the award-winning web magazine; Counterstream Radio, a 24/7 online radio station programming American music; grantmaking initiatives Live Music For Dance and the Composer Assistance Program; Tuning Up Your Career and Nuts & Bolts, professional development workshops for composers and others working in new music; and Explore American Music, a web portal to new American music, composers, repertory and ensembles (including the AMC Online Library, a searchable database of some 43,000 works by American composers). Membership is open to composers, performers, ensembles, and institutions. Membership benefits include monthly listings of opportunities in the field, ability to upload biographical information and works to the Online Library, and eligibility to apply for grants.

• Americans for the Arts

  Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, with offices in Washington, DC and New York. Formed in 1996 as a result of the merger between the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies (NALAA) and the American Council for the Arts (ACA), Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts, we are focused on three primary goals: 1) Foster an environment in which the arts can thrive and contribute to the creation of more livable communities; 2) Generate more public- and private-sector resources for the arts and arts education; and 3) Build individual appreciation of the value of the arts. To achieve our goals, we partner with local, state, and national arts organizations, government agencies, business leaders, individual philanthropists, educators, and funders throughout the country; and provide arts industry research, information, and professional development opportunities for community arts. Advocacy work is carried out through national visibility and local outreach, where we strive to motivate and mobilize opinion leaders and decision-makers who can make the arts thrive in America. Americans for the Arts also produces annual events that heighten national visibility for the arts, including Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, and special national projects such as the Animating Democracy project, the YouthARTS Resource Initiative, and the National Arts Education Public Advertising Campaign with the Ad Council.

• Association of Performing Arts Presenters

  With over forty years as an active arts service organization, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (Arts Presenters) is the nexus for the performing arts community and the innovators in the field. Representing both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors of the industry, Arts Presenters members hail from all 50 states and more than 15 countries across the globe and range from large performing arts centers in major urban cities, outdoor festivals and rural community-focused organizations to academic institutions, artists and artist managers. Our membership includes organizations with multi-million dollar budgets and individuals who are performing arts professionals. Members bring performances to over 2 million audience-goers each week. No other association membership rivals the breadth of creative expression, representing disciplines ranging from all forms of dance, music, theater and family programming to puppetry, circus, magic, attractions and performance art.

• Chamber Music America

  Chamber Music America, the national service organization for the ensemble music profession, was founded in 1977 to promote artistic excellence and economic stability within the field, and to ensure that chamber music, in its broadest sense, is a vital part of American life. With a membership of over 8,000, including musicians, ensembles, presenters, artists' managers, educators, music businesses, and advocates of ensemble music, CMA welcomes and represents a wide range of musical styles and traditions. In addition to its funding programs, CMA provides its members with consulting services, access to health and instrument insurance, conferences, seminars and several publications, including Chamber Music magazine and a website, www.chamber-music.org.

• Conductors Guild

  The Conductors Guild is the only music service organization devoted exclusively to the advancement of the art of conducting and to serving the artistic and professional needs of conductors. We have a membership of over 1,850 members representing all fifty United States and more than thirty other countries. Membership in the Conductors Guild is open to any conductor, student, institution, library or individual interested in supporting the art and profession of conducting. For more information, please visit www.conductorsguild.org or call us at (804) 553-1378.

• Creative Capital

  Creative Capital, a New York City-based nonprofit organization, acts as a catalyst for the development of adventurous and imaginative ideas through its support for artists who pursue innovation in form and/or content in the performing and visual arts, film and video, and in emerging fields. Committed to working in partnership with the artists whom we fund, Creative Capital provides advisory services and professional development assistance along with multi-faceted financial aid and promotional support throughout the life of each Creative Capital project.

• Early Music America

  Early Music America (EMA) is the nonprofit service organization for the field of historical performance in North America. Founded in 1985, EMA's goal is to expand awareness of the music of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. EMA's members receive a quarterly magazine, bulletins, and benefits including access to reduced-rate insurance, discounts on publications, and eligibility for awards and scholarships. With its broad membership, including professional performers, ensembles, presenters, instrument makers, amateur musicians, and audience members, Early Music America serves as an advocate for the field of early music throughout North America. To join EMA, visit our web site at www.earlymusic.org. Individual memberships cost $55/year; organizational memberships are pro-rated according to budget size.

• Folk Alliance

  Since 1989, Folk Alliance has served as the headquarters for Folk Music and Dance. With over 2000 members worldwide and an annual conference that is one of the five largest music conferences in North America, Folk Alliance continues to grow and mature while providing a unique range of member services to our community. Over the years, our community has grown to include record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, music support services, manufacturers and artists that work in the folk world. Folk Alliance has six regional affiliates that provide the grass roots efforts in their respective markets.

• Fractured Atlas

  Fractured Atlas is a non-profit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. Our programs and services facilitate the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it. We help artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, healthcare, education, and more, all in a context that honors their individuality and independent spirit. By nurturing today's talented but underrepresented voices, we hope to foster a dynamic and diverse cultural landscape of tomorrow. Please visit www.fracturedatlas.org for more information on our programs and services.

• Future of Music Coalition

  The Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is a not-for-profit collaboration between members of the music, technology, public policy and intellectual property law communities. The FMC seeks to educate the media, policymakers, and the public about music/technology issues, while also bringing together diverse voices in an effort to come up with creative solutions to some of the challenges in this space. The FMC also aims to identify and promote innovative business models that will help musicians and citizens to benefit from new technologies.

• Grantmakers in the Arts

  Grantmakers in the Arts is a membership organization whose trade is discourse on ideas about arts philanthropy within a diverse community of grantmakers. Founded in 1985, GIA maintains a lightweight infrastructure that supports its members' work together. Members include private, community, corporate, and family foundations, as well as public sector grantmakers, regranting organizations whose primary purpose is arts grantmaking, and individual donors who give through eligible organizations. Primary goals are to improve and strengthen arts philanthropy beyond GIA's membership, support individual grantmakers and deepen their involvement with each other, and enhance GIA's organizational effectiveness. GIA programs include an annual conference, a major periodical, research, and other convening and communication services. Over 1,300 individuals—both trustees and staff— participate in GIA, representing over 300 organizations. The key assets that members bring to GIA's work are knowledge and relationships.

• International Performing Arts for Youth

  International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY)'s mission is to create professional and educational opportunities supporting meaningful performing arts experiences for young audiences in North America.

• International Society for the Performing Arts

  The International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) is a not-for-profit membership based organization founded in 1948. Throughout its history, the purpose of ISPA has been to develop, nurture, energize and educate an international network of arts leaders and professionals who are dedicated to advancing the field of the performing arts. ISPA enjoys a membership of approximately 400 individuals from 50 different countries. Our membership includes leaders of some of the world's foremost presenting organizations and performing arts companies as well as artist's managers, theater consulting organizations and individual artists. As an organization, ISPA's constant goal is to provide the best possible support, information and opportunities for collegial exchange to our members throughout the world.

• Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater Program

  Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater Program. At Kaiser Permanente we care about the communities we serve. We created Educational Theatre Programs to inspire children, teens and adults to make informed decisions about their health and to build stronger, healthier neighborhoods.

• Literary Managers & Dramaturgs

  Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas is committed to the following objectives: to affirm, support and broaden the roles that literary managers and dramaturgs play in the theatre; to promote the exchange of information about the function, practice and value of literary management and dramaturgy; to encourage and foster cooperation among the practitioners and theoreticians of dramaturgy, other theatre professionals and their academic counterparts; to expand the boundaries of the field to include other literary and performance media and institutions.

• Meet The Composer

  Meet The Composer was founded in 1974 as a project of the New York State Council on the Arts. Led by the visionary composer John Duffy, Meet The Composer sought to enable composers to make a living writing music, and to increase their visible presence as creative artists. Through a range of commissioning, residency, education, and audience interaction programs, Meet The Composer has revolutionized the environment for composers in this country, establishing broadly accepted standards of payment and opening the doors for them to work in cultural institutions of all kinds. Meet The Composer's mission is to increase opportunities for composers by fostering the creation, performance, dissemination, and appreciation of their music, which is accomplished by: supporting the creation of new work; supporting direct contact between composers and audiences; supporting collaborations between U.S.-based composers and artists of all disciplines; creating education programs for both appreciation and to help establish music composition as a basic part of U.S. education; and establishing innovative private and public sector partnerships. Meet The Composer designs programs that support composers writing in all styles of music. Projects have included classical, jazz, folk, electronic and many other styles of music, in formats from major symphonic works and full-length operas, to works for jazz ensemble, music for dance of all kinds, experimental music and theater projects, and chamber music. Working with thousands of artistic and civic organizations, Meet The Composer has helped them to develop and sustain a commitment to new music, and catalyzing partnerships that bring music by living American composers to their audiences from rural communities to urban centers. Meet The Composer is frequently recognized for the excellence of its programs, and is the recipient of the New York State Governor's Award, the Business Committee for the Arts Award, the Arts and Business Council's Encore Award, and the American Symphony Orchestra League's prestigious Gold Baton Award.

• Music Critics Association of North America

  Music Critics Association of North America is dedicated to strengthening the profession of classical music journalism. Its purposes include: 1) To act as an educational medium for the promotion of high standards of music criticism in the press of the Americas. 2) To hold meetings in which self-criticism and exchange of ideas will promote educational opportunities. 3) To increase general interest in the growing culture of the Americas.

• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

  The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is the membership organization that unites, represents and serves the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Each of the 56 states and jurisdictions has created an agency to support excellence in and access to the arts. NASAA's mission is to strengthen state arts agencies. We represent their individual and collective interests, empower their work through knowledge, and advance the arts as an essential public benefit.

• National Association of Latino Arts and Culture

  The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) is dedicated to the preservation, development and promotion of the cultural and artistic expressions of the diverse Latino populations of the United States. Through this effort, NALAC is committed to the continuing struggle for the elimination of racism, sexism, ageism and discrimination against gay, lesbian and physically challenged populations. The objective is to recognize and support the varied standards of excellence grounded in the aesthetics and traditions of our root cultures.

• National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts

  The National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts is America's service association for community arts education organizations dedicated to providing high-quality, sequential arts instruction so that all people may participate in the arts according to their interests and abilities. Through the Guild, these organizations are joining to secure resources and support, make the case for community arts education, and develop and share strategies for success. The Guild's national network encompasses community schools of the arts, multi-arts centers, community divisions of universities, museums, local arts agencies, theater and dance companies, and others. In concert with this dynamic network, the Guild researches and promotes best practices, provides opportunities for professional development and dialogue, and advocates for broad access. For details on Guild programs and services, and membership information, visit www.nationalguild.org, or call the Guild at (212) 268-3337 x10.

• National Performance Network

  The National Performance Network (NPN) is a diverse group of cultural organizers, including artists, working to create meaningful partnerships and to provide leadership that enables the practice and public experience of the performing arts in the United States. NPN serves artists, arts organizers, and a broad and diverse range of audiences and communities across the country through commissions, residencies, community cultural projects, the NPN Annual Meeting, and other artistic activities.

  Membership in the National Performance Network is by invitation through a nomination process. NPN Partners are selected through a rigorous process involving NPN staff, board and current NPN Partners, with a deliberate focus on diversity. As a decentralized nationwide network, NPN does not directly make curatorial choices, select artists or maintain a roster of artists. Artists gain access to NPN programs and resources directly through NPN Partner organizations which select individual artists and artist companies based on their own curatorial and community needs.

• North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents

  NAPAMA is a not-for-profit association dedicated to promoting the professionalism of its members and the vitality of the performing arts. NAPAMA promotes the mutual advancement and the best interests of performing arts managers and agents; promotes open discourse among members and with the larger field; gives active consideration and expression of opinion on questions affecting the industry; disseminates and exchanges information through forums, meetings, publications, workshops, electronic media and new technologies; develops and encourages ethical and sound business practices. In all ways, NAPAMA acts as a resource for its members and creates an environment of regional, national and international alliances on behalf of the vitality of the performing arts.

• University/Resident Theatre Association

  University Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA) is the country's oldest and largest consortium of professional theatre training graduate programs and associated professional theatre companies. Founded in 1969, U/RTA provides a variety of service, management and informational programs to its members, and to non-member students, theatre professionals and producing companies, while serving as the primary liaison between the professional and educational theatres. U/RTA encourages the professional training of artists, and of future teachers in the performing arts for all levels of education.

• Arts for Colorado
• Arvada Center
• Auraria Campus/King Center
• Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
• Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
• Central City Opera
• City of Denver: Theatres & Arenas
• Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
• Colorado Ballet
• Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
• Colorado Children's Chorale
• Colorado Council on the Arts
• Colorado Symphony Orchestra
• Community College of Denver
• Curious Theatre Company
• Denver Art Museum
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts
• Denver Center Theatre Company
• Denver Metro Convention & Visitor's Bureau
• Denver Office of Cultural Affairs
• Friends of Chamber Music
• Groupo Folklorico Sabor Latino
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
• Lakewood Cultural Center
• Metro State College of Denver
• Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation
• Opera Colorado
• PCL Construction
• PHAMALy
• Scientific & Cultural Facilities District
• Semple Brown Design
• Teikyo Loretto Heights Theatre
• The Denver Brass
• University of Colorado at Denver
• Newman Center for the Performing Arts, University of Denver

National Performing Arts Convention Steering Committee

Convention Staff

Committees

• Collaborative Community Planning Project

  ARTS FOR COLORADO
  Colorado Citizens for Culture

  The NPAC vision of weaving the performing arts more thoroughly into the fabric of American communities inspired Colorado to take advantage of the presence of NPAC in Denver. Using the NPAC as a model and a springboard to action, Colorado's leading arts advocacy organization, Arts for Colorado, and its educational affiliate, Colorado Citizens for Culture, have created a Collaborative Community Planning Project.

  Cities and towns from around Colorado applied to participate and eight were selected by a jury: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Cortez, Englewood, Glenwood Springs, Lakewood, Monte Vista, and Steamboat Springs. Each will field a team of artist, arts administrator, government leader, business leader, and educator who will attend NPAC. They will focus their experience at NPAC on community-building aspects of the arts, including the role of the arts in education, economic development, cultural tourism, urban renewal, and civic identity.

  In the year after NPAC, these eight Colorado communities will identify their arts resources and the ways in which the community can create collaborations with business, education, and government to enhance quality of life, economic vitality, and student achievement.

  The Collaborative Community Planning Project is generously supported by:

  Premier Program Sponsor: PINNACOL ASSURANCE

The day-to-day activities at most arts organizations are so demanding that finding time to build meaningful working relationships is difficult; building such relationships with colleagues from other organizations—let alone other disciplines—is even more challenging. NPAC offered a shared collaborative experience among participants through a carefully designed program that blends interactive sessions with networking opportunities and performances.

Individual artists are the creators and interpreters around whom all arts organizations revolve. NPAC committed to encourage artist involvement in the convention through programming, partnerships with organizations, and collaborations with funders. Both professional and amateur artists will attend and serve as speakers, panelists and facilitators.

NPAC laid the groundwork on which to build an action agenda for the performing arts. The inclusive NPAC Town Hall process identified the priority areas of Advocacy, Artists, Diversity, Education, and Technology. A national, multi-disciplinary task force process is developing concrete action plans to address each area in order to build a better performing arts future for America.