APAP-NYC 2020
Midtown Hilton
Conference
January 10-14
Expo Hall
January 11
APAP (the Association of Performing Arts Professionals) again holds its yearly conference in in New York’s Midtown Manhattan Hilton from January 10-14; the Expo Hall opens on Saturday, January 11th. APAP|NYC is also founding partner of JanArtsNYC, the most comprehensive annual celebration of the performing arts around the globe and is a convergence of 13 major performing arts industry forums and public festivals. The 2020 event dates and descriptions of all 13 partnering events can be found at JanArtsNYC.org.
Based in Washington, D.C. this national service, advocacy and membership organization developa and supports a robust field and the professionals who work within it. Its 1,600 national and international members represent performing arts centers, municipal and university performance facilities, nonprofit performing arts centers, culturally specific organizations, foreign governments, as well as artist agencies, managers, touring companies, and national consulting practices — and a growing roster of self-presenting artists. APAP works to effect change through advocacy, professional development, resource sharing and civic engagement. In addition to presenting the world’s leading global performing arts gathering/marketplace, APAP is the industry’s leading destination for the advancement of the performing arts.
Five must-experience programming events include:
“The Power of Risk-Taking”
Friday, January 10, 5-6:30 p.m., Hilton Grand Ballroom
Kamilah Forbes (Executive Producer, Apollo Theater — pictured right), Estelle Parsons (Academy-award winning actress) and Alice Sheppard (Dancer and Choreographer) discuss their stories as risk-takers and models of resiliency in this industry. Chris Thile (multiple Grammy-winner and MacArthur Fellow, a member of Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, and host of the radio program Live from Here.) and Meklit Hadero (singer, songwriter and TED Senior Fellow) will perform at the event.
UP NEXT! Artist Pitch Session
Friday, January 10, 1-3 p.m., Hilton 3rd Floor, West Ballroom
Exciting new works in development or ready to tour will be presented by such artists as Alphabet Rockers, Ephrta Asherie Dance, Kaki King, Kaneza Schaal and Chrisopher Myers, Keone &Mari Madrid and Hideaway Circus, Le Patin Libre, Mark Haim, Michelle Shocked, Mostly Kosher, Sean Dorsey Dance, Shirley Crabbe, Small Island Big Song, Squonk, Sultans of String, Urban Jazz Dance Company, Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding and Will Power.
“Resilience and Sustainability: The Long Conversation”
Sunday, January 12, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Hilton Grand Ballroom
These arts professionals discuss “Resilience and Sustainability:” Aubrey Bergauer (dynamic and innovative arts administrator), Terri Lyne Carrington (Grammy-award winning jazz drummer), Ty Defoe (Co-Founder, Indigenous Direction), Nick Slie (Co-Creator/Performer, Mondo Bizzaro), and Raam (Iranian-born rock musician, founder of Supernova, a post-punk band in New York and music resident at New York City Artist Safe Haven Residency). Choir! Choir! Choir!, a Toronto-based group known for its community-building approach to performance,will lead the audience at the top of the session.
APAP Awards Ceremony
Monday, January 13, 12-1:45 p.m., Hilton Grand Ballroom
The APAP Annual Awards Ceremony will honor Ping Chong, internationally acclaimed artist and pioneer in the use of media in theater; Emil Kang, former Executive and Artistic Director, Carolina Performing Arts, UNC Chapel Hill; and The League of American Orchestras (Jesse Rosen, President and CEO; Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy).The “Distinguished Service Award” recipient will be announced at the ceremony.
Closing: Ben Folds on “Art, Life and Music”
Tuesday, January 14, 10-11 a.m., Hilton Trianon Ballroom
APAP|NYC 2020 closes with multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Ben Folds who will share a message on risk, resilience and creativity based on his book, a collection of essays, anecdotes and lessons about art, life and music. In addition to his enormous body of genre-building music with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums and numerous collaborative records, he also serves as the first Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Mr. Folds is also a highly recognized champion for arts education and music therapy funding in our nation’s public schools. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Americans for the Arts’ Arts Action Fund’s ArtsVote2020 national initiative to advocate for a greater commitment to the nation’s creative economy through improved public policies for the arts and arts education. You can also hear him as host of a podcast series of interviews on arts policies with current 2020 presidential candidates.Folds has recently written his critically acclaimed memoir, “A Dream About Lightning Bugs,” which debuted as a New York Times Best Seller.
APAP|NYC’s daily sessions, as well as the annual awards luncheon, will be streamed on Facebook Live.
For a complete list of sessions, speakers and to learn more about the conference, visit www.apap365.org