For at least the last two decades or so that I can remember, The Association of Performing Arts Professionals (that’s APAP) transforms the big New York Hilton Midtown on 6th Avenue between 53rd and 54th (1335 6th Ave), into a multi-room venue packed with performers of all stripes from all over the world. And it presents this amazing gathering every January. The organization brings performing arts professionals together to explore and present the best and newest in dance, music, theater — all disciplines and genres — at APAP’s annual membership conference and pre-conference. The pre-conference will also include Wavelengths, the largest gathering of world music professionals in North America, produced by globalFESTand PR firm rock paper scissors.
Happening this January 5th through the 8th, 2019 (with the 3rd and 4th offering pre-conference sessions), there are more than 1000 world-class artist showcases held around the city; an EXPO Hall with nearly 400 booths and dozens of professional development sessions. Keynotes included well known and cutting edge artists and arts leaders. And there were pre-conference forums, many of them free and open to the public.
In its 62nd year, nearly 3,600 arts professionals from nearly 30 countries and 49 U.S. states attended the conference which united interests that support the strength and vibrancy of the industry. Based in Washington, D.C., this organization hails a robust, performing arts presenting field and the professionals who work within it. APAP’s 1,600 national and international members represent leading 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 that serve the field, and a growing roster of self-presenting artists.
There will be 1,000 performance showcases, a robust 370-booth EXPO Hall and thought-provoking plenary sessions. Programming this year focuses on how the performing arts presenting industry drives change together. “The Power of WE” at APAP|NYC 2019 affirms the collective impact of the industry and the performing arts as a positive agent in our communities, our nation and the world.
Said Mario Garcia Durham, President and CEO of APAP, “APAP|NYC 2019 will be an important moment for our leaders and those aspiring to lead to dive into areas that will affect the outcome of the health of our industry in these turbulent times. This moment will also serve as a call to action for our industry to identify how we can positively impact the outcomes of our contributions to our communities and the field.”
PBS Arts Advisor Jane Chu, former Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts kicks off the conference at the opening plenary session on Friday, January 4th. In a presentation on “The Power of Art”, she will deliver a multi-dimensional perspective on our creative industry, from her unique vantage point as a former arts administrator and presenter, leader and artist.
APAP|NYC 2019 moves the performing arts world forward with bold conversations around current issues affecting its workforce, communities and APAP’s membership. These conversations take place across more than 50 professional development sessions, organized by 10 subject-matter tracks. They include:
Politics and Social Justice in Classical Music
Diversity and Inclusion in Rural Presenting
Going Multilingual: Expanding Your Reach and Impact
Reconsidering the Glass Ceiling
Artists Building a Code of Ethics in the Era of #MeToo
HR Bootcamp: Handling Harassment in the Performing Arts Workplace: Backstage, On Stage, Front of House and in the Office.
And, if you knew about it in advance, you could have attended these performances that take place from morning until late night. Anyone can — it’s a little secret about New York I will let you in on. The talent abounds.
Here’s a little rundown on some of the folks I saw in play last year to entreat and tantalize. It was there that the Estonian Voices did an amazing jazz tinged acapella performance which surprised me through their charm and expressiveness. They not only expressed themselves in sound but in body — a discovery I hope won’t go unappreciated in the States any longer.
Among the dozens of performers, some of the best there were from Ireland — Lunasa, Socks In The kitchen and The Prodigals among others who had performed. I reveled in them all; it proved that such musicians play not for ego but for the sheer joy of it all.
Some great classic acts such as the Persuasions with their rich vocals acrobatics ad proved to not only alive but doing well in keeping alive the pure expression in soul jubilation. There were also lots of tribute bands including an ear busting faux Jimi Hendrix who did soaring rendition of such classics as “The Wind Cries Mary” and “Purple Haze.” In addition — if one has a pass — one can view the three floors of exhibitions deep in the hotel. Agents of all stripes touted their clients while a few touted themselves fully in costume and wondered the halls sometimes with chocolates in hand.
To see more about the conference go to: APAPNYC.org, @APAP365, #APAPNYC and facebook.com/APAPNYC.
For a complete list of sessions, speakers and to learn more about the conference program, go to: www.apap365.org
APAP|NYC’s daily plenary sessions, as well as the annual awards luncheon, will also be streamed on Facebook Live.