APAP receives landmark funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support reopening the performing arts industry

APAP to distribute more than $2 million in grants to the field as part of its ArtsForward program.
By: APAP
 
Cimafunk At Webster Hall at APAP|NYC 2020
Cimafunk At Webster Hall at APAP|NYC 2020
WASHINGTON - Sept. 20, 2021 - PRLog -- The Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) is pleased to announce that it received $3 million from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for APAP ArtsForward, a new program to support the performing arts field's safe, vibrant, and equitable reopening and recovery. The program will focus primarily on providing grants to presenters and their artist/ensemble partners as venues reopen, tours resume, and audiences reconnect. It will also offer services and resources to the field-at-large around reopening, booking, and touring.

ArtsForward will distribute more than $2 million in early 2022 through grants of up to $50,000 to APAP member presenting organizations, working in partnership with an artist or ensemble, for virtual, in-person or hybrid engagements. Priority will be placed on funding small and mid-sized presenting organizations with budgets of less than $5M. Applications will be co-submitted by presenters and artists, and at least half of each grant will directly support artists. Grantees will receive technical assistance and participate in cohort gatherings throughout the grant period.

APAP ArtsForward will also provide a range of services to support the performing arts field's transition toward reopening its venues safely. This will include professional development, sessions, and tools such as real-time vaccination policy and safety protocol data from presenting organizations; resources addressing COVID-19 issues for staff, artists, and patrons; and reports on the state of reopening and touring that track presenter, agent, and artist booking/rescheduling activity.

Inspired by the intensive exchanges that emerged during the pandemic in the performing arts field, ArtsForward  aims to build and reinforce a sustainable arts ecosystem with business practices that respect artists, support presenters, and underscore the interdependence and safety of all those involved in performance engagements. Its design and activities are informed by a team of multidisciplinary and culturally diverse advisors and peers, including artists, agents, presenters, and administrators.

"We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its partnership in delivering timely and essential support to our members and artists," said Lisa Richards Toney, President and CEO of APAP. "This is a critical first step in a long process to restart the performing arts."

Funding guidelines for the APAP ArtsForward grants program will be announced in early October. Interested applicants will submit a short form in late fall 2021. Select applicants will be invited to submit additional information by early 2022. Beginning in February 2022, APAP will grant up to 50 awards of up to $50,000 to support engagements throughout the remainder of 2022. More information is available at https://www.apap365.org/Programs/Arts-Forward.

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Source:APAP
Email:***@apap365.org Email Verified
Tags:Funding, Performing Arts, Reopening
Industry:Arts
Location:Washington - District of Columbia - United States
Subject:Services
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