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APAP-NYC 2016 Draws 3,600 Performing Arts Leaders, Icons and Rising Stars to New York City, January 15-19
Over MLK Day weekend, the performing arts industry explores the MAKING of art and opportunities for collaboration

Performing arts leaders, artists, managers, agents and presenters of dance, theater, music, opera and family programming are making their annual pilgrimage to New York this week for APAP|NYC 2016, the granddaddy of January performing arts industry gatherings. In its 59th year, the global performing arts marketplace, members conference and awards luncheon for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) runs January 15-19. The organization, including its conference, is a critical force in the strengthening of the performing arts industry and its evolution. It plays a significant role both monetarily and creatively, and brings artists and audiences together.

APAP|NYC is fashioned for members and professionals but many preconference workshops, sessions and events are free and accessible by non-members via live streaming, and by attending preconference sessions and events January 14 and 15.

The MAKERS theme this year recognizes the craft and contributions of artists and all people critical to the process of making art and bringing live performances to communities worldwide. This year the conference falls on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, just as communities reflect upon their new year, the year past and solutions to challenges presented by conflict, violence, social injustices, racial and religious discourse, poverty and humanitarian crises. Sessions address conference subthemes of Make Art, Make a Difference, Make Decisions, and Make Money.

APAP|NYC is a huge networking opportunity to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas and information with old and news friends in the industry. Artists and their representatives are seen and may be contracted for seasons to come by the presenters and curators who select performances from the APAP|NYC EXPO Hall and more than 1,000 APAP|NYC showcase performances. With all the other industry conferences and public festivals in New York City at the same time, there is much to do whether you are in the field, checking your next career step, or simply out to enjoy the great performances that collide in New York all in the same month.

“APAP members—artists, presenters and industry leaders—view APAP|NYC as an indispensable tool for conducting the business of performing arts, but when our members gather in New York City, non-members and enthusiasts wanting a glimpse inside the business of performing arts presenting also benefit,” said Mario Garcia Durham, president and CEO of APAP. “From the pre-conference public events on Thursday and Friday, and our young classical musicians free concert on Monday evening; to our partnering organizations’ January In NYC festivals and forums that take place in proximity to the APAP conference, it’s a great time to be in New York City.”

An expanded list of plenaries and key sessions will be available free to all via live-streaming. Among this year’s line-up are more than 200 speakers, and 25 featured artists and speakers, including: the APAP|NYC opening session at 5:00 p.m. EST this Friday with Paula Kerger (PBS), Bill T. Jones (New York Live Arts), and opera singer Carla Dirlikov Canales (The Canales Project, formerly El Camino Project). Actor, playwright and professor Anna Deavere Smith will moderate, and Bill T. Jones will perform a solo dance piece. He rarely performs solo and created the piece specifically for the conference.

Other featured sessions and plenaries highlight rising stars. At the Saturday plenary at noon, each is a unique individual and innovator who shares their own creative process in a brief rapid-fire visual presentation. Among the presenters are jessica CARE moore (Moore Black Press, Black Women Rock and CARE Moore Foundation); African jazz vocalist and song writer Somi (AfricaLive and MammaFest) and Michelle Ellsworth (choreographer and multimedia performance artist), moderated by Liz Lerman, MacArthur “Genius” fellow.

Preceding that, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., is a plenary on points of entry and nurturing involvement in the arts with the cofounders of Ghana Think Tank, Ahmad Naser Sarmast and other speakers. As the head of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, Sarmast literally risks his life to keep teaching and reviving traditional music of Afghanistan to talented youth, regardless of their sex, socioeconomic status or religion. He was scheduled to present at APAP|NYC last year but was injured in a suicide bomb attack. He was recently featured by The New York Times. The session is followed by breakout sessions.

Theater leaders and innovators will discuss how they “make big ideas come to life” Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., including Lisa Kron, the actor, playwright, and this year’s Tony Award winner for Best Book and as co-lyricist for “Fun Home,” and Tony-award winner, Bartlett Sher, who this year directed Best Musical, “The King and I.” Closing the conference 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday is 2015 Kennedy Honors recipient Rita Moreno, the only Latina to win all four major entertainment awards (Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy), and most noted for decades of opening doors to the performing arts for the Latino community.

At the APAP Annual Award Ceremony and Luncheon January 18, leaders the arts community looks to for innovation, knowledge and outstanding professionalism will be honored and celebrated. Tickets must be reserved. Receiving awards this year are Jedediah Wheeler, (Montclair State University, NJ); Sheila M. Smith (Minnesota Citizens for the Arts) and Dr. Charles “Chuck” Davis (African American Dance Ensemble and DanceAfrica, Durham, NC). APAP’s Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award for Exemplary Service to the Field of Professional Presenting will be announced at the luncheon.

As part of APAP|NYC 2016 five exceptional young classical musicians and ensembles will be showcased at a free public concert at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City on Monday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. Akropolis Reed Quintet, Brook Speltz, Francisco Vila, PUBLIQuartet and Steven Lin were chosen for APAP’s 2016 Young Performers Career Advancement Program (YPCA), now in its twentieth year. Their tailor-made conference experience will help them learn the business side of the industry, set long-term goals for career development and establish relationships that will serve them well into the future.

An impressive sampling of industry offerings, the 2016 pre-conference, January 14 and 15, is open to the public and involves lively discussions on the latest issues in the field. Sessions include the new Professional Development Institute, Dance Forum, Festival Forum and more, plus the largest gathering of world music professionals in the U.S., Wavelengths: APAP Global Music Pre-Conference.

“We are honored to once again welcome the artists and arts professionals who will convene here for APAP|NYC 2016,” said Luis Castro, acting commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “New York City is the theater and performance capital of the world. We are proud to be a sponsor of this year’s conference and to partner with APAP in supporting the performing arts community and showcasing the work of storytellers from across the five boroughs and around the globe.”

APAP|NYC 2016 is one of 12 conferences, festivals and other performing arts forums collaborating as January In NYC, a partnership which brings more than 45,000 industry professionals, performing artists and enthusiasts to New York City Jan. 5-19. Some were incubated at APAP|NYC. Other events sprung, in part, from the fact that the APAP|NYC Conference draws so many performing arts professionals to New York City every January.

Partnering January In NYC festivals and forums, many of which are open to the public, are as follows:

COIL 2016, Jan. 5-17, ps122.org/coil; PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now, Jan. 6-17, prototypefestival.org; The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival (UTR), Jan. 6-17, undertheradarfestival.com; Chamber Music America (CMA), Jan. 7-10, chamber-music.org; American Realness, Jan. 7-17, americanrealness.com; New York 2016 ISPA Congress, Jan. 12-14, ispa.org; American Dance Platform, Jan. 12-17, Joyce.org; NYC Winter Jazzfest, Jan. 13-17, winterjazzfest.com; Wavelengths: APAP Global Music Pre-conference, Jan. 14-15, APAPNYC.org; Jazz Connect Conference, Jan. 14-15, jazz-connect.com; APAP|NYC 2016, Jan. 15-19, APAPNYC.org; and globalFEST, Jan. 17, globalfest.org

ABOUT APAP

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters is the national service, advocacy and membership organization for presenters of the performing arts. APAP is dedicated to developing and supporting a robust performing arts industry and the professionals who work within it. APAP|NYC conference information APAPNYC.org, APAP membership information APAP365.org,Twitter @APAP365, #APAPNYC, Facebook facebook.com/APAPNYC.

Media Contact: Carol Miller

cmiller@artspresenters.org and carolmiller100@gmail.com +1.202.306.0130

Media Advisor, APAP|NYC 2016, Association of Performing Arts Presenters