2017 Western Arts Alliance Annual Conference by Timothy Wilson

STANDING TOGETHERÂ CELEBRATING DIFFERENCE THE ARTS MAKE US GREAT

CONNECT Register @ westarts.org Early Bird Registration Ends July 14

FOREGROUND: Cirque Mechanics Pedal Punk, photo by Jerry Metellus, courtesy of the artist. BACKGROUND: Artist Showcase circa 1995 from the WAA Archive.

G ERÂ G CE TS KE AT

Western Arts Alliance celebrates its 50th Anniversary and Conference a major milestone amidst a nation, indeed a world, in flux. In such a challenging environment, WAA stands ready to bring us together.

BRIDGE

WAA is an essential resource for learning, sharing, networking, programming, and routing in the performing arts. Join us in Seattle toÂ discover new artists, connect with colleagues, and delve into issues that are changing our work and communities.

INS

FOREGROUND: Gabriel Prokofiev, photo by Nathan Gallagher, courtesy of Sozo Artists, Inc. BACKGROUND: Artist Showcase circa 1995 from the WAA Archive.

Looking for a bright idea to lift your season, company, tour, or project? Western Arts Alliance is touring and presentingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most authoritative resource focused on the West.

NSPIRE

The annual conference convenes over 800 artists, agents, presenters, and arts leaders. No matter your path, focus, or endeavor, WAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program of exhibits, showcases, speakers, workshops, roundtables and peer networking sessions are here to advance your career, roster, series, or project.

BU FOREGROUND: Golden Dragon Acrobats, photo by Asian Artists Productions, Inc., courtesy of SRO Artists, Inc. BACKGROUND: Jamie Adkins, photo by Amanda Russell, courtesy of Agence Station Bleue.

Since 1967, Western Arts Alliance has been helping members across the West and around the country to build community. WAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference, programs, services, and communications support hundreds of artists, agents, festivals, and presenters who come together to enliven the

BUILD

performing arts in communities large and small. Live performance, residency activities, and arts education work synergistically to foster engaged, resilient and creative citizens. WAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community and our shared mission and values are more important than ever. Stand with us!

Find out how you can strengthen community, build new audience, and raise more money! At this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll explore new ideas, strategies, and approaches to building public support for the arts, fundraising, touring, and innovative techniques to design, fund, and launch new programs.

STRENGT FOREGROUND: Circa, photo by Darcy Grant, courtesy of the artist. BACKGROUND: Cedar Lake, photo by Paula Rose, courtesy of CAMI Spectrum.

Building Public Will

CREATING CONNECTION Creating Connection is a national social change movement focused on advancing the position of arts, culture, and creative expression in our nation. It builds on previous efforts to promote the arts and culture but is grounded in new research. Creating Connection offers a unique approach to building public will that creates change that stands the test of time. Taking on Social Concerns

FUNDRAISING WITH PURPOSE In an era of â&#x20AC;&#x153;limited government,â&#x20AC;? tight budgets, and an unraveling social fabric, presenters are often called on to play a larger role in our towns and cities. There may be the will, there may even be capacity, but how do we raise the social capital to address these needs? Learn proven methods to attract sustainable support for highpriority community concerns.

GTHEN The Artist in a Gig Economy

MANAGING FOR SUCCESS Artist management and booking has never been more complicated. Changing demographics, ticket buying, programming, contracts, marketing, visas, and tech, require fresh strategies for artists, agents, and tour managers. Artists are resilient and tenacious, but new skills and insight will give touring professionals the leg up in a competitive field.

2017 JURIED SHOWCASE ARTISTS FACING PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM L-R: Danny Green Trio, photo by Sasha Israel, courtesy of Marian Liebowitz Artist Management; EmiSunshine, photo by Steve Brummette, courtesy of Music City Artists; Letters Aloud, photo by MJ Sieber, courtesy of the artist; Battle of Santiago, photo by Justin Broadbent, courtesy of Riot Artists; The Westerlies, photo by John Abbott, Courtesy of Baker Artists; Okaidja Afroso, photo by Laura Sonnenberg, courtesy of the artist; Akropolis Reed Quintet, photo by Lauren Landry, Courtesy of Ariel Artists. THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM L-R: collectif9, photo by Danylo Bobyk, courtesy of Latitude 45 Arts; Brad Jones, Aruรกn Ortiz and Gerald Cleaver, photo by Jimmy Katz, courtesy of Emerson Bran Management; Sarah Jane Scouten, photo by Jen Squires, courtesy of Cubby Hole Artists; A Moving Sound, photo by Sheng Lin, courtesy of Bernstein Artists Inc.; M-Pact, photo by Laura Elizabeth Scudder, courtesy of EastCoast; Blue13 Dance Company, photo by Peter Zuehlke, courtesy of the artist; Nicole Henry, photo by Rafael Balcazar, courtesy of JWP Agency.

LINDY WEST & AHAMEFULE OLUO KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Husband and wife Ahamefule Oluo and Lindy West, are arguably Seattle’s millennial power couple of 2017. It’s not very often that one sees this particular set of descriptors for one artist: musician, composer, writer, and comedian-but Ahamefule Oluo is no ordinary Jazz musician. His autobiographical show Now I’m Fine sold out a run at On the Boards and in January played NYC’s Under the Radar Festival to rave reviews in the New York Times. He was recently featured on an episode of This American Life. Lindy West is a columnist at The Guardian, a contributor to This American Life, and a freelance writer whose work focuses on feminism, social justice, humor, and body image. Lindy is the founder of I Believe You, It’s Not Your Fault, an advice blog for teens. Her first book, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman, was named a best book of the year (2016) by NPR, Esquire, The Los Angeles Times, and Newsweek.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WAA conference offers the latest in performing arts trends, strategy, and research to enhance and expand your professional growth. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to collaborate with arts leaders and your peers in our program of speakers, workshops, panels, and roundtables. Topics include engaging community, social media, contracting skills, mitigating risk, and more. The 2017 program also includes four pre-conference workshops on Tuesday, September 5. THE ART OF INDEPENDENT TOURING & NAVIGATING THE PERFORMING ARTS MARKET

The US live and touring industry is the largest in size in the world. Yet distances, varying cultures, costs, complex legal matters and the language barrier make it the most difficult market to penetrate. So what is the best strategy for independent and foreign artists to create a meaningful presence in the US? This highly informative session is designed to assist artists to book and manage their tours independently. CREATING CONNECTIONS - CHAMPIONS WORKSHOP

This workshop explores the research, theory, and practice of Creating Connection. You’ll learn how arts organizations have begun to experiment with new programs, strategies, and messaging that align with public values. You’ll take away tools to help you implement Creating Connection in your organization, and get hands-on experience with applying the Creating Connection framework in your community.

GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING FOR COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT

Presenters and artists seek greater impact on community concerns. However, they are limited in resources and traditional fundraising appeals don’t address these needs. Newly proven methods have been tested in both rural and urban settings and are now ready to be deployed to engage buy-in (literally) from people at all income levels. These approaches will provide a bedrock of support for you to engage high priority community and social concerns. CONEXIONES LAB: INNOVATION IN THE ARTS WITH 3 DAY STARTUP

With an ever growing population of Latino patrons, presenters and artists are always seeking innovative ways to design, launch and promote new programs. With limited funding available, it is especially important that these programs generate revenue while appealing to new audiences. Participants will gain powerful insights into ways to better engage audiences and patrons in their work, while uncovering new ways to generate revenue.

FACING PAGE, L-R: Keynote Speakers Ahamefule J. Oluo, photo by Kelly O, courtesy of the artist; Lindy West, photo by Jenny Jimenez, courtesy of the artist. THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM L-R: Seattle Cityscape with Mt. Rainier in the Background at Sunset, photo by Roman Slavik/ Thinkstock; Opening Reception, 2016 WAA Conference, photo by The Photo Group; Virgínia Rodrigues, photo by Ana Migliari, courtesy of Casa de Fulô Produções in partnership with The Awesome Company; Banda Magda, photo by Andrew Baris, courtesy of Royal Artist Group/ The Awesome Company.

PERFORMANCE & DISCOVERY Because discovery is the engine that propels the WAA conference, you’ll find our program reflects the breadth and depth of touring performance in the West. Find great artists at any of following conference events: JURIED SHOWCASES INDEPENDENT SHOWCASES SPONSORED PERFORMANCES KEYNOTES AND PLENARIES SPEED LEADS PRESENTER PITCHES

INDEPENDENT SHOWCASES Throughout the conference week, delegates have the opportunity to see a diverse range of performance. This year, experience the best acts that the West has to offer with showcases for dance, music, theatre, and more in the conference hotel and in venues around Seattle!

FACING PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM L-R: Cie Hervé KOUBI, photo by Lou Damar, Courtesy of Bernard Schmidt; CONTRA-TIEMPO, photo by Tyrone Domingo, courtesy of Lotus Arts Management; Attendees at the 2016 WAA Conference, photo by The Photo Group; Axis Theatre Company, photo by Tim Mattheson, courtesy of the artist. THIS PAGE: Miwa Matreyek, photo by The Photo Group.

THIS PAGE L-R: Espresso, photo by Jeff Smith, courtesy of LookatLao Studio; Two attendees at 2016 WAA Conference, photo by The Photo Group. FACING PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM L-R: Grégoire Maret, photo by Ingrid Hertfelder, courtesy of Unlimited Myles; Cleo Parker Dance-Bambulla, photo by Jerry Metellus; Attendees at 2016 WAA Conference, photo by The Photo Group.

JOIN US IN THE COMMONS The Commons is our central meeting place, our event and exhibit space, and where everyone gathers to network and connect.

CONNECTIONS & NETWORKING Trusted relationships are essential to the success of every artist, agent, and presenter. We’ll be hosting a variety of hospitality events, dine-arounds, showcases, plenary sessions and roundtable conversations-each one will serve as an opportunity for you to expand and revitalize your network.

HOSPITALITY WAA offers three hospitality events, free with a full registration, and two ticketed events you won’t want to miss! From the Opening Reception to the Annual Luncheon and Closing Night party in Paccar Pavilion, Seattle’s beautiful sculpture park, WAA’s hospitality events are a great way to relax, enjoy yourself with colleagues and clients, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones.

NEW COLLEAGUES, MENTORING, & 35BELOW Starting out can be overwhelming which is exactly why our New Colleague, Mentoring, and 35Below programs go the extra mile to help. Our New Colleague Program welcomes first-time attendees with pre-conference guidance, an onsite orientation, and a conference mentor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all of which provide guidance for building purposeful relationships. WAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 35Below program empowers young professionals in the performing arts community by providing the basics for networking and making connections.

WAA WELCOMES YOU 2017 Western Arts Alliance Annual Conference September 5-8 Sheraton Seattle Hotel / Rate $195 + tax / 1-206-621-9000 Early registration (now through July 14) $435 members/$560 non-members

To exhibit or register, go to www.westarts.org