| 1956 |
A meeting is held to discuss the possibility of setting up an organization for college and university concert managers. |
| 1957 |
The Association of College and University Concert Managers (ACUCM) is founded at a meeting in New York. Willard Sistare is elected president. Wilson Paul, Jack Trevithick and C.G. White are elected vice presidents. Fannie Taylor is elected secretary-treasurer. The initial membership is approximately 35 presenters. |
| 1958 |
Fan Taylor wrote, published and mailed the first Bulletin in March. By-laws are adopted at the annual conference. |
| 1959 |
The first exhibitors participate in the annual conference. The first Award of Merit is presented to impresario Sol Hurok. |
| 1961 |
ACUCM institutes its first membership drive. |
| 1964 |
The first ACUCM Summer Workshops are held at Michigan State University and Lake Arrowhead, CA. |
| 1965 |
The first "Profile of the Membership" is published. |
| 1966 |
Fan Taylor goes to work for the National Endowment for the Arts, but continues to serve as ACUCM's chief administrator. |
| 1968 |
The first Handbook (then called the ACUCM Workbook) is published. |
| 1969 |
The first Wingspread Conference takes place in the spring; the topic is the future direction of the Association. |
| 1970 |
The University of Wisconsin Office for Arts Programs, under whose aegis ACUCM is handled, moves from the Wisconsin Union Theater to the Keystone House. A half-time administrative assistant is hired. The ACUCM Southeastern Regional Conference, "the first regional concert managers meeting to be planned and executed under the direct authorization of the ACUCM board," is held. |
| 1971 |
Fan Taylor's title is changed to Executive Director. Joan Lounsbery is hired as the first full-time assistant director. Fan Taylor returns to Washington to work for the NEA; Bill Dawson is appointed half-time executive director at ACUCM. |
| 1972 |
The Concert Environment Study is undertaken. The monthly Event Report is initiated. The annual conference is held outside of New York City for the first time, in Houston. The first Fannie Taylor Award is presented, to Fannie Taylor. |
| 1973 |
The annual conference is moved back to New York. The organization's name is changed from the Association of College and University Concert Managers (ACUCM) to the Association of College, University and Community Arts Administrators (ACUCAA). ACUCAA holds its second Wingspread meeting. |
| 1975 |
ACUCAA publishes and distributes the first Programming Calendar. |
| 1977 |
ACUCAA participates in its third Wingspread meeting. The topics include the relationship of ACUCAA to national, state and community arts agencies, and ACUCAA's role as intermediary between the touring performing arts and community audiences. |
| 1978 |
The Executive Director's position is changed from part-time to full-time. The number of management workshops is increased. The Code of Conduct is approved by the membership. ACUCAA launches its marketing initiative. |
| 1979 |
Guidelines for management-presenter relations are distributed to the membership. The Management Achievement Awards are instituted. The first "Marketing the Arts" seminars are held, and the marketing bibliography is published. |
| 1980 |
Marketing the Arts is published. |
| 1981 |
Technical Assistance and Travel Assistance Program (TAP) is instituted. (Program is discontinued in 1993) |
| 1982 |
ACUCAA office moves to new location in Madison. |
| 1983 |
ACUCAA hosts its fourth Wingspread meeting, "The Role of the Arts in a Changing Society," which lays the groundwork for the Consumer Behavior Project. The same year, the first workshop on consumer behavior and the arts is held, and a study on the topic is commissioned from SRI, International. |
| 1984 |
ACUCAA launches its arts advocacy project and the ACUCAA office is computerized. Results of the consumer behavior study are published under the title "The Professional Performing Arts: Attendance Patterns, Preferences and Motives." |
| 1985 |
The ACUCAA data base is established. The second phase of the SRI consumer behavior study is published. |
| 1986 |
ACUCAA launches creative design workshops as the next step in the long-range marketing project. Bill Dawson resigns and is succeeded by Susie Farr. William Dawson Award is inaugurated. |
| 1987 |
The association launches its first formal long-range planning process, which is completed the following year. |
| 1988 |
The ACUCAA national office moves to Washington, D.C. The association becomes a full member of the American Arts Alliance. |
| 1989 |
Inside Arts magazine is launched. The first Leadership Institute is held. The association administers The National Task Force on Presenting and Touring the Performing Arts. The first artistic development seminar on modern dance is held at Jacob's Pillow. The association is selected by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest fund to administer a major regranting program aimed at audience and community development. By vote of the membership at the annual conference, the organization's name is changed to the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The first business member is elected to the board of directors. |
| 1990 |
An American Dialogue, the report from The National Task Force, and 21 Voices, a book profiling 21 exemplary presenting organizations, are published. The Presenters' Reports questionnaire is changed to include more information about artistic quality, outreach and audience development. |
| 1991 |
With the American Council for the Arts, Arts Presenters publishes an updated version of Tom Wolf's book, Presenting Performances. |
| 1992 |
Presenting Performances replaces the old ACUCAA Handbook as a benefit of membership. The organization's second planning process begins. The Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund commits $10 million over five years to the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Arts Partners Program. |
| 1993 |
"Profile of Member Organizations", the results of the 1991-92 survey of presenting organizations, is published. The planning process culminates in the publication of a planning document, "Securing Our Future". The Arts Presenters Bulletin is incorporated into Inside Arts magazine, which increases its publication schedule from four times a year to six times a year. By vote of the membership, Business members are granted voting status as members of the association. |
| 1994 |
Audience Development is published. |
| 1995 |
An $80,000 grant is received from the Mellon Foundation to implement the Dance Travel Assistance Program. William Dawson Education Endowment is established. Adult Arts Education project begins as a partnership with the Kennedy Center. |
| 1996 |
The first round of grants are awarded through the Dance Travel Assistance Program. A joint staff and board retreat is held and reaffirms association priorities of service, continuing education, and cultural diversity. Martin and Associates conducts Inclusive Leadership Development workshops for Arts Presenters staff and board. The 40th Annual Conference is held in December in New York City. The association's web page is premiered at the Annual Conference. A $315,000 grant is received from the Helen F. Whitaker Fund to implement the Classical Connections project. The Young Performers Support Initiative premiers at the annual conference. Audience Development for the New Millennium training course is premiered. A $300,000 grant is received from the Pew Charitable Trusts in support of the association's continuing education program. First Congressional Award given at the Annual Business meeting. |
| 1997 |
Classical Connections seminar in Aspen premieres. Arts Presenters "Vote Watch" debuts on home page to inform members on arts-related votes in Congress. Adult Arts Education Project concludes with the publication of Learning Audiences. Presenters' Reports become available in the members' area on the Arts Presenters web site. |
| 1998 |
First year the annual conference dates are moved to January. The annual conference format is changed to accommodate a "festival" of events. Learning Audiences continuing education course premiered. Awarded $3 million for the Arts Partners program from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The Wallace Foundation turns over the administration of the Arts Partners program fully to Arts Presenters. |
| 1999 |
Susie Farr resigns and Jon Durnford becomes Interim Executive Director. The Annual Conference becomes members only. For the Record, the publication on documentation and the continuing education course, premiered at the Winter Institute. A Leadership Think Tank Forum was convened to assess the Long-Term Impact of the Arts Partners Program. The first Crossing Paths, a conference for education staff working across the performing arts disciplines, was co-hosted by Arts Presenters and six other national service organizations. Jacob's Pillow Dance Presenters Forum is offered in partnership with NEFA and the Pillow. Membership directory and Artists Roster directory become available in the members' area of the Arts Presenters web site. |
| 2000 |
Sandra Gibson comes on as President & CEO in July. Arts Presenters helps secure the first funding increase for the NEA in six years. Spanish language version of Audience Development is published. Idea Zone is established on the web site. Participatory Evaluation continuing education course premiered at Winter Institute. Presenting the Performing Arts continuing education course was substantially revised. Arts Presenters is awarded $40,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to continue Classical Connections. |
| 2001 |
Arts Presenters launches a year-long assessment of the presenting field with a research study and a series of national and regional issues forums funded with a $260,000 grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The Board and staff enter into a strategic planning process. Arts Presenters becomes part of a national research study funded by Pew Charitable Trusts (the Performing Arts Research Coalition) that looks at the value and meaning of performing arts organizations to communities. Partnership is launched with five national arts organizations and Information Arts to create Xplore USA, a national database for cultural heritage and the performing arts. Presenting Performances in the 21st Century, an update of Tom Wolf's book, is published. Arts Presenters takes the lead in working on INS regulations regarding non-immigrant visas for artists from abroad and develop legislative solutions. Presenting in a Changing World continuing education course is premiered at the Winter Institute. Arts Presenters launches a partnership with Arts International and receives $100,000 to start the Explorations Fund for international travel among presenters and managers. Awarded $75,000 by the Helen F. Whitaker Fund to continue Classical Connections and Young Performers Career Advancement Program. Awarded $40,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to implement the Emerging Leadership Institute. Arts Presenters is awarded $150,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to support general programs over three years. Awarded $50,000 for the national field assessment by the National Endowment for the Arts Leadership Initiatives. |
| 2002 |
The Sidney R. Yates Advocacy Award is inaugurated. Arts Presenters' leads the process to identify and contract a new leadership for the American Arts Alliance. The Mellon Foundation awards $75,000 for Dance Presenting Leadership Initiative, including continuation of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Presenters forum. Arts International grants $60,000 to continue the Explorations Fund. Whitaker awards $60,000 for the support of Young Performers Career Advancement and Classical Connections Seminar. The membership adopts the vision, values, and mission, and the position paper at the annual meeting. The Board adopts the new Integrated Strategic Plan for the next four years. Arts Presenters receives $40,000 from the NEA to support expanded professional development activities at the conference and Winter Institute. NEA awards $60,000 to support the development of an online information system and $40,000 for the Visas Toolbox, a handbook and guide for non-immigrant visas for Artists from abroad. |
| 2003 |
Hewlett grants $300,000 for the Whitaker Endowment Challenge match for classical music. Arts Presenters launches the Gateway to the America's project in New York City and Mexico City with partners in Mexico, Cultural Contact – the US-Mexico Foundation for Culture and the Arts. Arts Presenters will begin the rollout of the initial findings from the PARC in five cities. |
