Definitions
The sheer diversity of organizational approaches within the theatre and arts presenting fields makes it difficult to generalize about the unique and definitive characteristics of an ensemble theatre, an appropriate host theatre, or an arts presenter partner. While there are exceptions to the following definitions, they offer useful distinctions for potential applicants to determine how to best categorize their organization for the purposes of this pilot Program Definitions.
Ensemble Theatre Company
An ensemble theater is a group of individuals dedicated to collaborative creation, committed to working together consistently over years to develop a distinctive body of work and practices. Ensemble members, both artists and administrators, are empowered to help shape their theatre's direction and organizational structure. For the purposes of this program, both U.S.-based and international ensemble theatres collaborating with U.S.-based theatre or presenting partners are eligible for funding support.
Theatre Partner
The collaborating theatres tend to have access to more resources, physical, financial and infrastructural than ensemble theatres in general. For example, they may tend to own and/or operate their own rehearsal, production, and performance facilities more often than ensemble theatre companies. These theatres play vital roles in producing and developing theatre artists and audiences as producers of their own work. These theatres do not generally have sustained ensembles of theatre artists. Instead, these theatres audition and cast each production, and productions are generally script-based with directors serving as interpreters.
Arts Presenter Partner
Arts presenters form a sector of the performing arts field comprised of a variety of sizes, functions, configurations and artistic and curatorial interests - all of which share the mission of providing opportunities for artists and audiences to share the performing arts through performances, commissioning projects, and education initiatives. Arts presenters generally work with touring artists to create programs that complement the existing artistic activities in their communities and to provide local audiences and artists with consistent access to creative expression and works that are not limited by geographic borders. Arts presenters generally present performances of existing work produced by artists in the community or from elsewhere. Some presenting organizations contribute commissioning funds, facilities and other resources toward the development of new work. Arts presenters work with artist managers, producers and agents, who provide key support to artists to help realize their visions and cultivate presenters' interests. Presenting first began to be formally recognized as a profession similar to other performing arts professions and disciplines in the 1970s.
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