Seminars & Convenings

Join us for one of our upcoming gatherings:

• Classical Music Think Tank
  February 9 -10, 2007
  Detroit, Michigan
  
  Members are invited to join us for a a two-day gathering of classical music and presenting professionals field - presenters, artist managers, performers, composers, record labels, journalists, musicologists, funders and outside experts. Hosted by the Arts Presenters, the think tank will be held during the 10th Anniversary Sphinx Competition in Detroit, Michigan. There is no fee charged for the Think Tank, and Arts Presenters will provide lunch on Friday and Saturday and arrange for complimentary tickets to performances on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

  The Classical Music Think Tank is an initiative of Arts Presenters' Classical Connections, an endowed program dedicated to advancing the presentation of and increasing participation in classical music. Classical Connections considers the trends and issues in classical music, specifically the challenges and opportunities relating to presenting and touring. The initiative includes think tanks, seminars and the Young Performers Career Advancement Program, which provides professional development for classical musicians early in their careers.

  The first Think Tank, held in San Francisco in 2005, was facilitated by Richard Kessler, who helped attendees map out some of the major challenges for the field and outline next steps for individual and collective action. Participants in the upcoming Think Tank in February will build on this dialogue by examining how we "shift places, shift spaces," placing classical music in the context of today's demographics, marketplace, and arts/entertainment choices.

  Among the questions we will explore - Is the prevailing model for programming our concert halls, building audiences and selling tickets for classical music still viable? Who are the next generation of participants and the sustainers of Classical Music? Our discussions will revolve around the looking at the current set of circumstances for presenting classical music before us today and looking out into the future, ten years or more. And, we will take a look at the scene in Detroit - what's working and what's not in terms of strategies for presentation and community engagement, and who is involved in classical music.

  Among the invited participants will be journalists, critics and a cross-generational group. The agenda includes an informal encounter with the Sphinx Competition Alumni and orchestra members on Saturday morning and a Saturday Evening of Chamber Music concert.

  Attendees are encouraged to stay for the Sphinx 10 Finals Concert on Sunday, February 11 at 2 p.m. in the Orchestra Hall in Detroit. The concert features the three top winners hosted by the Detroit Symphony and accompanied by the Sphinx Orchestra. Complimentary tickets are available to Think Tank participants for both performances.

  Space is limited to 40 participants for the Think Tank - RSVP by January 19, 2007 to reserve your space and receive registration information by e-mailing Angela Martinez, Program Director at amartinez@artspresenters.org and providing: your name, title, organization/affiliation, mailing address, phone number and email address. And let us know if you would like tickets for one or both of the complimentary performances - Saturday:Evening of Chamber Music and/or the Sunday: Sphinx 10 Finals Concert.

  All Think Tank meetings will take place at the Marriott Detroit at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48243, 313.568.8000. Participants are asked to cover the costs for travel and hotel accommodations and need to make their individual hotel reservations under the "Sphinx Competition friends and Family 2007" room block for the special room rate of $94 per night.

  Articles to be Discussed at the Classical Music Think Tank:

  Alex Ross's take on Classical Music

  Greg Sandow on the future of Classical Music

  Q& A with Metropolitan Opera's Peter Gelb

  Optional Reading for the Classical Music Think Tank:

  NEA Radio Study

  World Music at the 50th Annual Members Conference

  Washington Post article "Arts Presenters Hope Podcasts Click with Patrons"

  Classical Music White Paper (Arts Presenters Members-only document)

  The Knight Foundation Report

  "The Long Tail" by Chris Anderson

• Conversations With The Field

  Arts Presenters is reinventing itself for you. We want to make your professional life more effective and rewarding by designing and delivering programs and services that better serve you. Thanks to those who participated in these convenings and helped shape Arts Presenter's future.

  In September and October, we hosted a series of meetings, called Conversations with the Field. At each session, Members learned how the association is re-envisioning and re-engineering itself. Your insight helped decide how to focus the association by determining:

  • What opportunities and challenges do you face?
  • How can we make your organization more sustainable?
  • What do you need and want to work more effectively?
  • How can our programs and services create more value for your time and money?
  • Can we better leverage the power of peer-learning within the membership?

  Thanks again to all who shared their experiences, challenges and visions!

• Emerging Leadership Institute addresses several of the most pressing issues in the field and provides participants with many of the critical leadership skills they need now and in the future. The focus throughout is on understanding oneself as a potential leader in the field and building a network of colleagues with whom one can work throughout their career. If you are a member, check out our Emerging Leaders Virtual Community and listserv! The 2007 Emerging Leadership Institute deadline has passed.

Other Annual Seminars:

• The Business of Presenting helps to inform members and broaden the skills they draw on each day. Held in locations throughout the country, the Business of Presenting is a three-day intensive seminar dedicated to exploring each aspect of presenting performances.

• Winter Institute is two-days of professional development seminars reflecting trends and offering advice and knowledge from the field's most esteemed professionals.

• The Classical Connections Seminar offers in-depth advice on the presentation of classical music from artists, agents, managers, presenters, audiences and scholars. This five-day seminar offers numerous opportunities to interact with world-class artists during performances, lectures and educational activities.

• National Dance Presenters Leadership Forum at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival gathers together presenters from communities across the country to improve their curatorial and practical command of dance presenting. Participants immerse themselves in dance at Jacob's Pillow during a four-day forum, discussing the art of dance; examining curatorial issues, field-wide issues and participants' own communities; and connecting with colleagues.

• Young Performers Career Advancement (YPCA) is dedicated to helping young professionals take an informed step forward in their careers. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and work with presenters and managers, develop audience education skills and receive a general overview of the presenting and touring fields. Participants enjoy a showcase opportunity at Carnegie Hall during the Annual Members Conference. Review the guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions for YPCA.The application for 2009 will be posted in late June/early July.

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