APAP 2024

By Celia Ipiotis

When APAP comes to town, the whole city turns out its cultural wares. Dance, theater, music, jazz, spoken word, children’s shows and circus arts fill the rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Hilton Hotel. In tandem with the showcases, artists hock their products in the ever-widening resource room.  That’s where meetings are set up, deals are struck and new artists intent on touring emerge.

Throughout the conference, special interest groups convene. DanceUSA opened its doors to the dance community. Pam Tatge, Director of Jacob’s Pillow, spoke about the importance of telling stories with numbers. Don’t just say “the arts are good for a community” demonstrate how many businesses benefit from performances and the presence of artists in the community. From the Duke Foundation, Ashley Ferro-Murray spoke about the foundation’s interest in “new technologies.” Still in the formative stages, there’s interest in seeing how the arts community will interface with AI, virtual reality and other tech options..

College presenters assembled and learned about the challenges facing many, including the diminishing student matriculation rate. University finances are tied, in large part, to the number of students attending in any given year. When the population drops, presenters’ budgets are cut and seasons narrow. Some suggestions included trying to become a separate entity and achieving nonprofit status or embarking on a fundraising campaign separate from the university.

A number of workshops showcasing artists filled the hours with jazz throughout the night at multiple clubs and locations — including the venerable Winter Jazzfest– not to mention the global music sensation, Globalfest. Then the Joyce Theater’s “American Dance Platform” featured a different company each night of the second week of January including a stellar performance by Dallas Black Dance Theater highlighting a potent choreographer Kameron Saunders, who has also choreographed Taylor Swift shows. 

Sticking to the dance theme, Guggenheim’s Works & Process `Underground Uptown Dance Festival ” offered nightly shows starting with an impressive multi-media dance artist Kayla Farrish.

Besides making new connections, and enjoying arts activities, APAP pauses to honor its membership, those trailblazers and visionaries. What used to be an awards luncheon became an Award’s breakfast that meant the Hilton Hotel ballroom was jam packed! 

This year’s honorees included:

Award of Merit went to the musician, jazz artist and film and opera composer Terence Blanchard.  He spoke about the trajectory of a career that began as performer and skyrocketed to the halls of the Met Opera House and award-winning film soundtracks. Always learning, Blanchard encouraged everyone to pursue their dreams.

Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award
(1949-2023) went to an agent Lisa Booth (Lisa Booth Management) who was well known in the community for her determination and belief in her artists. 

The Halsey & Alice North Board Alumni Award
Honoree: Neil Barclay

Sidney R. Yates Award for Outstanding Advocacy on Behalf of the Performing Arts
Honoree: Randy Cohen

William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence and Sustained Achievement in Programming
Honoree: Shanta Thake

NAPAMA Award for Excellence in the Presenting the Performing Arts
Honoree: Tommy Hensel

NAPAMA Liz Silverstein Award for Agent-Manager of the Year 2024
Honoree: Crandall Rogers

CIPA Award for OUtstanding Achievement in Creative Producing
Honoree: Claudia Norman

The Spark of Change Award
Honoree: Ruby Morales

The Arts Champion Award
Honoree: John W. Brown and Rosemary Kopel Brown

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Celia Ipiotis