Remote video URL
Autumn is once again upon us and so is Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York's (A.R.T./New York) fifth convening! This special multi-day event is a time for building relationships, collective learning and skillbuilding, and sharing resources, specially designed to meet the needs of the New York theatre community as they stand now.
“Together we must catalyze new approaches and reinvent the ways we work…release fear and reject the methods and structures that no longer serve you; trust your instincts and find bold new approaches to rethink how you govern, fundraise, and plan for the future.”
-Health + Wealth: Empowering NYC Theatremakers Through Data
As we continue to navigate what has been an extremely tumultuous few years for the arts and culture sectors, we as theatremakers find ourselves in what seems to be a constant state of transition and adapting.
Guided by our findings from the Health+Wealth report and in response to the needs of our theatremaking community, A.R.T./New York has chosen Seeking Alternatives as the theme for the upcoming convening!
To us, this means…
- Seeking opportunities for shared strategy, labor, space, and expertise,
- Recognizing when old systems simply don’t work anymore,
- Investing in the partnerships, collaborations, and networks that make our work more resilient and sustainable,
- And creating conditions for brave change!
Schedule
Welcoming Audiences with Disabilities: From Policy to Practice
A conversation with arts administrators on reimagining the audience journey through access
9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).
Moderated by Danielle King of A.R.T./New York
Panelists:
Kerry Candeloro, access coordinator, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Stacey Leigh, community outreach and group sales manager, Second Stage Theater
Maria Porto, founder of ACCESS Broadway NY
How do we make sure that audiences with disabilities feel not just accommodated but truly welcomed into our spaces and productions?
In this panel conversation, arts administrators from across the field share how they are organizing and implementing accessibility services for their audiences—from policy to practice. Together, we reflect on the full arc of the audience experience at multiple touch points—from the moment someone hears about a show to purchasing tickets online or at the box office, arriving at the venue, experiencing the performance, and finally exiting the space.
Panelists speak candidly about what’s working, what’s not, and the lessons they’ve learned while navigating evolving accessibility practices. We also dig into what needs to be in place, logistically, culturally, and institutionally, for front-of-house staff to feel confident and prepared to welcome audiences with disabilities.
Whether you’re building accessibility protocols from the ground up or refining existing systems, this panel offers practical tools, real shared experiences from industry peers, and an opportunity to make our stories available to a wider audience!
Producing Inside a Festival Panel: A Robust Conversation
12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4)
Facilitated by Nicky Maggio of A.R.T./New York
Special Guests:
Bailey Williams
Roshni Lavelle
Emma Orme
Sami Pyne
The festival setting is one of the best ways for independent artists and producers in this city to get their work on the stage. But it doesn’t go without its loopholes and challenges.
This ninety-minute session brings together a range of voices from across the producing landscape to share experiences, tips, and strategies for navigating festival production. We hear from special guests who have worked across a variety of festival contexts, from large-scale operations to smaller emerging theatre companies.
Together we explore:
- Key differences between festival and stand-alone producing
- Getting clear on expectations around roles in marketing, staffing, sales, etc.
- Collaborating with festival staff and technical contractors
- Marketing strategies and how to leverage a festival’s reach to boost your show’s visibility
- Whether a festival platform may (or may not) be right for your organization and goals
Designed for self-producing artists, independent producers, and small companies without a home venue, this session is part panel, part facilitated discussion, with time built in for questions and shared insights.
We Had A Good Run: A Conversation About Endings
2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4)
Moderated by Talia Corren of A.R.T./New York
Panelists:
Megan Carter, former producing director of SITI Company
Paul Brewster McGinley, former managing director of Trusty Sidekick Theater Company
Melanie Joseph, Founding Artistic Producer of The Foundry Theatre
What does it mean for us to say “we had a good run”?
For a field whose practice is making ephemeral art, it can be difficult to say goodbye. In this moderated conversation, hear from multiple leaders who have made the decision to dissolve, transform, or pause their organizations in order to be good stewards of their mission. Big change can be uncomfortable, but so is hanging on simply because exploring alternatives feels too scary. Hear directly from the folks who have engaged their communities and stakeholders to ask the big questions about what it really means to have had a good run.
A.R.T./New York recognizes that transitions of all kinds require logistical and emotional support that is too often lacking in our field. Emerging from the Health + Wealth Report, we are developing Next Stage, an initiative that demystifies and supports organizational change that can sometimes feel scary or radical. Be part of this conversation and get curious about what can come next!
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