Opportunity to Serve the U.S. Dance Field

The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) announces an opportunity for organizational leaders who present and/or support the creation of dance to serve as Hub Site Representatives for the National Dance Project beginning in January 2016 for a three-year term.

National Dance Project
NEFA’s National Dance Project (NDP) supports the creation and touring of new dance works in the United States. Since 1996, the program has distributed more than $28 million in funding to support the dance field in ways that enhance partnerships between artists and presenters with the equally important goals of engaging and expanding audiences for dance. To date, NDP has supported the creation of over 350 new choreographic works that have toured to all 50 states, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, reaching over 3.6 million audience members.

Alongside grantmaking that enables the creation and touring of new dance works, NDP works through specific initiatives to develop a strong infrastructure for dance. Currently these focus on production residencies, international exchange, a network of contemporary art centers working at the intersection of performing and visual arts, and professional development for dance artists and presenters in regions across the United States through the Regional Dance Development Initiative. 

The National Dance Project is made possible with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
  
Advisory Structure
NDP is guided by a rotating group of individuals serving in two distinct roles: Hub Sites and Advisors. Hub Sites are leaders of U.S.-based organizations who play active roles in the dance field and within their communities. Hub Sites guide project selection, and, along with NDP Advisors, serve as consultants and ambassadors for the program. Hub Sites also provide critical guidance to applicants during the final round of proposal preparation for production grants, including advising three to four applicants on selecting work samples, touring development, and reviewing proposal drafts in advance of the deadline. Advisors serve as objective observers to the project selection process, making sure that funding criteria are applied consistently and reflecting back to the panel overall questions and issues with which NDP and the larger field are wrestling.

Hub Sites and Advisors collectively represent presenters, dance artists, residency sites, festivals, and universities. Selection of Hub Sites and Advisors takes into account geography, gender, cultural and racial equity, and includes new and established leaders in the field.

Terms of service are staggered, and new members rotate each year in order to refresh the panel’s perspective and ensure that NDP includes individuals with different outlooks and experiences in the field.  For a list of current NDP partners serving as Hub Sites and Advisors, visit: /grants_programs/programs/national-dance-project.

Hub Sites must commit to attending three meetings annually in April, June, and November and receive compensation for travel and time.

2016 Meeting Dates:

• Production Round 1 Panel meeting: April 18-19, 2016 (Location TBD)
• Production Round 2 Panel meeting: June 20-21, 2016 (NEFA offices, Boston, MA)
• Touring Awards Panel meeting: November 20-21, 2016 (Location TBD)

Selection Criteria
Individuals will be considered according to the following criteria:

• A commitment over the next three years to the development and/or presentation of dance artists and/or multi-disciplinary artist projects and a track record of supporting dance within your community.
• Significant activity in local, regional, national, and international partnerships and alliances in dance development and presentation efforts.
• A successful record of and continuing commitment to the securing of public and private resources (funding, facilities, equipment, etc.) to realize these projects.
• A history of taking a leadership role in encouraging participation in dance projects among fellow presenting organizations and dance advocates regionally and nationally.

Application Process and Timeline
Interested individuals should submit a resume and letter of interest demonstrating how the applicant meets the selection criteria, what they hope to achieve by serving as a Hub Site, and how it will impact their career, institution, and community they serve. Decisions will be made in late Fall 2015 for terms beginning January 2016. Applicants not selected for 2016 will be considered for service beginning in 2017 and 2018.

Submit letter and resume by email to Cheri Opperman by Friday, October 30, 2015. Questions may be directed to Sara C Nash (617.951.0010 x512).

About NEFA
NEFA builds connections among artists, arts organizations, and funders, powering the arts to energize communities in New England, the nation, and the world. NEFA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that operates in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the New England state arts agencies, with additional funding from foundations, corporations, individuals and other government agencies.

NEFA’s work is accomplished through grantmaking, services, and initiatives which strengthen and advance the national arts infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.nefa.org or call 617.951.0010.

###

CONTACT: Ann Wicks | 617.951.0010 x534