Idea Swap (virtual)

Thank you to everyone who attended the nineteenth annual and first ever virtual Idea Swap!

The Idea Swap is an annual networking event for New England-based nonprofit cultural organizations and artists to share touring project ideas, including those that may qualify for funding from NEFA’s grant programs. Each year, NEFA’s Idea Swap attracts over 150 participants. The Idea Swap stimulates opportunities for collaboration and partnerships in arts touring and presenting while raising awareness and support for arts projects and activities available to New England communities.

Participants can log in to Whova to access content through May 18, 2022.

Join Us

Special thanks to Brandon Kazen-Maddox for ASL interpretation.

Idea Swap Schedule

Note: Idea Swap sessions/times are subject to change

Day 1: Wednesday, November 17

• 11:00am–12:00pm: Welcome and Networking
• 1:00pm–2:00pm: Project Presentations - Learn more about artists and work that you may want to bring into your communities. Six projects will give short presentations at the Idea Swap.
• 3:00pm-4:00pm: Networking Groups: Learn, Share, Meet!
  • Artists as Presenters, Presenters as Artists
  • Working in Rural Communities
  • Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Arts Network
  • New to NEFA
• 4:30pm-5:30pm: Social Hour hosted by Arts Presenters of Northern New England & New England Presenters

• 8:00pm: Wesleyan University Center for the Arts presents: An Evening with Toshi Reagon featuring Nona Hendryx and DJ Bill Coleman

  World-renowned singer, composer, musician, curator, activist, producer, and storyteller Toshi Reagon will be joined by two featured guests for an evening of music and conversation: vocalist, record producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress Nona Hendryx of Labelle; and artist manager, producer, remixer, music supervisor, performer, recording artist, writer, and DJ Bill Coleman.

Day 2: Thursday, November 18

• 10:00am-10:30am: Coffee with CreativeGround
• 11:30am-12:30pm: Project Presentations - Learn more about artists and work that you may want to bring into your communities. Six projects will give short presentations at the Idea Swap.
• 2:00pm–3:30pm: Commissioning and Supporting New England Artists - Hear from two presenters who have recently created programs to serve local artists along with the artists who have been their collaborators. You’ll learn why these programs have become critical to serving their mission and enhancing their artistic programming, and how these efforts are benefitting both the presenter and artist. A small number of artists will also share their projects in-development and the potential ways for presenters to support and partner with them.
• 4:00pm-4:30pm: Closing and What’s Next?

Learn About the Idea Swap: