Association of Performing Arts Professionals
/OVERVIEW: The Association of Performing Arts Professionals supports individuals and organizations through its signature grant and professional development programs.
IP TAKE: This funder has recently focused its grantmaking on helping arts organizations recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Small- and medium-sized performing arts groups, as well as those affiliated with colleges and universities, should stay abreast of the association’s national funding and professional development opportunities via its website. However, membership in the association is required for some participation in some programs. It is unclear if this foundation’s current grant program will continue to make grants beyond 2022, so check often as this funder’s grantmaking evolves annually.
This is a collaborative and supportive funder that likes long-term partnerships, so don’t be afraid to reach out to their approachable staff who responds within a reasonable period. However, it’s not clear whether they accept unsolicited applications. As a result, this is not the most accessible funder in these spaces.
PROFILE: Founded in 1957, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) is a national service, advocacy and membership organization based in Washington, DC. APAP’s sole focus is the field of live performing arts, and it pursues its mission through new business models, professional development programs, field engagement and work in the area of racial equity, diversity and inclusion. APAP is “dedicated to developing and supporting a robust performing arts presenting, booking and touring industry and the professionals who work within it.” This funder runs several signature programs for career and professional development and initiatives for diversity and inclusion. It currently makes monetary grants through its Arts Forward program.
Grants for Performing Arts
The Association for Performing Arts Professionals established its Arts Forward program in response to the COVID-19 crisis with funding from the Mellon Foundation. Grants are awarded to performing arts organizations to as they resume and reopen shows and other programs. Grantmaking prioritizes programs that “fuel collaborations between APAP presenter members and partnering artists/ensembles.” The first cohort of grantees included a collaboration between the Alabama Dance Council and New York’s Wideman Davis Dance Company. Another grant supported a collaboration between Dearborn, Michigan’s Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services and the playwright Heather Raffo for productions of “live, installation and hybrid performances.” For additional examples of past grantees, see the program’s grantees page.
While the Association for Performing Arts Professionals does not make grants through its other signature programs, there are several opportunities for performing arts organizations and individuals to participate in career and professional development opportunities, some of which require membership in the association. Programs include the following:
The 10/20/30 Redi Pledge invites performing artist and organizations to commit to increasing and improving racial equity, diversity and inclusion as well as participating in the development of “tools, resources and community” for an equitable future for the performing arts industry.
The APAP Honors is a series of awards that recognize “trailblazers and visionaries of the performing arts world” and includes the Award of Merit, the Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award, the William Dawson Award and the Sidney R. Yates Advocacy Award.
APAP’s Leadership and Career Advancement Programs support mid-career performing arts professionals and emerging leaders in the field with annual seminars, institutes, seminars and a fellowship program in New York City. The association accepts applications for all of these programs, but eligibility, guidelines and due dates vary significantly are are available on individual program pages.
The association’s Professional Development Programs serve performing arts professionals with peer-to-peer development and networking opportunities throughout the year
Important Grant Details:
The Association for Performing Arts Professionals makes about $100,000 a year in grants ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. Grants stemming from its recent Arts Forward COVID-19 response program have been awarded in amounts of $35,000 to $50,000. It is unclear if this program will continue to make grants beyond 2022. Other association grants have supported small- to medium-sized performing arts organizations and venues including Minneapolis’s Shubert Center for Dance and Theater, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and the Flynn Center of the Performing Arts in Burlington, Vermont. A portion of funding also supports the performing arts at colleges and universities across the U.S.
Grantseekers interested in working with the Association for Performing Arts Professionals should keep up with the organization’s website, as grantmaking and professional development programs evolve frequently. Some opportunities require membership in the association. Inquiries may be directed to the association’s staff via email or telephone at (202) 833-2787.
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