As scores of middle-aged presenters and agents near retirement, an equal number of younger faces are rising in the ranks – as seen at this year's Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The changeover in leadership could have a large impact for the field of live arts, as the younger newcomers will now get their chance to ponder the best ways to present and expose new art, while at the same time addressing the age-old issues of funding.
"There is some aging out going on here and we're recognizing that we need some new faces in the field," said Pamela Green, co-chair of this year's APAP conference. "The organization is making a huge effort to address this."
For the last few years, the 1,700-member organization has offered a series of seminars addressing this trend, in part to relay skills and ideas to the new presenters and agents, Green said. This year, Margaret Fuesy, 40, of Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was one of about two-dozen accepted into this Emerging Leadership Institute.
APAP's "youth" movement is just one of the changes under way for an organization that originated a half century ago as a meeting place for colleges and universities wanting to address and recruit live arts.
This year, the APAP members voted to completely restructure membership fees. Before the January vote, membership ranged from $450 to $1,400. Beginning in July, that range will drop to $150 for small arts groups and up to $2,400 for the highest-grossing members.
Gaylen Phillips, arts administration manager with the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, called the restructuring "a big deal." Previously, many presenters couldn't afford the fees, and were forced to keep away from the APAP exchange, she said.
Melissa Schwartz, director of communications for APAP, said the change was viewed by many as long overdue. "Any small-to-mid-sized organization is given an opportunity they haven't had before."
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2005.
