What a year it has been!  Three foundations signed on to help meet the goals of Center Stage, we traveled to Haiti, Indonesia, and Pakistan to meet with the artists, and the tour planning is well underway.  And we’ve just returned from the annual APAP conference - as always, a whirlwind of activity.  This year included a focus on international programming, in addition to the regular activities at NEFA’s booth. A meeting with funding partners, including our U.S. State Department contacts, a session with our Regional Arts Organization partners to share opportunities in international programming, and a Center Stage workshop for presenters made up the scheduled activities, but APAP provides the opportunity for impromptu conversations as well. 

Many of these conversations took place at the NEFA and the Lisa Booth Management (LBMI) conference booths.  I had the opportunity to talk about Center Stage with Debra J’Anthony, executive director of the Academy of Music of Northampton, MA (who, coincidentally, was at APAP thanks to a NEFA grant). Seeing how this program aligns with their goals, Debra was eager for this opportunity to offer their first residency program; she connected with LBMI, and now looks forward to having Haitian musician BelO in Northampton later this year for a performance and multiple residency activities – an engagement that might not otherwise have been possible without the support of Center Stage.  A related highlight of the weekend was BelO’s performance at sold-out globalFEST and having the chance to meet him in person at the LBMI booth. 

And, congratulations to Center Stage advisor Alicia Adams of the Kennedy Center on receiving the Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award during the APAP awards luncheon.

The ten Center Stage ensembles will reach communities, small and large, in more than 20 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., this year…there are still just a few opportunities left to participate, so contact Lisa Booth Management today! 

Pictured above, left to right: Kate Papazian (Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art), Rebecca Blunk (NEFA), Margaret C. Ayers (Robert Sterling Clark Foundation), and Marjorie A. Ames (U.S. Department of State) at APAP NYC 2012. Photo by Adrienne Petrillo.