See below for answers to all of your pertinent (and impertinent) questions.
When should I plan to get to Dallas and when should I plan to leave?
Arrive: Plan to arrive on Thursday December 9 in time to participate in "Discovering Dallas! A Guide to the NPN Annual Meeting" at 4:00pm at the hotel. This orientation session is designed to demystify the Annual Meeting for new and returning NPN/VAN Partners, Artists and Colleagues. You will have an early chance to meet your fellow attendees, Regional Desks, NPN Board and Staff.
Depart: Scheduled Annual Meeting activities end on Sunday December 12 at 10:00pm after the "Silver Anniversary Dinner, Dance and Celebration," which you do not want to miss. Plan to depart on Monday December 13. Don’t forget to schedule some time to be a tourist in Dallas.
Who is invited to attend?
The Annual Meeting is a national forum for peer-to-peer communication among NPN and VAN Partners, artists, and key stakeholders. One representative from each NPN and VAN Partner organization is expected to attend. Invited leaders come to articulate issues, debate alternative models, and examine policies that shape the local and national presenting and exhibition arenas. Unlike other performing and visual arts gatherings, this meeting is deliberately designed to create a place at the table for artists. This reinforces the most important premise of NPN’s structure: building long-term relationships among presenters and exhibitors, artists, and communities. In an effort to actualize this vision, NPN invites artists to the meeting who have been commissioned through NPN’s Creation Fund or participated in a Performance Residency during the past three years. Additionally, a local NPN Partner committee suggests cultural community members–artists and organizational colleagues–to attend.
Will there be special guests?
You betcha! We have invited as many people as we could find who have had a hand in making NPN what it is today, 25 years later. Keep your eyes open for old friends and present influences.
This is my first NPN Annual Meeting. Will I be the only one who doesn’t know anyone?
Absolutely not! Last year, about 37% of attendees had never attended an Annual Meeting. Plan to attend "Discovering Dallas! A Guide to the NPN Annual Meeting" at 4:00pm on Thursday December 9 in the hotel to help you figure out the lay of the land (and to meet some of the other folks). Besides, the people who attend the Annual Meeting are a pretty special bunch–you should feel comfortable introducing yourself to them.
What should I bring with me?
In the hotel, there will be resource tables available for your printed materials, and the Media Lounge will be accessible for viewing of/listening to artists’ work throughout the weekend–bring copies of DVDs and CDs.
What are the objectives for the 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting is a forum for networking and sharing strategies with each other, for advancing our professional and field development and for conversations that span generations and perspectives.This year, we will celebrate our milestone, and will honor our past, present and future influences.
Professional Development Workshop for Attendees
Scheduled on the morning of Sunday December 12, we will make 2 professional development workshops available. Historically just for Artists, we are opening registration up to Partners (who don’t have to be at the Business Meeting) and Colleagues. Participants who sign up must attend the entire workshop. More info about workshops TBA.
