The IPAY Learning Community
MARCH 25, 2009The IPAY Learning Community
The IPAY Leaning Community during Showcase 2009 consisted of six daily dialogues focusing on the theme, "Building Community." The topics allowed participants to discuss issues relevant to our field as community, the creation of work, and developing strategies to deepen relationship with our audiences. Participants had the opportunity to choose two different dialogues, several special interest groups, and come together as a group for a presentation on current research. Participants included 108 members and 53 non-members, our most active number in Showcase history.
Moderators were given the charge to engage participants in developing value statements that represent the core priorities as members of IPAY. IPAY Board of Directors will take these statements and incorporate within the building of the organization's strategic framework in executing our mission. The eight priority statements were:
We value the coming together of people to see work, dialogue, network, and build relationships.
We value the emotional and intellectual capacity of our audiences.
We value high-quality art that challenges, inspires, and transforms.
We value arts as integral to the education and development of young people.
We value community, collaboration, and inclusivity.
We value the exchange of international ideas, people, and art.
We value advocacy that supports the field of performing arts for youth.
We value engaging our communities in the work that we do.
Daily Dialogue topics included:
Education Director as Community Leader, moderated by Ray Gargano (Playhouse Square, US) and Deanna Costa (Arshdt Center for the Arts, US)
This dialogue addressed the changes in the job of education director of a performing arts center.
It Takes A Village, moderated by Michael Holden (Holden & Arts Associates, US)
This dialogue explored the connections between the various constituents of the field and how relationships play out in the development of work and tours.
Touring In North America – Making the Dollars Count, moderated by Cheryle Hansen (Kids Entertainment, Canada) and guests
This dialogue investigates ways for us to build tours in which business planning and community advocacy plays an important role.
Think Globally, Act Locally, moderated by Jessica Wilson (Jessica Wilson Productions, Australia) and Sherri Leathers (Tennessee Performing Arts Center, US)
This dialogue examines cutting edge models for presenting international works.
The Artist's Perspective on Creation, moderated by David Gonzalez (Artist, US) and Jodi Glass (Slingsby Company, Australia)
This artist-centered dialogue explored the creative process from the generation of an idea to the realization of it on the stage.
Playwrights in Conversation - Writing from the heart, speaking the truth, and reaching your young audience members, moderated by Kim Peter Kovac (Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, US) and playwrights Doug Cooney and Karen Zacarias
This session was a freewheeling conversation and discussion about the interconnections between the artist, the work, and the audiences.
Special interest sessions were also held and included a special presentation by Mario Durham from the National Endowment for the Arts, education directors meeting, discussion on the foreign artist tax, and new member/Showcase attendee orientation.
IPAY would like to thank this year's Jim Rye Student Scholars who helped in the facilitation of this process. The scholars were selected through a competitive application process and participated in a rigorous training program while attending Showcase. These scholars were:
Colleen Clement, MA candidate in Drama/Theater for the Young, Eastern Michigan University
Marla Hahn, MBA candidate in Arts Administration at the Bolz Center, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Amanda Kibler, MFA candidate in Theatre for Young Audiences, University of Central Florida