Network Of Ensemble Theaters

A NATIONAL COALITION OF ENSEMBLES CREATED BY AND FOR ARTISTS, THE NETWORK OF ENSEMBLE THEATERS (NET) EXISTS TO PROPEL ENSEMBLE THEATER PRACTICE TO THE FOREFRONT OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY.

FIELD BUILDING PROGRAMSNETS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM BUILDS AND NURTURES THE ENSEMBLE ARTS FIELD THROUGH SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO MEMBERS, AND BY ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE NATIONAL ROSTER OF ENSEMBLE-FOCUSED PEERS FOR NETWORKING AND FIELD LEARNING. MEMBERSHIP IS AVAILABLE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO ENSEMBLE ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS, AND RELATED PRACTITIONERS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: ENSEMBLES, AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND STUDENTS. THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY & CULTURAL POLICY EFFORTS, NET ORGANIZES AND PROMOTES ENSEMBLE PRACTICE AND ENSEMBLE THEATER-MAKING AS A DISTINCT ELEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES THEATER, AMPLIFYING ITS COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL IMPACT. NET SERVES AS THE VOICE OF ENSEMBLE THEATERS AND CO-CREATORS IN CULTURAL POLICY DISCUSSIONS, AND AT CONVENINGS OF ARTISTS, PRACTITIONERS, EDUCATORS, FUNDERS, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND AGENCIES NATIONALLY.

FIELD GATHERINGS AND CONVENINGSNET FULFILLS ITS FUNCTION AS A NETWORK BY ORGANIZING AND CONVENING THE FIELD THROUGH VARIOUS EVENTS FOR NETWORKING, PEER-BASED LEARNING, AND DISCUSSION OF PRESSING FIELD ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO OTHER FULLY ONLINE OFFERINGS IN FY23, NET PRODUCED BREAK/THROUGH OUR FIRST FULLY-HYBRID ONLINE AND IN-PERSON EVENT IN PHILADELPHIA AND VIA ZOOM IN JULY 2022 (THE FIRST MONTH OF FY23). THIS EXPERIMENTAL EVENT ALLOWED INTERACTION AND CROSS-MEDIA DISCUSSION LIVE FOR ALL MEMBERS REGARDLESS OF ATTENDANCE METHOD, AROUND THE FUTURE OF COLLECTIVE ART PRACTICE AND THE INTEGRATION OF ARTIST WELL-BEING WITH DIFFICULT, DEMANDING WORK. ALSO IN FY23, THE NET STAFF AND NETNEXT BRIDGE ENSEMBLE STARTED THE PLANNING WORK FOR A IN-PERSON/HYBRID NATIONAL CIRCLE UP EVENT THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN NEW ORLEANS AND ONLINE IN FY24 (FALL 2023), AS WELL AS AN ONLINE SERIES LEADING UP TO THIS GATHERING.

FIELD RESOURCESFOR THE 10-YEAR PERIOD FROM 2012-2022, THE NET TRAVEL & EXCHANGE NETWORK (NET/TEN) PROVIDED OVER $1.3 MILLION IN GRANT SUPPORT TO MEMBER ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING THROUGH ARTIST-TO-ARTIST EXCHANGES OF PERFORMANCES, TRAINING, AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES. FOLLOWING THE FINAL NET/TEN GRANTS AWARDED DURING THE PROGRAMS FINAL YEAR (FY22), NET CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGHOUT FY23 (AND INTO FY24) FOR REMAINING ACTIVE GRANTEES AS WE WRAPPED UP THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, A SMALL PORTION OF THE NET/TEN FUNDING POOL IN THE PROGRAMS FINAL YEAR WAS EARMARKED TO SUPPORT CREATE + ACTIVATE, A LEARNING COHORT THAT WE PILOTED IN FY22 AS AN EXPERIMENT IN BUILDING INTERCONNECTED RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BIPOC ENSEMBLES/ARTISTS FOR SMALL-GROUP, PEER KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY. WRAPPING UP THEIR WORK IN FY23, THIS COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY IN ENSEMBLE PRACTICE PROVIDED A VALUED SUPPORT SPACE FOR THE PARTICIPATING BIPOC ENSEMBLE ARTISTS, WHERE COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS COULD DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF EQUITY IN THEIR OWN PERSONAL ARTISTIC PRACTICES, AND LEAD TO EXPLORATIONS AROUND A NEW PARADIGM OF COLLECTIVELY-CREATED CULTURE AND PRACTICES. NETS EXPERIENCE SUPPORTING THE COLLABORATIVE STRUCTURE AND SELF-DETERMINING, AUTONOMOUS PRACTICES FOR THE CREATE + ACTIVATE COHORT ALSO SERVED AS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE MODEL FOR THE FY23 CREATION, RECRUITMENT, AND OPERATION OF THE NETNEXT BRIDGE ENSEMBLE. LAUNCHED DURING FY22, CONNECTOR IS A CUSTOMIZED MOBILE APP THAT WAS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED BY NET AS AN ENGAGEMENT TOOL TO SUPPORT ARTIST-TO-ARTIST RESOURCE SHARING AND DIY TOURS/RESIDENCIES. THE SOLIDARITY ECONOMY AND MUTUAL AID FRAMEWORKS THAT CONNECTOR IS BUILT AROUND HAVE ALSO EMERGED AS CENTRAL ORGANIZING ELEMENTS DURING OUR NETNEXT COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN FY23 AND BEYOND. ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES ON NETS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ARE ACTIVE SOURCES FOR FIELD INFORMATION SHARING (INCLUDING A SHAREBACKP LIBRARY OF BLOG POSTS, VIDEOS, AND ARTIST-TO-ARTIST LEARNING FROM NET/TEN GRANTEES). THE BRIDGE ENSEMBLES WORK ON NETNEXT ALSO REINVIGORATED OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFERINGS IN FY23, EXPANDING THE REACH OF THESE RESOURCES TO A LARGER AND BROADER AUDIENCE.