National Performance Network
/OVERVIEW: The National Performance Network supports visual and performing arts projects that foster community development and social justice.
IP TAKE: The National Performance Network describes itself as “a vibrant network of artists and organizations committed to advancing racial and cultural justice through the arts.” For artists, performance groups and others, getting involved with the network or a regional member could provide a significant boost to a creative project or the overall visibility of one’s work. Based in New Orleans, the network is particularly active in the South, where it focuses some of its grantmaking programs.
While not all grantmaking programs accept unsolicited proposals, this is an accessible funder. Reach out via its contact page or contact a staff member directly. The network also subsidizes artists’ attendance at its annual conference.
PROFILE: Based in New Orleans, the National Performance Network (NPN) was founded in 1985 by “a group of 14 artist-centered, geographically-diverse presenting organizations” to address issues of “artistic isolation and economic restraints” that plagued the art world in the U.S. at that time. Since then, the network has grown and evolved to pursue its current mission of contributing to “to a more just and equitable world by building artists’ power; advancing racial and cultural justice in the arts; fostering relationship-building and reciprocity between individuals, institutions and communities; and working towards systems change in arts and philanthropy.”
The network comprises 70 arts organizations across 31 states, as well as “dozens of co-commissioning presenters” and over 30 fiscally-sponsored projects. NPN is a signatory of the GUTC and receives funding from a range of public and private sources.
Grants for Arts and Racial Equity
This funder’s grantmaking programs focus on artists and arts practitioners whose work advances social, racial, cultural and economic justice and equity. As a result, all arts funding occurs through a racial equity lens.
The network’s Artist Engagement Fund “advances racial and cultural justice, increases artist mobility, models equitable artist fees, and centers community engagement through the support of artistic activity.”
The program awards grants to NPN partner organizations, with $10,000 grants available to “BIPOC and/or Small-Budget Rural National NPN Partners and $5,000 to all other NPN Partners.”
Funding is typically used for “artist fees for newly commissioned and touring works.” The program awarded 71 grants in a recent year.
Artist Engagement grantees include the Ailey II dance company’s engagement at the Straz Center for the Performing arts in Florida and the Community Music Center of Houston’s Juneteenth Music Celebration.
The Creation and Development Fund “supports the creation, development and mobility of new artistic work that advances racial and cultural justice and results in live experiential exchange between artists and community.”
This is a three-phase program through which NPN and network partners co-fund new works from creation, through the development process and “public engagement of the new work, focused on exchange between artists and communities.”
At each stage, grantees are eligible to receive up to $14,000 in funding. As many as 20 projects may be funded in a single year.
Projects that have received support through this fund include the Rogue Artists Ensemble’s production of Queer Stunt Spectacular at the Skirball Center in New York City and Dora Arreola’s work Queering the Border: Que El Amor Nos Haga at Art2Action in Tampa, Florida.
Fiscal Sponsorship is an agreement between artists or arts organizations and NPN that grants “umbrella status” to the artist or organization. As sponsor, NPN provides financial services and support with fundraising, but also receives 10% of any incoming funds. See NPN’s current fiscally sponsored projects here.
Southern Artists for Social Change is a grantmaking program that targets “artists and culture bearers of color living, working, and engaging in social change in urban, rural, and tribal communities of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.”
Grants prioritize “projects that bring artists of color into collaboration and co-design with community partners and local residents of color around a community-defined vision.”
This program offers three-year grants of $75,000 and accepts referrals from “colleagues, art presenters, and organizational leaders in our region.”
Artists or organizations who do not have a referral may also apply but must contact Daniel Pruksarnukul, Program Assistant, at daniel@npnweb.org or 504-595-8008 ext. 703 to discuss the opportunity. Profiles of past grantees are linked to the program page.
NPN’s Southern Regional Programs work flexibly to meet the needs of “artists and communities of color in New Orleans and the South.”
In 2020, NPN made over 100 grants to regional arts organizations for COVID relief.
The Artists Get Ready grant program works in Louisiana to fund “activities that help artists prepare for emergencies, implement safety measures to safeguard their studios and artwork, and plan to better protect their creative careers.”
The network also provides “peer-to-peer exchanges, technical assistance, and financial-planning resources to arts organizations” in the region.
Special Initiatives change often and “address the needs of the Network while advancing NPN’s work to advance racial and cultural justice in the arts, build artists’ power, and foster systems change in arts and philanthropy.” Current offerings include:
The Documentation and Storytelling Fund supports NPN grantees with efforts to “share their work, ideas, and selves, as well as to create pathways to new opportunities for career advancement.” Grants are awarded in the amount of $3,000, and the network accepts applications from recent grantees. Check the Special Initiatives page for updated guidelines and due dates.
The Peer Exchange Fund awards $1,000 grants to support network partners’ “relationship-building, knowledge sharing, collaboration, learning, and practice.”
Staff of NPN partner organizations may apply for $3,000 Professional Development Grants to cover expenses related to “time, space, and resources for personal renewal and professional growth.”
NPN’s Take Notice Fund “honors BIPOC artists living and working in Louisiana, providing funding to advance their artistic practices.”
The program recognizes 30 artists each year with grants of $5,000 each. Grantees are chosen based on the quality of their work and its contribution “to this country’s discourse about racial equity and cultural preservation.”
Application guidelines and current due dates are linked to the program page.
NPN holds an Annual Conference, which it describes as a “a dynamic forum for artists, arts leaders, activists, organizers, funders and colleagues.”
The conference is held in a different city each year, and, in a spirit of equity and inclusion, the network subsidizes the costs of artists’ attendance.
For information, contact Orchid Robinson at orchid@npnweb.org.
Important Grant Details:
NPN’s grants range from $1,000 to $75,000 in amounts specified by individual grantmaking programs.
While this funder works nationally some of its grantmaking programs are limited to the South, to the state of Louisiana or to communities where network partners operate. See individual program guidelines for geographic eligibility.
Similarly, some grant programs require network membership, network sponsorship or grantee status for eligibility.
This funder is firmly committed to supporting performing, visual and hybrid arts projects that are rooted in social justice and equity.
Locate affiliated arts organizations, network partners and fiscally sponsored projects here.
Links to profiles of past grantees are provided on every program page.
Reach out to NPN via its contact page or find contact information for individual staff members here.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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