Southwest Performing Arts Presenters 
  Home  About   Roster  Search  Links  Forms Members 
 

Southwest Performing Arts Presenters

Southwest Performing Arts Presenters (SWPAP) is a consortium of presenting organizations in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Member organizations range from very small presenting groups in local communities to university and municipal presenters mounting full seasons of events including traditional and modern music, dance, theater, musical theater, opera, family presentations, children’s events, mime and Broadway shows.

OUR GOAL

We provide assistance to member organizations. To accomplish this, we share experiences, learn from one another, create a network for booking and arrange educational workshops which are open to all member organizations.

NETWORKING

In addition to the information presented on this web site, SWPAP publishes a directory with detailed information about member organizations. This directory includes information about the kind of artists presented as well as typical fees and budgets, so that members can identify likely co-presenters are touring partners. The SWPAP newsletter which goes to all member organizations contains a calendar of membership events; technical advice; items about upcoming projects; success stories from fellow members; and information from the National Endowment for the Arts, State Arts Councils and the Mid-American Arts Alliance.

Because we are a small organization and meet several times a year, friendships develop. Members always feel free to call one another for assistance when problems or opportunities arise.

WHEN WE MEET

SWPAP meets three times a year:



• In September at the Arts Midwest Conference;
• January at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters booking conference in New York;
• In May for our annual educational workshop hosted by a SWPAP member.

OUR GOVERNING BOARD

The governing board of nine members is elected by the membership, plus one ex-officio representative from Mid-America Arts Alliance. A chair, vice-chair, a secretary and a treasurer are elected from the governing committee. All actions proposed by the governing board are brought to the membership for a vote. Currently serving on the governing board are:

Chair, Cynthia Quinn, University of Texas at Austin
Vice-Chair Jenni Taylor-Swain, Walton Arts Center
Secretary, Hilarie Benedetto, Arts Council of NorthEast Tarrant County
Treasurer, Jim Clark, Lutcher Theater
Members at large:
Ruth Ellen Whitt, Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council
Maureen Patton, The Grand 1894 Opera House
Susan Thomae-Morphew, R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center
Kass Prince, Irving Arts Center

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

All members must be non-for-profit or tax exempt organizations and have the following responsibilities and privileges:

I. Active members
A. Must be a presenting organization (A presenting organization is defined as an organization that contracts, markets and accepts financial risks for an arts presentation that is not self-produced).
B. Must have at least one authorized person with decision-making power able to commit to a booking.
C. Must have an active professional presenting program.
D. Must abide by Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Code of Conduct for presenting organizations.
E. Must be actively involved in the corporation.
F. Must pay annual dues as determined by the Governing Committee.
G. Shall be entitled to one vote on all matters brought before the membership. Only active members are entitled to vote.

Even some organizations with all-volunteer staffs meet all these criteria.

II. Affiliate Members
A. Not a presenting organization, but should have an interest in the presentation of the performing arts.
B. Must have at least one full-time professional staff person.
C. Must abide by the APAP Code of Conduct.
D. Must pay annual dues as determined by the Governing Committee.
E. This category is not eligible for block booking.

Non-presenters can find much of value in being Affiliate Members and keeping abreast of SWPAP’s activities.

COST OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership fee is based on the amount of artist fees paid annually by the organization. The membership fee covers one year of membership.

$150,000 and over	$ 200 dues
$50,000 to $149,999	$ 100 dues
Under $49,999	$ 75 dues
Affiliate Members	$ 75 dues

Participating in just one block booking alone can save much more than the cost of SWPAP membership.