Wyoming Arts Council

WyAA holds Performing Arts Booking and Independent Music Conference Oct. 3

Featured News | August 4, 2015

---

The Wyoming Arts Alliance Performing Arts Booking and Independent Music Conference will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, at the WYO Theater in downtown Sheridan.

The conference kickoff event on Friday, Oct. 2, will be a community reception at the Ucross Foundation featuring a special place-based group exhibition, “Ucross: A Portrait in Place.” It will include a short talk by land artist and Ucross board member Bill Gilbert. The show includes six artists and one scientist and is supported in part through the Wyoming Arts Council.

The Wyoming Arts Alliance invites the arts community to gather for a day of inspiration, learning, and networking.

On October 3, the Wyoming Arts Alliance is convening performing arts performers and venues to our annual block booking and independent music conference.  The annual conference is geared to help art nonprofits and artists achieve success in their work.  It includes two tiered tracks of professional development, two showcasing blocks, an after-hours showcase, a block booking meeting, a member meeting, and plenty of networking. Professional development courses offered reflect industry trends and statewide issues.

Sessions this year include:

• Programming on a shoestring budget – As budgets decline, programs are often casualties. Planning interesting innovative programs on a limited budget is a daunting task but with some enthusiasm and ingenuity it’s easier than you think. Join EK Wimmer, Curator at the NIC and other panelists as we explore this topic.
• How to develop a meaningful intern program – Find out how to create an ideal internship program at your organization that strikes a balance between activities that provide a meaningful learning experience for the intern and activities that will increase your productivity. Hear from UW interns and industry experts.
• IM Tour – Independent Music on Tour is committed to artistic excellence, audience development, and sustainable touring practices for musicians and nonprofit presenters in the West. Presented by WESTAF’s Andy Thomas.
• One-on-one consultations with the Wyoming Arts Council and WESTAF staffers

Main stage showcases include performances by Theaterworks USA’s Petunia and Chicken, Ken Lavigne, Andy Hackbarth, Lauren Sheehan, Jonathan Kingham, Verismo Trio, Johnny B, and Vince and Mindi.  After-hours independent music showcases include performances by Otter Creek, J Shogren, Dave Munsick, and more.

A hotel block is available now at the Best Western Sheridan located in downtown Sheridan.  Convenient walking location to conference venue and after hours showcases.  Make reservations by calling 307-674-7421 and ask for the Wyoming Arts Alliance block, which has a rate of $79 a night.  The block expires Sept 10.

A complete schedule and registration are currently up on the conference website at www.wyomingarts.org. Click on Annual Conference.

The Wyoming Arts Alliance is the only state-wide nonprofit dedicated to advancing a creative and culturally vibrant state.  WyAA convenes presenters, artists, and art organizations from around the state, as well as our neighbors in surrounding states, in order to achieve our goal of bringing the best in arts programming to the region.

FMI: 307-221-0318

Home page photo: J Shogren Shanghai’d in concert. Photo by Elisa Bender, as seen on J. Shogren’s Facebook page. J Shogren will perform at the indie music showcase at the Sheridan conference.

---