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De-centered doesn’t need to mean disconnected

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De-centered doesn’t need to mean disconnected

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 National Performance Network (NPN) and their LANE process, for the great resource that these prompts are shared from >> “Mixed Metaphor: A Hybrid Approach Toward Liberatory Infrastructure for Arts & Culture Organizations” 

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 National Performance Network (NPN) and their LANE process, for the great resource that these prompts are shared from >> “Mixed Metaphor: A Hybrid Approach Toward Liberatory Infrastructure for Arts & Culture Organizations” 

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More About This Project

Once upon a time, across kitchen tables, front porches, conference tables, performance spaces, and workshop sessions, a big conversation was happening at the National Performance Network (NPN). We were in a quandary: BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving arts organizations, as well as rural arts organizations, were either folding or leaving the Network. So we asked, "How can we collectively build something that specifically supports those in our field who are most vulnerable?"

Leveraging a Network for Equity (LANE) was a ten-year initiative by NPN to support arts organizations of color and rural organizations to thrive in ways that are rooted in who they are, deeply nourish their well-being, and build on their brilliance and leadership in tearing down white supremacy culture, racial capitalism, and other systems of oppression. Through those ten years, two cohorts of six organizations amassed a wealth of learning toward creating Liberatory Infrastructure: systems of accountability and governance that hold the core principles of justice, dignity, and humanity for all.

To share their experience with the field, the LANE team and cohort members have worked for two years on compiling the learnings and practices-from their lived experiences as well as the LANE program's materials-that allowed them to engage in a range of Liberatory Infrastructure experiments.

These two offerings support different ways of knowing:

The learning deck is a tool that pairs brief learnings with reflection questions to guide you in your own journey toward Liberatory Infrastructure.

The workbook presents the learnings at greater depth, as well as practices developed during the LANE process. The workbook uses interactive media and video elements to invite fellow travelers to fully understand the journey that we've taken-and to take it further.

Both resources support exploration either as an individual or within collectives. We believe they can be helpful not only to nonprofit arts organizations but also to any formation of people in which infrastructure is necessary to sustain ability, functionality, health, and justice. They are an invitation to dream more fully.

LANE was predicated on four cornerstones that guided our work. Through the lived experience of the Cohort members, we collectively identified seven areas of learning that were the most impactful in their transformation toward Liberatory Infrastructure:

We invite you into Mixed Metaphor, a Liberatory Infrastructure toolkit to help you untangle your challenges, engage complexity, and find a path forward.

LANE cohort members and staff collaborated with Change Elemental as our participatory learning partner, And Also Too as our graphic design team, and ill Weaver as our Creative Director. All illustrations are by Amir Khadar. Read full credits and acknowledgements. You can sign up for updates and opportunities to connect more deeply.

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Mixed Metaphor: A Hybrid Approach Toward Liberatory Infrastructure for Arts & Culture Organizations - National Performance Network

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Once upon a time, across kitchen tables, front porches, conference tables, performance spaces, and workshop sessions, a big conversation was happening at the National Performance Network (NPN). We were in a quandary: BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving arts organizations, as well as rural arts organizations, were either folding or leaving the Network.

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From where you stand today– How are ensembles poised to navigate this moment of cultural change?

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From where you stand today– How are ensembles poised to navigate this moment of cultural change?

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Upload your photos or write the results or thoughts about your design sprint outputs!

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Upload your photos or write the results or thoughts about your design sprint outputs!

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Collaboration

NET promotes and celebrates an infinite range of collaborative relationships among ensembles, artists, presenters, audiences, communities, and more.

Equity & Inclusion

As an organization that champions ensemble practice and collaborative creation, NET advocates for access, inclusion, and the empowered agency of multiple voices. NET’s commitment to equity and justice is rooted in a holistic vision of cultural pluralism that values diversity of place, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexuality, physical/mental/sensory dis/ability, class, national origin, religion, language, cultural heritage, age of individuals and ensembles, organizational size and structure, artistic form, and aesthetic orientation.

Transparency

NET works to make its own creative and organizational processes transparent to its members and the interested public, taking advantage of public dialogue, communication media, and open artistic practices.

Excellence

The processes and practices of creating ensemble theater can result in outstanding performing art and transformative community experiences. NET uses its aggregated resources to encourage excellence in the creation and presentation of ensemble work through a variety of styles, aesthetics, cultural standards, and performance vocabularies.

Respect

NET accepts the responsibility of working respectfully and effectively within a culturally diverse membership and society.

Active Engagement

NET actively seeks to engage with ensembles, artists, culture bearers, and practitioners from historically excluded and/or underserved communities.

Knowledge Building

NET understands that all ensemble projects and strategies, past and present, combine to constitute a body of knowledge. NET is committed to developing this body of knowledge, transmitting the legacy of ensemble practice and culture to current and future generations of artists, and supporting its ongoing evolution.

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What do you need to the community to hold? 

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What do you need to the community to hold? 

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Please add cards with links, thoughts, comments, and questions for and from the Feedback Session 9/21 at 11 am pacific / 1pm central / 2 pm eastern

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Please add cards with links, thoughts, comments, and questions for and from the Feedback Session 9/21 at 11 am pacific / 1pm central / 2 pm eastern

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This column is where you can drop any unlreated or related questions and comments as the session moves, or even post-session!

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This column is where you can drop any unlreated or related questions and comments as the session moves, or even post-session!

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Drop any thoughts or offerings of abundance here

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Zoom Link

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On a scale of 1-4 how effective was this session for you? 

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Micro Agenda

Welcome & Grounding - What, to you, are the highest priorities greatest needs, and most exciting opportunities right now for ensembles and ensemble artists?

In this session we engage in conversation, imaginative play, and first drafts of what is next for NET!

What is brewing? - We ask participants to share how ensemble practitioners in the field are poised to navigate this moment of cultural change?

What is steeping - We invite participants to engage in Design Sprints. Devising a New NET, an evolutionary version that’s rooted in ensemble practice, and that’s designed with care and intention to address both the world we’re in now, and our boldest aspirations for what could come next.

What Resonates - Open share of what is resonating in the session.

Updates From Bridge Ensemble Phase 2

Somatic Closing

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1. No one is disposable

2. I agree that there is space for both half + full full-thoughts, and I will engage with I statements.

3. Anti-Blackness is very real and present in all rooms. Acknowledging that, I commit to struggling against racism, ableism, sexism, transphobia, classism, fatphobia shame, and other harmful systems in our time together

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Wed Oct 11 - Solidarity Economy: Mutual Aid & Resource Sharing

- ⏰ Time: 4:30-6:30pm PT / 6:30-8:30pm CT / 7:30-9:30pm ET

- 🔗 Zoom Link

- 📌 Padlet Link

- 📝 Click here to complete the pre-event survey on Solidarity Economy as a framework

- 🗓 Optional Follow-Up Feedback Session:  Fri Oct 13 @ 12:30-1:30 pm PT / 2:30-3:30 pm CT / 3:30-4:30pm ET

Mon Oct 16 - Transformative Justice: Community Care & Accountability

- ⏰ Time: 5:00-6:30pm PT / 8:00-9:30pm ET

- 🔗 Zoom Link

- 📌 Padlet Link

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https://www.ensembletheaters.net/event-blog/netnext-new-orleans

Hotel Booking Link: https://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=EX&localeCode=en&regionCode=1&hotelCode=MSYST&checkInDate=19&checkInMonthYear=092023&checkOutDate=23&checkOutMonthYear=092023&_PMID=99801505&GPC=NET&cn=no&viewfullsite=true

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https://www.ensembletheaters.net/bridge-ensemble

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What is NETneXt National Circle-Up Series?

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What is NETneXt National Circle-Up Series?

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Until we create collective ones together

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Bridge Ensemble Community Agreements +NET Values

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Solidarity Economy Survey - A Series Wide Survey

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Solidarity Economy Survey - A Series Wide Survey

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Please take this survey to help us inform our session programming https://tinyurl.com/NETsolidaritysurvey

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NETneXt National Circle Up Graphics (Thumbnail)