Network of Ensemble Theaters Inc

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.ADDITIONALLY, IN FY2025 NET BEGAN DEVELOPING THE FEDERATION INITIATIVE, A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO BUILD COOPERATIVE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CULTURAL WORKERS. THE INITIATIVE EMERGED DIRECTLY FROM THE NETNEXT COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS LED BY THE BRIDGE ENSEMBLE, AND FROM NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH CIRCLE UPS AND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS FROM 2022-2024. MEMBERS OF THE SHARED LEADERSHIP AND PRODUCING DIRECTORS TEAM COMPLETED THE COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT FOR A CHANGING WORLD PROGRAM AT CUNY SCHOOL OF LABOR AND URBAN STUDIES, WHERE NET SERVED AS A CASE STUDY FOR COOPERATIVE TRANSFORMATION. RESEARCH INCLUDED STUDY WITH THE US FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES, FREELANCERS UNION, AND THE MONDRAGON COOPERATIVE IN SPAIN. NET PUBLISHED "LEARNING FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENT: A NEW VISION FOR ENSEMBLE AND COOPERATIVE PRACTICE AND BEGAN FIELDWORK CONVERSATIONS WITH LABOR UNIONS, COOPERATIVE DEVELOPERS, AND BENEFITS INFRASTRUCTURE ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPLORE PATHWAYS TO HEALTH INSURANCE, SHARED SERVICES, AND PORTABLE BENEFITS FOR CULTURAL WORKERS.

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.AT THE END OF FY24, NET BEGAN BUILDING AND ACTIVATING A REGIONAL GATHERING PLANNING COMMITTEE FROM ARTISTS, ADMINISTRATORS, LEADERS, AND SCHOLARS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO MOBILIZE SHARED PROCESSES FOR BUILDING NEW WAYS OF GATHERING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE.THIS NEW BRAIN TRUST MODEL RESULTED IN AN INCREASED ABILITY FOR THE NET PRODUCING TEAM TO DEEPEN NETS FIELD CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE FY25 PILOT YEAR. NETS IMPACT ACROSS THIS YEAR INCLUDES HIGHLIGHTS SUCH AS THE NET REGIONAL MEETUP TOUR ACROSS MULTIPLE CITIES, THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL GATHERING (CAMP ENSEMBLE), AS WELL AS ARTIST WORKSHOPS, COLLABORATIVE PITCH SESSIONS, VIRTUAL CIRCLE-UPS, AND VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP GATHERINGS, SUCH AS THE VIRTUAL CAMP ENSEMBLE GATHERING. THE BELOVED 15 TOASTS TRADITION CONTINUED TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE ENSEMBLE FIELD AND PAST NET LEADERSHIP, FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE BONDS OF OUR NATIONAL SOLIDARITY NETWORK.