FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Jennifer Bristol, Judy Twersky PR

APAP|NYC Media Relations

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APAP|NYC 2025 ATTRACTS LARGEST POST-COVID ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMING ITS STATUS AS THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL GATHERING OF PERFORMING ARTS PROFESSIONALS


Live Appearances by Entertainers Nona Hendryx and Kelli O’Hara and Conference-Wide Events Featuring NEA Chairwoman Maria Rosario Jackson and Best-Selling Author Seth Godin Inspire Attendees, Along with Hundreds of Performing Arts Showcases Throughout NYC from January 10-14

NEW YORK, NY January 14, 2025. APAP|NYC 2025, the annual international industry-wide conference of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) concluded today in New York City, reaching a post-Covid high attendance figure of more than 3000 attendees.

 

From January 10-14, 2025, participants from 34 countries, 5 continents, and all 50 U.S. states immersed themselves in panel discussions, networking, sessions, a 300+ booth EXPO space, and more than 1000 performing arts showcases throughout New York City. The conference was headquartered at the New York Hilton Midtown.

 

APAP|NYC is the world's premier gathering of the performing arts presenting, booking, and touring industry and the annual members conference of the APAP organization. For countless solo performers and groups across the performing arts, making a strong showing at APAP|NYC can be a key factor in determining their economic viability over the next few years.

 

From advocating post-election to adapting to climate change, APAP|NYC 2025 included a wide breadth of timely seminars and, once again, became an ideal opportunity for members to share their perspectives and establish lasting connections. Academy-Award winner Tim Robbins and actor Keith David were among the many performers who interacted with conference attendees. 

 

APAP|NYC 2025:

 

The legendary Nona Hendryx opened the conference on Friday evening with a live performance and conversation. Perhaps best known as a founding member of the pop group Labelle (including “Lady Marmalade”) Hendryx continues to contribute to the performing arts, pushing the boundaries of arts and technology at the age of 80. Her most recent AI, AR and VR installation, The Dream Machine Experience, was unveiled at Lincoln Center last year. Hendryx was also the recipient of APAP’s Award of Merit for Achievement in the Performing Arts at The APAP Honors on Monday, January 13.

 

Maria Rosario Jackson, chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts observed at a conference-wide session titled The Future of Performing Arts Funding:

 

“The default policy argument [for the arts] has often been as an economic engine. And, of course, that’s important. That said, it’s also really important to understand the role of the arts in the health of our democracy, in the vibrancy of our communities, and in our personal, familial, and community well-being.”

 

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert Seth Godin addressed a conference-wide seminar, observing: 


"You’re here to make a change happen. Maybe for your musicians and your artists, maybe for your audience, maybe it’s for your board members, but you’re here to make a change happen. If you keep making change, everything gets easier, but if you stop making that change, you will fail…”Your job isn’t to get a new generation to love your institution, your job is to become an institution that a new generation wants to love.”

 

Tony Award-winning Broadway superstar Kelli O’Hara thanked APAP members for bringing both her and her musician husband, Greg Naughton, to the attention of audiences throughout the country. In talking about mentoring a young acting student who was trying to overcome the recent loss of her brother, O'Hara reflected about the arts:

 

“This is the healer, this is the medicine, this is the drug.”

 

Both Tim Robbins and Keith David reflected on the importance of gathering people in the arts in 2025.

 

“Hit the ground running!" Is one way I might describe my APAP Experience. Living my dream while wide awake Is another. But really it was like trying to put words on riding the cyclone at Coney Island. But the real deal truth is it was a ride where "The Juice is Well worth the squeeze"!!!! (Keith David)

“In times of great division and conflict, theater holds the potential to heal divides and create community in places that are experiencing division.” (Tim Robbins)

 

APAP Honors Ceremony on Monday, January 13:


The APAP Honors were presented on Monday, January 13. Nona Hendryx was among the seven APAP Awards 2025 recipients whose names were previously announced before the ceremony. The list includes visionary and influential performing arts leader Pamela Tatge; classical music innovator and transformational educator Afa Dworkin; native arts advocate Lulani Arquette; genre-bending programmer Terell Johnson; and performing arts fundraising and strategy pioneers Halsey and Alice North. Halsey North, who died in 2022, was awarded posthumously.

Additional awards from APAP partners were also presented. The CIPA (Creative Independent Producers Alliance) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Production was awarded to Ben Grinberg, Co-Founder and Program Manager, Cannonball Festival (Philadelphia, PA).

 

Also announced at the ceremony were the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA) Award for Excellence in Presenting the Performing Arts to Jared Duymovic, Vice President of Programming and Engagement, Marcus Performing Arts Center (Milwaukee, WI) and The Liz Silverstein Award for Agent-Manager of the Year to Karen Fischer, President, Pasifika Artists Network (Maui, HI).

 

The APAP Honors is sponsored by IMG Artists (https://imgartists.com/)

About the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)


APAP, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals is the national service, advocacy and membership organization dedicated to developing and supporting a robust, performing arts presenting, booking, and touring field and the professionals who work within it. Our 1,700 national and international members represent leading performing arts centers, artist agencies, managers, touring companies, and performing artists. APAP is the producer of the annual APAP|NYC conference (apapnyc.org)—the world’s leading gathering and marketplace for the performing arts—and is an industry leader, providing year-round resources, programming, and services.


APAP|NYC is a founding partner of JanArtsNYC, the annual convergence of world-class public festivals and innovative industry gatherings taking place throughout the month of January at various NYC venues, supported by the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. 


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