Applications open for theatres companies to produce at [Inside] the Ford in 2010-11

 

 

 

For Release January 26, 2010

 

Contacts (for media only):

Linda Chiavaroli, Dir. of Communications, L.A. County Arts Commission/Ford Amphitheatre

213 202-5935, communications@arts.lacounty.gov

Priscilla Jaworski, Productions Marketing Manager, L.A. County Arts Commission/Ford Amphitheatre

213 202-5934, communications@arts.lacounty.gov

 

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THEATRE COMPANIES TO STAGE NEW PLAYS AT
[INSIDE] THE FORD DURING 2010-11 SEASON

Deadline to apply is March 17

 

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission/Ford Theatres is now accepting applications for the [Inside] the Ford Winter Partnership Program in 2010-11, a program which provides support to Los Angeles County-based theatre companies. The [Inside] the Ford New Play Series, now in its second season has enjoyed explosive success. L.A. Weekly’s Steven Leigh Morris in his Best of the Decade roundup declared "A big plus for the decade came from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, whose funding of various companies at [Inside] the Ford, including Circle X Theatre Company and Ghost Road Theatre Company, has given us some of the richest programming of the seasons."

 

Recognizing that many Los Angeles County-based theatre companies do not have permanent performance homes and that the cost of producing theatrical works has become prohibitively expensive in the area, the Arts Commission, through the Winter Partnership Program, provides an opportunity for theatre companies without a permanent performance venue to produce in the 87-seat [Inside] the Ford at a highly subsidized cost and with significant promotional support. The third annual Winter Partnership Season is scheduled to run October 2010 through May 2011.

 

Similar to a grant program, proposals for the [Inside] the Ford Winter program are considered on a competitive basis. The Arts Commission will partner with three theatre companies and assist each to present a proposed theatrical work. Proposals are being accepted electronically through the Ford’s web site.

 

Before opening a proposal application, prospective applicants should first read the program's guidelines. Both the guidelines and application are available at

 

(for electronic media) http://www.fordamphitheater.org/en/opportunity/apply_itf

(for non-electronic media) www.FordTheatres.org, click on "Opportunities" then "Artist Partnership Programs" then "Winter Season Partnership Program."

 

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

 

Workshops about the [Inside] the Ford Winter Partnership Program and how to submit a competitive proposal will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ford Theatres complex, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, 90068, in the Hollywood Hills.

 

Parking for these workshops is free. Please RSVP with your name, organization, email address and phone number to publicevents@arts.lacounty.gov or call 323-856-5793.

 

The [Inside] the Ford Winter Partnership program is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

The indoor theatre space at the Ford has a history of serving intimate theatre in L.A. For decades it was rented by numerous groups, most notably the Mark Taper Forum, who made it the home of their second stage Taper, Too from 1972 to 1997. In 1998 the space was extensively renovated and re-named [Inside] the Ford. Its first season, 1998-99, featured three productions presented under the Los Angeles County Art Commission’s subsidized rental program designed to help theatre companies without permanent facilities. From 2000-01 through 2003-04, [Inside] the Ford hosted “Hot Properties,” seasons of new plays and musicals co-produced by County-based theatre companies and the Arts Commission and supported by A.S.K. Theatre Projects and the James Irvine Foundation. From 2005-2008, [Inside] the Ford was been the home of the Ensemble Theatre Collective, known as ETC@ITF, a collaboration of five L.A.-based theatre companies and the Arts Commission supported in part by the Flintridge Foundation. The [Inside] the Ford New Play Series was launched in 2008-09.

 

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Laura Zucker, Executive Director, provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the largest county in the United States, encompassing 88 municipalities. In addition to programming the John Anson Ford Theatres, the Arts Commission provides leadership and staffing to support the regional blueprint for arts education, Arts for All; administers a grants program that funds more than 300 nonprofit arts organizations annually; oversees the County’s Civic Art Program for capital projects; funds the largest arts internship program in the country in conjunction with the Getty Foundation; and supports the Los Angeles County Cultural Calendar on ExperienceLA.com. The Commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. Holiday Celebration broadcast nationally, and a year-round music program that funds more than 40 free concerts each year in public sites. The 2009-10 President of the Arts Commission is Araceli Ruano.

 

For more information please consult the Arts Commission online press kit: http://lacountyarts.org/page/pubnewspress

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