Network Forums
Network forums provide focused discussion and networking for opera company staff, trustees, artists, and educators working in shared professional specialties.
These multiday symposia complement the interdisciplinary Opera Conference by concentrating on specific topics of:
- Artistic Administration
- Development
- Education/Community Engagement
- Finance/HR
- Governance
- Marketing/PR
- New Works
- Performer Development
- Racial Justice
- Teaching Artists
- Technical/Production
- Women's Opera Network
These forums provide participants with opportunities to explore common issues, share strategies for success, and build a network of support.
Forum Details
Participation in network forums is open to the staff of OPERA America’s Professional Company Members, with three exceptions:
- The staff of Educational Producing Associates may participate in the Performer Development Forum.
- Board members of Professional Company Members may participate in the National Trustee Forum.
- The staff of all OPERA America organizational members and artists may participate in the New Works Forum by invitation.
- Individuals currently or previously engaged as a teaching artist at an OPERA America PCM or other-opera-related organization are welcome to register for the Opera Teaching Artists Forum. This includes teaching artists with expertise in voice, dance, theater, visual arts, or other domains.
- Anyone who is committed to moving racial justice forward in the opera field is welcome to register for the Racial Justice Opera Forum.
Dates and Registration
Professional Company Member and Educational Producing Affiliate staff can log in to view forum dates and register in their membership portals. To learn about becoming a member, visit Organizational Membership.
Forum Descriptions
Artistic Administration Forum
The Artistic Administration Forum focuses on topics of casting and contracting practices, repertoire selection and season planning, services for artists, software for scheduling and contract management, hiring and regulations for foreign artists, and succession planning.
Development Forum
The Development Forum allows fundraising professionals to keep abreast of the latest regulations governing contributed income and to discuss best practices for obtaining, retaining, and increasing the gifts that are vital to the production of opera.
Education/Community Engagement Forum
The Education/Community Engagement Forum shares lessons learned from across the field about opera education programs, arts integration, assessment and evaluation procedures, community engagement projects, and more.
Finance/HR Forum
The Finance/HR Forum is dedicated to improving practices and encouraging the exchange of information among those working in finance, human resources, information systems, and general administration.
Marketing/PR Forum
The Marketing/PR Forum provides an opportunity to discuss topics such as audience engagement and retention, the shifting media landscape, and communication strategies for a digital society.
National Trustee Forum
The National Trustee Forum welcomes trustees for sessions on board recruitment and engagement strategies, committee structures, board/staff dynamics, leadership succession, and other topics that build trustee understanding of company operations.
New Works Forum
The New Works Forum convenes composers, librettists, designers, producers, and publishers to ask questions and share knowledge about methods for successfully creating and producing new operas. Forum participants also enjoy performances of new works throughout New York City.
Opera Teaching Artists Forum
The Opera Teaching Artist Forum focuses on classroom engagement, lesson planning, culturally responsive instruction, and relationship-building with students, school administrators and educators, as well as guidance on maintaining vocal health, finding work/life balance, and nurturing creativity and artistry.
Performer Development Forum
OPERA America’s Performer Development Network facilitates dialogue between educators, artist training program managers, administrators, artist managers, and others to share resources and improve methods for identifying, training, and supporting talented artists.
Racial Justice Opera Forum
The Racial Justice Opera Forum focuses on moving racial justice forward in the opera field with intentional learning, engagement, and practical applications for enacting racial justice.
Technical/Production Forum
The Technical/Production Forum shares successful practices about the demands of mounting new and existing productions, developing co-productions, and carrying out other activities required by the art form.
Women's Opera Network Forum
The Women's Opera Network Forum presents a unique platform for opera professionals identifying as women and their allies to convene and tackle the distinctive challenges prevalent in the field. This gathering aims to foster community, exchange resources, establish objectives, and provide actionable advice for effectively traversing various career stages. It offers a supportive environment where attendees can collaborate, learn from one another's experiences, and empower each other to overcome obstacles and achieve professional fulfillment in the opera industry.
For questions about participating in forums, contact us at Membership@operaamerica.org or 646.699.5238.