New York ISPA Congress: Bridging the Gap
(9-11 January, 2024)
Congress Day 1 – Tuesday 9 January
11:30-15:45 – Registration/Check-in
13:30-14:15 – Opening Ceremony and Welcome
14:50-15:05 – Regional Update
15:05-16:45 – Session 1: “The Road Not Taken – Sustainable Touring”
17:30-20:30 – Opening Reception/New Member Welcome
From 21:30 – Cocktail Klatch
Congress Day 2 – Wednesday 10 January
11:30-16:30 – Registration/Check-in
10:00-11:45 – Pitch New Works with Host, Anthony Sargent CBE (Koffler Centre of the Arts in Canada)
11:45-13:45 – PROEX (Professional Exchange)
14:00-15:15 – Session 2: “The Generational Divide”
15:15-15:25 – Regional Update
15:25-17:00 – Session 3: “Welcome to Your New Audience”
From 21:30 – Cocktail Klatch
Congress Day 3 – Thursday 11 January
09:00-15:00 – Registration/Check-in
10:00-11:30 – Session 4: Coffee Klatch / ”Exploring New York” (including venue tours)
13:30-13:40 – Regional Update
14:40-15:30 – Session 5: “Just Art”
15:30-15:45 – Invitation to Perth with Katherine Connor, ED of PAC Australia
15:45-16:45 – ISPA Awards Presentation
16:45-18:30 – Closing Reception
From 21:30 – Cocktail Klatch
Timeline: A Short History of ISPA
1948
First New York Congress and decision to organise as the National Association of Concert Managers (NACM).
1949
NACM incorporated in Texas and Patrick Hayes is appointed as founding President.
1956
A group of university managers split off to form the Association of College and University Concert Managers (forerunner of APAP).
1970
Organisation name changes to International Association of Concert and Festival Managers (IACFM).
1971
Annual Congress held in Washington, D.C..
1975
Beverly Sills receives the first Distinguished Artist Award.
1980
Patrick Hayes Award introduced and bestowed on the award namesake.
1982
Incorporation of the International Society of Performing Arts Administrators Foundation.
Clinton Norton is appointed as the first (part-time, volunteer) Executive Director.
1987
First international congress takes place in London with 200 delegates from four countries.
1991
Clinton Norton retires, leaving a membership of 480 in 27 countries.
1995
Organisational name changed to the current International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA).
1997
50th anniversary celebration.
2007
First fellowships introduced.
2008
ISPA Office established in New York City.
2013
65th anniversary celebration.
2014
Bogotá 2014 ISPA Congress attracts a record 503 delegates from 37 countries.
New branding introduced.
2015
First bi-city, bi-country congress held in Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark.
2017
10th anniversary of ISPA Fellowship programmes celebrated by exceeding more than $1m in grants. ISPA’s 100th congress takes place in Montréal, Canada.
ISPA membership celebrates a record of 526 members from 60 countries.
2019
A record 73 Fellows participate in one of New York’s or Guadalajara’s congresses.
2020
2020 New York ISPA Congress is sold out with record attendance of 673 delegates from 245 cities and 57 regions.
20 March:
New York City and the world shuts down as the Coronavirus spreads beyond all expectation.
24-25 March:
ISPA launches its first online programme, “ISPAconvenes”.
2021
ISPA’s first fully virtual congress and a digital membership are introduced to engage members around the world.
2022
Despite the emergence of the Omicron variant, ISPA moves forward successfully with its first hybrid congress.
2024
ISPA’s 75th Anniversary.