This website uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are used for visitor analysis, others are essential to making our site function properly and improve the user experience. By using this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Click Accept to consent and dismiss this message or Deny to leave this website. Read our Privacy Statement for more.
ISPA 2025 New York Congress - Schedule of Events
leading the creativity

Schedule of Events

All information is subject to change.

Last updated on January 27th, 2025.

Click the tabs below to explore ISPA NY25 Congress programming!



New York
Scheduled Events
Times in Eastern Standard Time
(all times and program subject to change)

Seminar Day & Pre-Congress

9:00 - 17:00
Seminar Day
9:30 - 17:00
ISPA Committee Meetings (by invitation)

9:45 - 11:00 | Finance/ Audit Committee
11:15 - 12:15 | Nominating Committee
14:15 - 15:15 | Membership Committee
15:30 - 16:30 | Governance Committee

17:30 - 19:30
Donor Reception (by invitation. Click here for donor opportunities)
New York
Scheduled Events
Times in Eastern Standard Time
(all times and program subject to change)

Congress Day 1

9:00 - 11:15
ISPA Committee Meetings (by invitation)

9:00 - 10:00 | Program Committee
10:15 - 11:15 | Advancement Committee

11:30 - 15:45
Registration/Check-in (coffee service)
13:00 - 13:30

Opening Ceremony and Welcome

Speakers

Muriel Miguel
Artistic Director
Spiderwoman Theater
United States
View Bio

Alicia Adams
Board Chair
Vice President, International Programming & Dance
John F Kennedy Center
United States
View Bio

David Baile
CEO
ISPA
United States
View Bio

Shoshana Polanco
Head of Culture and Science Outreach FES Iztacala UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
Mexico
View Bio

Josephine Ridge
Executive Director, Arts
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Canada
View Bio

13:30 - 13:50

Provocation

Speaker

Mariko Silver
President & CEO
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
United States
View Bio

13:50 - 15:05

Session 1 | Leadership Models: A Changing Landscape

Leadership models are changing from a traditional hierarchical structure to ones that encourage greater participation. During this discussion we will explore an artist-centered leadership model as well as hear perspectives and examples from different regions and contexts.

Speakers and Moderator*

Anthony Roth Costanzo
Countertenor / General Director and President
Independent/Opera Philadelphia
United States
View Bio

Emil Kang*
Agnes Gund Visiting Professor of the Practice
Brown University
United States
View Bio

Dolina Wehipeihana
Festival Co-Director
Tāwhiri, Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts
New Zealand
View Bio

15:05 - 15:35
Break (coffee service)
15:35 - 15:45

Regional Update | EUNIC

Speaker

Liviu Jicman
President
Romanian Cultural Institute / EU National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC)
Romania
View Bio

15:45 - 17:00

Session 2 | Possibilities: Exploring AI

This exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may well lead to more questions rather than answers. Despite important concerns with respect to the ethics, displacement of artists, and intellectual property, there is also anticipation regarding its potential for enhanced productivity and creativity. What is AI? How does it affect the performing arts sector and creative practice and what are its future applications?

Speakers and Moderator*

Mark Ball*
Artistic Director
Southbank Centre
United Kingdom
View Bio

Peter Jin Hong
Advisor, EQ+AI
Crosscourt.VC
Canada
View Bio

Octavio Kulesz
Digital Publisher
Teseo
Italy
View Bio

Natalie Klym
VP Strategic Initiatives
Radium
Canada
View Bio

17:30 - 20:00

Opening Reception/New Member Welcome

Miss Nellie's

Please note this venue is suggested as an option only and does not have any relationship with ISPA nor does ISPA take any responsibility for liability or other issues in attending the venue.

20:30
Cocktail Klatch
New York
Scheduled Events
Times in Eastern Standard Time
(all times and program subject to change)

Congress Day 2

09:00 - 16:30
Registration/Check-in (coffee service)
10:30 - 12:30

Pitch New Works

Click to view the handout and learn more about the Pitch Projects!

Host

Anthony Sargent CBE
International Cultural Advisor
United Kingdom
View Bio

12:30 - 14:15
ProEx (Professional Exchange)/ Lunch
14:15 - 14:35

Program Update

Speakers

Tzu-Yin Hsu
International Booking Agent
Aurora Nova
Taiwan
View Bio

Brandall C. Jones
Connectivity Director
Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
United States
View Bio

14:45 - 15:45

Session 3 | The Choice is Yours

Three different opportunities to engage with your colleagues.

Session 3 | The Choice is Yours requires advanced sign-up for delegates who wish to join. Sign up now through 5:00 PM EDT on Thursday, January 9, 2025, while space is available.

Changing Workplace Culture

John Jay College, Dining Lounge (524 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019)

In recent years, we’ve increasingly seen new norms and cultural shifts in the workplace including remote work and increased emphasis on wellbeing and life/work balance. How are leaders navigating these shifts and what can we learn from each other’s experiences? What are successful examples of ways to move forward?

Speakers and Facilitator*

Elroy Fillis-Bell
Chief Executive Officer
Joburg Ballet
South Africa
View Bio

Maria Claudia Parias Durán
Director
Idartes
Colombia
View Bio

Josephine Ridge*
Executive Director, Arts
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Canada
View Bio

Deyvani Saltzman
Director for Arts & Participation
Barbican Centre
United Kingdom
View Bio

Paul Tam
Executive Director, Performing Arts
West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Hong Kong
View Bio

Matthew VanBesien
President
UMS at the University of Michigan
United States
View Bio

Curatorial Models: New Approaches

Gerald W. Lynch Theater (524 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019)

While the model of a traditional Artistic Director is still successfully employed, new and innovative curatorial practices are emerging. Rotating curators and decentralized and multiple artistic advisories are all now in practice. Join a discussion of different models and their adaptability.

Speakers and Facilitators*

Roy Luxford
Creative Director
Edinburgh International Festival
United Kingdom
View Bio

Magnus Nordberg*
Founder/CEO
Nordberg Movement
Sweden
View Bio

Freddie Opoku-Addaie
Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive
Dance Umbrella
United Kingdom
View Bio

Shoshana Polanco*
Head of Culture and Science Outreach
FES Iztacala UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
Mexico
View Bio

Andrea Caruso Saturnino
General Director
Theatro Municipal de São Paulo
Brazil
View Bio

Building the Future: Performance Spaces

John Jay College, Conference Room 61 (524 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019)

The pandemic prompted our sector to examine our use of spaces for performances. With buildings closed, we explored how spaces could better support artistic excellence, community engagement, equity, and new technologies. What new facilities and approaches have since emerged, and how are we using these lessons to shape the performance spaces of the future?

Speakers and Facilitator*

Liv Aira
Founder and Artistic Director
Jillat Sami Dance Center
Sweden
View Bio

Joshua Dachs
Principal
Fisher Dachs
United States
View Bio

Todd Hensley*
Partner
Schuler Shook
United States
View Bio

Sybil Wa
Principal
Diamond Schmitt
United States/ Canada
View Bio

15:45 - 16:10
Break (coffee service)
16:10 - 16:20

Regional Update | Southern United States

Presenter

Thamara Bejarano
Executive Director
Open Scene
United States
View Bio

16:20 - 16:45

Provocation

Speaker

Romina Muñoz
Minister of Culture and Heritage
Ecuador
View Bio

Various venues
19:00 - 23:30

ISPA Out on the Town

ISPA has partnered with a number of organizations throughout New York to promote events which you may want to enjoy. Some even offer ISPA delegates discounts!

Miss Nellie's

Please note this venue is suggested as an option only and does not have any relationship with ISPA nor does ISPA take any responsibility for liability or other issues in attending the venue.

20:30
Cocktail Klatch
New York
Scheduled Events
Times in Eastern Standard Time
(all times and program subject to change)

Congress Day 3

8:00 - 15:00
Registration/Check-in (coffee service)
8:30 - 9:30

Session 4 | Coffee Klatch

“Coffee Klatch" (/ˈkaf-fee-klach/) offers an opportunity to engage in an intimate and informal discussion with up to 10 other delegates. Discussion topics were submitted by delegates, and conversations will be all delegate-led! What’s on your mind?

Click to view more detail and sign-up now through 5:00 PM EST, Thursday, January 9th, 2025 while space is available.

10:00 - 10:15

Regional Update | MENA

Speaker

Ahmed El Attar
Artistic and General Director
Arab Arts Focus
Egypt
View Bio

10:15 - 10:40

Provocation

Speaker

Alex Sarian
President and CEO
Arts Commons
Canada
View Bio

10:40 - 12:00

Session 5 | Navigating Conflict

In an increasingly polarized world, performing arts leaders are constantly navigating conflict. Whether it’s geopolitical conflict or cancel culture, the currents of our differences can be overwhelming. How can we engage diverse communities and stakeholders in the current climate?

Speakers and Moderator*

Sulayman Al Bassam
Artistic Director
SABAB Theatre
Kuwait
View Bio

Kristy Edmunds*
Director
MASS MoCA
United States
View Bio

Miranda Lakerveld
Founder/Artistic Director
World Opera Lab
Netherlands
View Bio

Iris Nemani
McMurtry Family Director
Stanford Live
United States
View Bio

12:00 - 13:15
Lunch
13:15 - 13:45

Performance

Performer

dream

The D.R.E.A.M. Ring
United States
View Bio

13:45 - 15:15

Session 6 | Festivals at the Forefront

Festivals are some of the most visible and impactful platforms in the performing arts sector and are often at the forefront of innovation. During this session, festival leaders from around the world will share their thoughts about the role festivals can play in today’s society.

Speakers and Moderator*

Emily Ansenk
Director
Holland Festival
Netherlands
View Bio

Harold David
Co-Chair
Festival Off Avignon
France
View Bio

Martha Hincapié-Charry
Curator / Choreographer
Plataforma Berlin
Germany
View Bio

Tisa Ho*
Former Executive Director
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong (China)
View Bio

dorcy

Dorcy Rugamba
Artistic Director
Kigali Triennial
Rwanda/Belgium
View Bio

15:15 - 15:45
Break (coffee service)
15:45 - 16:00

Invitation to Lugano

16:00 - 17:00

ISPA Awards

Hosts

CH

Cindy Hwang
President
InPulse Creatives
Saudi Arabia
View Bio

Mohamad Shaifulbahri
Artistic Director
Bahri & Co
Singapore
View Bio

Awardees

David Baile

David Baile
CEO
ISPA
United States
View Bio

Janet C

Janet Cowperthwaite
Former Executive Director
Kronos Quartet
United States
View Bio

Cathy Graham OBE
Executive Director
NMC Recordings
United Kingdom
View Bio

Tisa Ho

Tisa Ho
Former Executive Director
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong (China)
View Bio

Yaron Lifschitz

Yaron Lifschitz
Artistic Director and CEO
Circa
Australia
View Bio

Starmus Festival

Starmus Festival
Spain
View Bio

17:00 - 18:30

Closing Reception

18:30 - 20:00
Conclusion of Congress
Miss Nellie's

Please note this venue is suggested as an option only and does not have any relationship with ISPA nor does ISPA take any responsibility for liability or other issues in attending the venue.

20:30
Cocktail Klatch

Questions?

Find your answer

FAQ

Contact Zooey Cheng

zcheng[at]ispa[dot]org