Native Performing Arts Network

Native Performing Arts Network (aka Native Theater Project) seeks to increase the visibility of Native stories and Native people by supporting Native artists with community, career, and personal growth opportunities, and by connecting theaters with Native creative leaders.

Native Theater Project seeks to improve outcomes for Native people by improving representation, actively supporting storytelling sovereignty, and enhancing the American theater ecosystem’s cultural competency in producing Native stories by Native artists.

We do this by centering Native writers and creators, working collaboratively with sovereign tribal nations and urban Native communities, and fostering intergenerational connections among Native artists.

We develop work first in Native-centric spaces, then bring it to wider audiences.

Program Areas:

Network:

• interconnecting Native artists and Native theaters through in-person and virtual convenings
• connecting theaters with Native creatives
• connecting Native work with Native communities
• building the Portland, Oregon metro into a hub for new play development by Native writers

Specific program examples:

Quarterly virtual meet-up of Native arts education programs

Annual convening of Native theaters and Native artists

Recommendations of three plays / year to theaters, crafted specifically for theater’s aesthetics (NPAN Tier 1 Ally Members only)

Arts Education

Providing holistic performing arts education for Native youth, designed by Indigenous education experts and taught by Native artists, including college prep, Native health and wellness, CTE, and cultural activities

Specific program examples:

Sleepaway summer camp on a college campus

In-school CTE with NAYA’s Many Nations Academy (Portland Public School)

Virtual workshops with partners like Nickelodeon, Paramount Plus / Content for Change, CBS, others

Development of Native work and Native people

Commission and offer artist residencies where Natives can create in Native-centric spaces, developing art with Native audiences.

Plays will develop and be workshopped first for and with Native communities, made for Native gaze

Provide leadership development programs, mentorship opportunities, all of which incorporate Native health and wellness

Production of Native work

Partner with professional theaters across the country to increase the theater ecosystem’s cultural competence in producing Native stories. Minimize fear of legacy white institutions’ “getting it wrong”.

Specific program examples:

Collaboratively produce one play each season with Bag&Baggage Productions

Support Native theaters

Help amplify the work of Native-led theaters serving Native artists and Native audiences.

Specific program examples:

Free Write 40: NPAN added financial support to play Native Writers’ Theater artistic director to run this community-building resource