CHANGING THE WORLD THROUGH
STORYTELLING
Indigenous Performance Productions is an artist service agency that specializes in tour and original productions. Our organization fills a role that no other nonprofit on Turtle Island (North America) does- we create opportunities in the performing arts world for Native and Indigenous artists. Through our focus on relationship building with performance venues and their surrounding communities, we are able to provide new opportunities for emerging and mid-career Indigenous artists, effectively removing social, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers. We are taking on issues of misrepresentations and institutional barriers and by doing so we uplift Indigenous people.
THE NEED
Indigenous artists are presented with more challenges and fewer opportunities when attempting to find sustainability in the performing arts than most. Although things are slowly improving in the performing arts field there are persistent challenges regarding misperceptions of who Indigenous people are and, consequently, what their art should look/sound like and be about. Because of this prejudice, there is a reluctance within the performing arts field to invest in new productions, book tours and fund the development of Indigenous performing artists.
OUR RESPONSE
Through our programs we are fomenting change in the performing arts industry and creating real opportunity for Native artists while changing the story about Indigenous people to a story BY Indigenous people. At IPP, we work to help Indigenous tell their stories and be part of undoing these stereotypes. We do this through forming trusted relationships with partners in our communites, venues, co-producers and community and tribal leadres. We negotiate great salaries in partnership with venues who believe in our mission. We put on productions and hire musicans from aroud the globe to showcase their talents and hardwork. We provide community engagement and outreach with schools and universities. We take on the cause for and with our artists, so that they have more opportunties, better opportunities and reduced hardship.
Atamira Dance Co./Te Wheke photo by Jinki Cambronero
OUR IMPACT
Atamira Dance Co./Te Wheke photo by Jinki Cambronero
# of Artists Supported
73
IPP has supported 73 dance, music, theater and multi-disciplinary artists since our inception as Walrus Arts Management in 2016.
# of Young Adults Supported
800
We build community engagements into our performance events. Our Partner Presenters are roughly split evenly between performing arts centers who tend to serve youth and colleges and universities who serve university students.
# Original Productions
5
IPP has supported or led the creation of five original productions in the last two years and is set to premier five more within the next two years.
# of Youth Supported
1000+
In the course of an average year, between youth virtual offerings, youth workshops, youth lecture/demonstrations youth classes, and discounted tickets IPP's associate artists generally reach between 800 and 1000 youth.
# of Performances Per Year
30
IPP supports between 30 and 40 performances during an average year. This year we had less due to Covid.
# of Funds Paid to
Indigenous Artists
$1.2+ million
Over the last six years, IPP has raised and disbursed $1.2 + Million in grants and donations paid out in residency and tour fees for Indigenous artists.
Welcome To Indian Country/Photo by Ryan Hunt
Indigenous Performance Productions is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
