About NAPA
THE NORWEGIAN ASSOCIATION FOR PERFORMING ARTS
The Norwegian Association for Performing Arts (NAPA) is a state-subsidized network organization for the performing arts sector in Norway. It has its national office in Oslo. NAPA's main vision is “to promote the artistic expression of dance and theatre, and to stimulate access and increased interest for dance and theatre amongst all audiences“
NAPA is a dynamic national competence centre, supporting the performing arts nationally as well as internationally with main focus on the independent field. The organization offers service and information to its members, to the local and national government and to the civil societies. One of our core activities is local, national and international advocacy work with main focus on of the independent performing arts field. NAPA is also the distributer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel fund supporting artistic exchange within the performing arts, as well as coordinating international exchange projects.
Structure of the organisation
The Norwegian Association for Performing Arts is a national network organization to which performing arts companies, producers and constellations can apply for membership. The organization applies for all expressions, dance, theatre, modern opera, performance, cross-over and puppetry. At the moment the organization has 90 members. All members have their own promotional space on the NAPA website www.danseogteatersentrum.no
NAPA is the key shareholder of "The National Touring Network for the Performing Arts" (NTNPA) and Black Box Theatre in Oslo.
Aims
The Norwegian Association for Performing Arts has defined these core aims for the period 2009-2014:
• NAPA represents a strong political voice in the Norwegian field of performing arts.
• NAPA will actively work to develop and enhance the internationalization of the Norwegian performing arts field through the support of artistic exchange, networks, information and collaborational projects. NAPA will outline a plan on how to strengthen the international activities and relations, increase the possibilities to participate on the international arena and increase the knowledge of performing arts from Norway abroad.
• NAPA will advocate politically to increase the governmental support to the independent performing arts field, from 5% of the performing arts budgets in 2009 to 15% of the performing arts budgets in 2014. • NAPA will stimulate the professionalization of the independent performing arts field by advocating for predictable economical conditions and stabile structures. Minimum 15 companies should receive the ‘4 year basic support fund’.
• NAPA will contribute to strong regional competence building, networks, meeting places, and stimulate public awareness, reflection and dialogue about society and its relation to the performing arts.
• NAPA will act as the bridge connecting different artistic environments to eachother and to other stake holders, however always aesthetically neutral, supporting diversity.
• NAPA will to the development of professional tools, such as contracts, budgets and organizational guidance contribute to increased professionalization within the sector.
• NAPA has developed and is building a national digital archive collecting historical and present material, and will through this contribute to the understanding and awareness about the independent performing arts field in Norway.
Brief description of activities
The Norwegian Association for Performing Arts’ aims are activated through four main activities
1. Network Organization NAPA was established in 1977 today has 90 members. The members consist of performing arts companies, producers and constellations. In addition to having their own space on NAPAs web site, NAPA works to raise awareness about its members through information and advocacy. NAPA offers guidance to its members on management issues. NAPA also works with the connection between indepentant companies and institutions in relation to legislation and different models for co-producing performances. The building of networks on both a national and international level, and connecting artists it one of the activities that is rapidly growing.
2. Information and Media NAPA is now constructing a national digital archive. The history, present day and the future will be collected in a database accessible online. The indepentent performing arts field has been poorly handled in relation to preserving its history and influence on the society throughout the last 30 years. Material and stories are now being collected so that the importance of these struggelling and innovative artists will not be forgotten. Together with The Association for Norwegian Theatres and Orchestras (the institutions) NAPA is publishing an online news service about the performing arts in Norway. www.scenekunst.no provides information and news following established journalistic standards.
3. Political advocacy and the performing arts NAPA contributes actively to political lobbying regarding policymaking, infrastructure and public funding of the arts. The ongoing dialogue with the members network is the key tool in the communication with governments on both a local and national level.
4. International relations Norwegian artists are increasingly receiving international attention and more and more artists have their audiences on the international arena, festivals and venues. NAPA is working to strengthen the ability to operate professional and within stabile frameworks also on the international arena. We work closely with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Norwegian Arts Council to establish conditions that handle the demand for Norwegian art. NAPA also engage in international networks to ensure an ongoing flow of communication and information.