UCLA Center for the Art of Performance

UCLA Center for the Art of Performance is a leading presenter of contemporary performing arts based at the University of California, Los Angeles. Founded in 2011, it commissions, develops, and presents innovative work across dance, music, theater, and interdisciplinary art forms. The organization is dedicated to supporting artists at critical stages in their careers and fostering a dynamic connection between the UCLA community and the global arts landscape.

History and mission

The center was established in 2011, succeeding the longstanding UCLA Live program which had been a major cultural force in Southern California since 1936. Its creation marked a strategic shift towards a more artist-centric model focused on commissioning and deep creative partnerships. The mission is to advance the contemporary performing arts by providing essential resources, including time, space, and funding, for artistic experimentation and production. This commitment is rooted in the belief that the arts are vital to a thriving society and integral to the educational mission of a premier public research university like UCLA.

Programming and venues

Programming is presented across multiple venues on the UCLA campus and in partnership with cultural institutions across Los Angeles. The primary performance spaces include the historic Royce Hall, a landmark of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture renowned for its acoustics, and the more intimate Freud Playhouse. The center also utilizes the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden and the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum for special events. Its season typically features an annual series of performances, alongside artist residencies, workshops, and public lectures that engage students and the broader public.

Artists and performances

The center has presented and commissioned work from a vast array of internationally celebrated artists and emerging innovators. In dance, it has featured companies like Martha Graham Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and choreographers such as Bill T. Jones and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. In music, programming spans genres, presenting artists like Meredith Monk, the Kronos Quartet, Laurie Anderson, and Jonny Greenwood. Notable theater and interdisciplinary productions have included work by Robert Lepage, Taylor Mac, and the TELEVISION series *The Artist's Office* with Miranda July. It also maintains a strong commitment to global artists, presenting troupes like Complicité from the United Kingdom and Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal.

Leadership and organization

The center is led by Executive and Artistic Director Kristy Edmunds, a prominent curator and arts leader who previously served as head of the Melbourne International Arts Festival and as a consulting professor at the Muhammad Ali Center. It operates under the auspices of UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture, fostering close academic and creative collaborations. The organization is supported by a professional staff managing production, engagement, and development, and benefits from the guidance of an advisory board comprised of community leaders and arts advocates.

Impact and recognition

The center is widely recognized as a vital incubator and presenter within the national and international performing arts ecosystem. Its commissioning program has premiered numerous significant works that have subsequently toured to major venues like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Walker Art Center. It plays a crucial role in the cultural life of Los Angeles, providing a platform for artistic risk and dialogue. The center's integration with UCLA offers unique educational opportunities for students through master classes, internships, and direct exposure to leading practitioners, shaping the next generation of artists, scholars, and audiences.

Category:Performing arts organizations in Los Angeles Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Arts organizations established in 2011