Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA

Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA
Name	Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA
Established	1964
Location	Los Angeles, California
Director	Kristy Edmunds
Parent institution	University of California, Los Angeles

Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA is a multidisciplinary presenting organization and production laboratory situated within the University of California, Los Angeles campus in Westwood. It programs performance across dance, music, theater, film, and new media, commissioning artists and hosting international ensembles. The center operates at the intersection of campus, city, and global cultural networks, collaborating with museums, festivals, and cultural institutions.

History

The center traces antecedents to university arts initiatives associated with University of California, Los Angeles and mid-20th century performing arts movements in Los Angeles. Early decades intersected with the careers of figures linked to Merce Cunningham, John Cage, Martha Graham, Isamu Noguchi, and institutions like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and J. Paul Getty Museum. Expansion in the late 20th century paralleled collaborations with presenters such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Venice Biennale, and curators from Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and The Getty Research Institute. Directors and artistic leaders engaged networks including National Endowment for the Arts, Rockefeller Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and faculty from UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.

Mission and Programming

The mission foregrounds commissioning, producing, and presenting interdisciplinary work by artists such as Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, William Forsythe, Akram Khan, Pina Bausch, Eiko & Koma, and Bill T. Jones. Seasonal programs encompass residencies, world premieres, and collaborations with ensembles like Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet BC, and artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Philip Glass, Kronos Quartet, Laurie Anderson, Annie-B Parson, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. The center produces festivals and curatorial projects aligning with partners such as Getty Center, Hammer Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, and LA Opera.

Venues and Facilities

Programming occurs on campus stages and offsite venues including Royce Hall, Meyerson Symphony Center-style concert halls, black box theaters, and galleries associated with Hammer Museum and Broad Stage. Technical collaborations draw from designers and technicians who have worked at Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Sydney Opera House, and regional venues like the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Production facilities support co-productions with touring companies from Sadler's Wells, Teatro alla Scala, and the National Theatre.

Notable Performances and Artists

The center has presented landmark performances by Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan-influenced companies, and contemporary artists such as Pina Bausch, Akram Khan, Bill T. Jones, Trisha Brown, William Forsythe, Kraftwerk-adjacent electronic projects, Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, Kronos Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma, Talvin Singh, Anoushka Shankar, Norah Jones, St. Vincent (musician), and collaborations with directors like Peter Sellars and choreographers like Crystal Pite. The center has hosted premieres that later toured to Lincoln Center, Teatro alla Scala, Sadler's Wells, Edinburgh International Festival, and Venice Biennale.

Educational and Community Engagement

Educational initiatives partner with academic units including UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures, and community organizations such as LA Phil Civic],] neighborhood arts programs, and public schools in Los Angeles Unified School District. Outreach includes artist residencies with students, masterclasses led by artists affiliated with Juilliard, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Bard College, and mentorship programs connecting emerging artists to funders like the Guggenheim Foundation and the MacArthur Fellows Program network.

Governance and Funding

Governance operates within the administrative structure of University of California, Los Angeles with leadership reporting through divisions connected to campus provosts and deans. Funding streams combine support from federal and private sources including the National Endowment for the Arts, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, philanthropic gifts from families akin to the Annenberg Foundation, corporate partnerships with entities like Walt Disney Company and ticket revenue. Advisory boards have included cultural leaders from Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Broad, Getty Trust, and representatives from major presenting organizations such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Awards and Recognition

The center's productions and affiliated artists have received awards and recognition including MacArthur Fellowship recipients, Pulitzer Prize winners in music and drama, Laurence Olivier Award nominees for touring productions, Tony Award acknowledgments for collaborations, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Guggenheim Foundation. Institutional recognition has come from city cultural bodies such as the Los Angeles County arts commissions and national arts advocacy groups.

Category:University of California, Los Angeles