Through June 2021, all NET memberships will be offered on a Pay What You Decide basis.
A national community of artists and organizations dedicated to collaborative creation, the Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) works to propel ensemble theater practice to the forefront of culture and society.
What is an Ensemble?
NET defines an ensemble as a group of individuals dedicated to collaborative creation, committed to working together consistently over years to develop a distinctive body of work and practices. Ensemble members, both artists and administrators, are empowered as core decision-makers and help to shape their company's artistic direction and organizational structure.
How do I join?
We welcome all performance-based ensembles, collectives, artists, co-creators, practitioners, producers, scholars, educators, teaching artists, students, cultural workers, organizers, activists, policy makers, funders, community partners, and other allies. If you are intrigued by or passionate about collaborative artmaking, the theory and practice of collective creation or devising work, or the vitality of the ensemble sector, come join us!
Find out more about becoming a member of the NET community here.
NET advocates for ensemble theatermaking as a distinct element of the performing arts field, amplifying the collective voice of our 350+ member companies and individuals for local and national impact.
Become a MemberNET hosts in-person and online events and gatherings to develop and deepen connections among NET members and colleagues, and provide opportunities for peer-based field learning and knowledge sharing.
Connect NowNET nurtures the growth, health, and vibrancy of the ensemble community. Our NET/TEN grant program has distributed over $1 million to support relationship building and exchange among NET members.
Learn MoreWe are offering Summer 2021 NET/TEN Virtual Exploration Grants of $500 and $1,000 (based on the applicant’s membership category) for NET member artists and ensembles to build relationships across distance by exploring remote opportunities for artistic and administrative connections, exchanges, peer learning, and research.
As in the Fall 2020 NET/TEN Mini-Grant round, NET will explicitly center and lift up Black and Indigenous artists and ensembles in the NET membership and those who identify as People of Color, disabled artists, immigrant artists on O-work visas, LGBTQIA+ artists, parents and caregivers, and other folks living at the intersections of oppression by actively prioritizing funding for these requests.
Apply Now!In celebration of our 25-year mark, NET has launched a year-long series to ignite the imagination: Inspiration On-Demand: Creators in Conversation. Each month, NET’s very own board members will join their own mentors and other artists they admire in conversation.
Our next event will be Friday, June 25, 2021 at 10am PST. NET board member Alison De La Cruz (executive arts leader, facilitator, cultural organizer, producer, multi-disciplinary theatre artist, educator, contemporary ritualist, and yelder) will be in conversation with Rose Portillo (theater artist: actor, writer, director, educator).
Register Today
NET
NET/TEN Remote Connection Winter 20/21
With obstacles to gathering, NET was able to adapt our NET/TEN travel grants in Spring 2020 and Winter 2020/21 to micro-grants supporting virtual relationship building and artistic exploration among artists sheltering-in-place. Here are our NET/TEN Winter 2020/21 Remote Connection recipients.
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NET
The Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) is thrilled to welcome Patricia Garza (they/them) to our staff as Director of Programs & Engagement. They will start their work with us on November 9, and will be based in Los Angeles, California; NET’s operations are fully remote and geographically distributed, with staff members located throughout the country.
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Sandglass Theater and Linda Parris-Bailey
NET/TEN 2018-19 Exchange
Eric Bass of Sandglass Theater (Putney, VT) and Linda Parris-Bailey (Knoxville, TN) shared and learned each other's approaches to writing, dramaturgy, puppetry, and song; they will examine how both artists stand in the moment of passing the legacy of their theaters into younger hands, while continuing to be creators of theater. The resulting project addresses both an exchange of creative practices and the act of leadership succession.
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Ninth Planet and Michael O'Bryan
NET/TEN 2018-19 Exchange
Ninth Planet (Philadelphia, PA) consulted with cultural strategist and youth advocate Michael O’Bryan (Philadelphia, PA) to design a new model of community responsive programming. Using Homeworld, a performance experience for 3-to-18-month-old babies and their caregivers, they reimagined their work to extend beyond a singular artistic experience and create potential for long-lasting community building opportunities.
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NET
The Network of Ensemble Theaters loudly and lovingly supports and honors the activists and community members who have taken to the streets this week in the Twin Cities and across the country to defend human and civil rights and demand justice for Black Americans.
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NET
Over the last few weeks, NET has heard countless stories from our members of show cancellations, project interruptions, and financial uncertainty. The spread of COVID-19 and the need for physical distancing has made our collective work -- of bringing together communities through ensemble performance and practice -- extremely difficult. In this unsettling time, our social connections and the interwoven support and camaraderie provided by networks such as NET become even more critical.
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