This fall, we tried something new! A salon series to reflect about the state of the field to connect us and understand the current ground we’re standing on. Our conversations revealed a field at an inflection point, grappling with fundamental questions about risk, sustainability, and what it means to build an authentic performing arts ecosystem, not only beyond WAA, but nationally.

Applications are NOW OPEN for WAA OAK 2026!

We're doing what the performing arts community does best: gathering close, sharing resources, and building collective solutions together. Whether you're an artist ready to showcase your work, a producer wanting to provide more opportunities onsite, or an industry professional with insights to share, this is your moment!

Find out more about the field and what your colleagues are up to in NYC!

The performing arts field is a highly rhizomatic ecosystem supporting a wide array of convenings for presenters, artists, agents, managers, producers, and more. Each year, a high concentration of professionals (nearing 45,000, if not more) intersect in New York City for a wide array of convenings, independently sprouting around the anchor of the APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals) conference in Midtown New York City.  

The recent government shutdown and current continuing resolution (funding the government only through year-end) have created significant uncertainty around our Performing Arts Discovery (PAD) Program funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

TICKETS: free
January 9, 2026
11:30am - 12:30pm ET
12:30 - 1:30pm ET

Ray’s Pizza
831 Seventh Avenue, New York, 10019
Space is limited, RSVP required

TICKETS: free
December 9
4:30 - 8pm PT

Portland, Oregon
RSVP required

TICKETS: free
November 4, 13, 18 & 20
11:30am - 1:00pm PT

Online via Zoom
RSVP required

TICKETS: free
Friday, October 13, 2025
12:00-2:00pm PT

Online via Zoom
RSVP required

WAA’s Board of Directors plays a vital role in our capacity to serve you — our members. Our board supports us in fulfilling our mission to advance excellence in the performing arts, through innovative thinking and ground-breaking initiatives, by anticipating the future needs of the field, and through sound governance and stewardship.

6-10:30pm, September 2 at The Novo

7:30-10:30pm, September 3 at USC

7-10pm, September 4 at Grand Performances

U.S. artists on the rise and ready to tour internationally. Catch some of their showcase performances at the WAA conference in LA!

TICKETS: Varying Prices
September 2 - 5
Registration open 8am - 6pm (Sept 2 - 4)
Registration open 8am - 12pm (Sept 5)

JW Marriott at LA Live

900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Last Change to Register is Onsite in LA!

TICKETS: $75
Thursday, September 4
Doors open at 12pm

JW Marriott at LA Live
Platinum Ballroom

900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Register by August 22

TICKETS: $95 members, $295 nonmembers

6-10:30pm, September 2 at The Novo

7:30-10:30pm, September 3 at USC

7-10pm, September 4 at Grand Performances

Register by August 22

TICKETS: $17.71 + Conference Registration
Tuesday, September 2
Doors open at 12pm

JW Marriott at LA Live
900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Registration Closed

TICKETS: $75
Tuesday, September 2
8:30am – 12:15pm

Shuttle leaves the JW Marriott at 8:45am and returns by 12:15pm

Community Coalition

8101 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA

Register by August 22

TICKETS: $165
Tuesday, September 2
9am-3pm

JW Marriott at LA Live
900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Register by August 22

TICKETS: $60-$150
Tuesday, September 2
Doors open at 8:30am

JW Marriott at LA Live
900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Register by August 22

Starts October 2025

100% Online

Monthly sessions through June 2026

$250 for the full series 

Space is limited. Register by Sept 24, 2025!