More Ways To Participate at WAA OAK
Applications are NOW OPEN for Discovery and Peer Learning
The deadline for all applications is Friday, March 13.
Your Conference, Your Conversation
WAA offers exceptional opportunities for connection and we’re opening up space to our community in the mornings and the last day of the conference!
These sessions do not need to connect to a Circle.
WAA will support a limited number of Private Meetings and Affinity Sessions on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10.
On Friday, September 11 we will have space for a limited number of Consortia meetings.
If you are interested in hosting a private meeting outside of the scheduled times, please submit this form and we will give you our capacity, if any, to support.
WAA is now taking proposals for the following opportunities:
Affinity Sessions: Identity-based peer networking An affinity session is an identity based networking and/or learning. Open to all or closed to those of that identity by host discretion.
Private & Consortia Meetings: Closed Session for Presenting Consortia, Member Associations, and Trade Delegations. Limited support for Board Meetings as well.
Performing Arts Challenge
What's the problem keeping you up at night? What question does our industry need to answer together?
We are bringing something new to the table this year. The Performing Arts Challenge is an interactive arts salon designed to move our industry forward. Imagine 10 people best equipped to tackle an issue at the table discussing solutions over lunch.
WAA members are invited to apply to host a Roundtable during the Performing Arts Challenge. This is your opportunity to circle up with your colleagues to solve our field’s most intractable problems.
Pitch Sessions
Share your project, program, or artist with a captive audience of presenters and partners through our 2026 Pitch Sessions.
Who: You are an artist, agent, or producer with an exciting project, program, or artist to share. You are ideally a WAA member, but it’s not required.
What: All ideas are welcome, but this year’s five-minute pitches provide an ideal opportunity for works with clear calls to action: Bookings and dates for a large or international ensembles, direct investment for a work in development, etc. Pitches, like Juried Showcases and Professional Development Sessions, will fit into one of the Conference’s three thematic Circles.
How: A panel of performing arts stakeholders will select 8-10 applicants to present their pitch to a live audience at the WAA Annual Conference. Those selected will each have five minutes to pitch and answer questions. A/V support will be provided.
When: Pitches will occur alongside Juried Showcases, held under the Conference’s three thematic Circles, at the Mariott Oakland City Center. Each Pitch will be a maximum of 5 minutes occurring during transitions between acts.
WAA provides a safe space for dialogue where creators and collaborators can share perspectives without inhibition and practice the WAA Code of Ethics. WAA supports the intellectual rights of creators and will not tolerate the appropriation of ideas by other creators or attendees.