The FordLab Producers Program
Due: Aug 1, 2022 at 5pm PT
The opportunity for your program to be presented in a historic 1,180-seat performing arts facility
Access to all in-house lighting and sound equipment
Produce in partnership with LA Phil
Production mentorship
General marketing support to reach important sales milestones
Customer service and box office support
Financial stipend toward production costs depending on need and partnership type
Subsidized operations/house staff by the LA Phil
A supportive community of peers and mentors from diverse backgrounds
Each summer, nearly 40,000 Angelenos attend the The Ford’s eclectic summer season of music, dance, theatre and film events. The season celebrates the region by reflecting on stage the cultural and artistic diversity of the people of Los Angeles County. FordLab is an incubator and accelerator for a range of productions with a competitive application process. Reflective of Los Angeles County’s Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative’s values in the areas of music, dance, film, and theater, the selection process seeks to increase inclusivity and access, and enable producers to effectively stage work in a major venue.
Open to Los Angeles County Residents. We are seeking emerging, under-represented, and under-resourced producers with unique curatorial voices, whose projects uplift the diverse cultural communities of Los Angeles. We also partner with more seasoned producers who present unique ideas that reach diverse audiences. Selected partners and projects need to demonstrate a strong artistic vision and are additive to The Ford season presented by LA Phil.
Please note that programs cannot be fundraisers or award shows, require solicitations, or represent political issues.
FordLab provides production assistance, professional development, resources, and mentorship to strengthen the production journey of participants with various levels of experience.
Participation ranges from curatorial roles to shared risk/revenue models wherein participants may retain 80-90% of ticket sales; receive a financial stipend to support various costs, including production, house, and security; and may receive bonus fees, depending on the program model that best suits the producer. There are no upfront fees to participate.
FordLab partners are responsible for bringing the proposed event to fruition at The Ford, in partnership with LA Phil. With the exception of invited curators, participants are responsible for booking artists, implementing targeted marketing efforts to reach and expand their audiences within their communities, and collaborate with LA Phil’s production team to execute their event. Marketing is a shared responsibility, as LA Phil Marketing supports and supplements efforts. In addition, theater projects require union fee considerations.
FordLab has a two-tier application format to minimize the work for applicants at the first stage. Letters of Intent (LOI) that reflect The Ford's mission of providing access to exemplary arts and culture experiences representative of our multifaceted communities and which deepen human connections and broaden cultural understanding will be considered. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a complete application.
Letters of Intent (LOI) can be submitted as early as June 1 to August 1, 2022 for FordLab 2023.
More details below!
About the Partner: Founded in 2016, 4C LAB inspires positive social impact in our communities by creating safe spaces for young people to share their stories through artistic expression, working with youth to create original work across a variety of art forms and grow the creative community across Los Angeles.
About the Partner: Pacifico Dance Company is 501 (C)(3) organization dedicated to the performance and preservation of traditional Mexican dance through the reconstruction of choreography and dance training.
About the Partner: The Music Circle’s mission is to foster awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the classical music of India by providing a supportive and inspiring platform for its leading exponents.
About the Partner: Colibrí Entertainment exists to preserve, promote and maintain the cultural values, heritage, and traditions of Mexican, Mexican American, and Chicano people by way of music, dance, theatre, and visual art.
About the Partner: The Angel City Jazz Festival was conceived in 2008 by Angel City Arts, a non-profit organization committed to cultivating and revitalizing jazz culture in Los Angeles by producing concerts by established and emerging music innovators who have brought forward a significant contribution to the evolution of jazz and improvised music.
About the Partner: Neyva (they/them) is an artist, musician, producer, and educator from the South East Los Angeles area who strives to innovate music with their eclectic sound and vision. They've worked with organizations such as Fem Synth Lab, Chicx's Rockerx's SELA, ONE Archives, Beats by Girlz, Women's Audio Mission, and Young Musician's Foundation. In 2019, they created Kikínceañera, with the intention to reclaim tradition, promote inclusivity, and uplift the queer community.
About the Partner: The Flypoet All-Star Spoken Word & Music Showcase is the longest-running event of its kind, featuring leading performers in their field who are National Spoken Word Champions, Grammy winners, and more.
About the Partner: Cosmica Artists + Records is an artist management and record label. Standing on both sides of the cultural border, we represent artists from SoCal & beyond. Founded in 2004 by Gil Gastelum, Cosmica is committed to shine the light on talent and use their experience in the industry to create a place at the table.
Send your LOI in Word or PDF format only to fordlab@laphil.org. In the subject line, include “FordLab LOI– [APPLICANT NAME].” LOI’s must be received no later than August 1, 2022, 5pm PT to be considered. Full application submissions are by invitation only, as a result of LOI panel review.
August 1, 2022, 5pm PT: Letters of Intent due
August 15, 2022: Invitations to submit a full application are sent
September 30, 2022, 5pm PT: Full applications due
For questions about the LOI or application process, please email fordlab@laphil.org.
The Ford has initiated a two-tier application format to minimize the work for applicants at the first stage. The Ford will consider Letters of Intent that reflect The Ford's commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and bring people together for transformative arts experiences that inspire, empower and ignite cultural exchange. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
To be eligible you must be a Los Angeles-based independent artist, nonprofit organization, presenter, producer or producing collective interested in presenting in The Ford’s 2023 performance season, June through mid-October.
LOIs must adhere to the indicated format. You must also submit work samples as detailed below.
In no more than two pages, using 11 point Arial font and one inch margins, provide a summary of your proposed event using the following format:
Salutation: Address letter to The Ford's FordLab Program Selection Committee
Paragraph 1: Applicant Information
Address the following:
Applicant and/or organization name and brief introduction.
Paragraph 2: Project Description
Describe your artistic vision for the event and walk us through the show from start to finish. Please include the following:
What artistic discipline is represented in the proposed work? (e.g., dance, music, opera, multidisciplinary work, theater, musical theater, folk and traditional arts, etc.)
What cultural or ethnic traditions are represented in the production? (If applicable)
Describe your event including title and proposed performers.
Describe the core audience for your proposed event. Please be specific and avoid generalizations such as “Los Angeles residents” or “fans of our work.” Consider geographic, cultural, ethnic, generational, and artistic affiliations of your core audiences and the approximate size of these groups.
Please include the total budget you estimate spending on the project and describe the various sources you will target to fund the project. [You can find sample budgets in the Project Budget Workbook Instructions on page 6.]
Paragraph 3: Why The Ford?
Address the following:
Why is it important to your organization to produce at The Ford’s 1180-seat venue at this time?
How does the proposed event align with The Ford’s mission and guiding principles?
Paragraph 4: Production History
Address the following:
List at least two examples of an event you or your organization produced. Should be recent and as similar in size or scope to the proposed show as possible. Include venue name and audience capacity.
Describe how the project was financed and if it broke even or realized a profit or loss.
In no more than one page, using 11 point Arial font and one inch margins, provide work samples and references as follows:
Work Samples:
Provide only web links (e.g. Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, Flickr, etc.). Samples must either be of a previous production of the proposed event or events that are similar in scale and/or production quality. You may submit up to two video work samples, no longer than three minutes each. At least one sample should show the work of a fully staged production or concert. If you have rehearsal or workshop footage featuring an excerpt of the proposed program, please include it. Samples should feature the proposed artists/company/organization. Avoid including marketing/promo videos or edited montages, except for film or film festival trailers.
References:
Provide two references that speak to your production experience. References should represent or be associated with venues, festivals, or other presenting entities. Underneath each reference, provide a short description of their relationship to your work. (Please remember to receive prior permission for your references.)
Proposed projects will be assessed by a selected review panel using the following criteria:
Artistic quality and proposal detail
Applicant’s background/experience producing performing arts events
An existing supportive core audience
Adaptability to The Ford’s stage, technical capabilities, and audience capacity
Alignment with The Ford’s mission
The Ford, an 1,180 seat outdoor amphitheater located in Hollywood’s Cahuenga Pass, is owned and operated by the LA Phil in partnership with the County of Los Angeles.
Recognizing that active participation by all communities in Los Angeles County’s cultural life is integral to building a society where all people have a voice, The Ford embraces the guiding principles that:
The creative and cultural expression of all people of the region is of equal value
Programming that illuminates the complex diversity of the region sparks curiosity and dialogue and opens pathways to greater understanding of Los Angeles’ many communities
Access to top-of-the-line amenities is crucial for under-resourced and growth ready artists and producers to realize their work and raise their visibility
Skill building and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for artists and producers strengthens the region’s artistic infrastructure
Welcoming environments encourage participation, innovation, and collaboration