The FordLab Producers Program
The Ford is now currently accepting submissions for the FordLab 2024 Cohort. Letters of Intent for FordLab 2024 are due September 30, 2023.
For the last 30 years, The Ford has invited the Los Angeles creative community to be part of its season through different iterations of producing partnerships. We have expanded the program as FordLab, the next evolution in our commitment to independent artists, presenters, producers, or producing collectives to present in partnership with The Ford.
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
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
Inclusion in a broad marketing campaign targeting Los Angeles County residents and visitors
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 6-month intensive program 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.
In this program, you can expect a 6-month intensive program that offers participants a professional development curriculum to gain new skills in the areas of Production, Sales, Marketing & Promotion, and Show Advancement within a Performing Arts Organization for Producers who are ready to take their productions to the next level. Culminating in your participation within The Ford’s 2024 Summer Season.
Open to Los Angeles County Residents. We are seeking emerging, under-represented, and under-resourced producers with unique curatorial voices, a focused mission centered on presenting or preserving their discipline/genre, and 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.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
a strong background in producing artistically excellent events
the skills and team necessary to bring events to fruition from all producing aspects, including financing, budgeting, marketing, and event planning
an existing supportive core audience
the ability and willingness to communicate with The Ford staff, provide and receive constructive feedback, and meet production deadlines.
Please note that programs cannot be fundraisers or award shows, require solicitations, or represent political issues. This includes galas, red carpets, meet & greets, tabling, banners and/or any VIP experiences. This includes any solicitation or fundraising for your event if selected into the program. Previously awarded grants and the solicitation of additional grant funding is permitted from local/national foundations or municipalities.
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% 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.
The FordLab Program may be right for you if you have one or more of the following goals:
Expand attendance at my event beyond my established core audience
Leverage a high-profile production to get additional press, publicity and visibility for my organization and/or the artists or art form that I present
Present an art form or artist that I haven’t before
Improve the production values of my work
Expand my skills as a producer and apply them to my future work
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.
Congratulations to the 2023 FordLab Cohort!
WORDTheatre is on a mission to connect people across the globe with compelling stories delivered through performances by well-known actors from film, television and theatre. These stories reflect the colorful, complicated, and fascinating world we live in. We celebrate the power of language.
Boleros De Noche is an annual music event series organized by Ánimo Production. The series was launched in 2015 as an effort to preserve, uplift, and celebrate Latin American bolero music history in Los Angeles.
Founded in 2011, Los Angeles’s Pacific Opera Project (POP) is dedicated to providing quality opera that is accessible, affordable, and ENTERTAINING. POP hosts hundreds of new opera-goers each season while welcoming back a growing number of opera enthusiasts, producing over 50 operas in 12 seasons.
Cumbiatón is an Intergenerational cultural movement which utilizes music and art as a vessel to heal and uplift oppressed hood communities. Cumbiatón has rooted itself in the beautiful barrio of Boyle Heights, CA and has branched out to cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.
Through education, grassroots organizing, and offering tools to create social change, Solidarity For Sanctuary focuses on impacting the lives of the Latinx community, people of color, youth, and allies. As the founder of Casa Mija and Solidarity for Sanctuary, Doris’ practice is mission led towards representation, self-expression, and legacy-building for Latines wishing to belong in the entertainment industry.
Boss Witch Productions is an artistic Production Company focused on the intersection of experimental sound art, ritual performance, video art and, transmedia collaboration within natural landscapes and unusual performance sites.
Founded by Jose Vences in September 2003, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company has over 30 dancers and is a non-profit performing arts organization. The company was formed to advance the field of Mexican folk ballet, enhance the public’s appreciation for the diversity and depth of Mexican culture, and to present high-quality dance productions.
Sept 30, 2023, 11:59pm PT: Letters of Intent due
Sept 6, 2023, 6pm PT: FordLab 101 Program and Application Info Session
Oct 2, 2023: Invitations to submit a full application are sent
Nov 3, 2023, 11:59pm PT: Full applications due
The first tier of this process is the Letter of Intent (LOI). 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. As previously mentioned, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
For questions about the LOI or application process, please email fordlab@laphil.org.
Submitting Letters of Intent
Submit your LOI in a PDF format by uploading and filling out the a short intake form on this page. Please name your PDF file as follows: ”LAB24 – Producer’s Name – LOI MM.DD.2023." LOI’s must be received no later than September 30 at 11:59pmPT to be considered. Full application submissions are by invitation only, as a result of LOI panel review.
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 2024 performance season, July through mid-October with a focused mission centered on presenting or preserving your discipline/genre.
Friendly reminder that programs cannot be fundraisers/benefits, award shows, require solicitations, or represent political issues. This includes Galas and/or any VIP Experiences. red carpets, meet & greets, tabling, banners and/or any VIP Experiences. This includes any solicitation, fundraising, or program resulting in a video production or fundraising for your event if selected into the program. Previously awarded grants and the solicitation of additional grant funding is permitted from local/national foundations or municipalities.
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 your artistic vision for the event and what the audience is expected to experience.
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.
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?
Mission and Guiding Principles can be found on this page. For additional context and information please see our EDI statement.
Paragraph 4: Production History
Address the following:
Share your overall production experience, how long have you or your organization been producing? Is the event your proposing typical for you or your organization or are you looking to expand and try a new challenge?
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.
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.
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