Submissions for the FordLab 2024 cohort are now closed.

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.

Program Highlights

• 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.

Application Information

Key Deadlines

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 

Letters of Intent (LOI)

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.

SUBMIT LETTER OF INTENT

Due: September 30 at 11:59pmPT

Eligibility

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.

LOI Guidelines

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.

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.)

LOI Assessment

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