Purpose:

The Dairy Arts Center provides diverse opportunities to create, learn, and engage in high quality performing, cinematic, and visual arts experiences. As Boulder’s premier multidisciplinary arts center, the goal of the Dairy Arts Co-Production Program is to offer the local, regional, and national arts community expanded access and affordability by providing low risk opportunities to perform at the Dairy Arts Center and engage new audiences through innovative, underrepresented, and emerging art forms. 

This opportunity offers free venue rental and a production stipend. Successful applicants will be responsible for all remaining costs associated with production including, but not limited to, artist fees, travel and lodging, marketing materials, equipment and supplies.

Timeline:

Applications due September 27, 2024; associated events must take place at the Dairy Arts Center between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026

Funding:

Free venue rental includes 1 – 3 full days of theater rental, theater technician, front of house staff, and box office set up. Production stipends are set at a maximum of $5,000 per selected applicant. Organizations and individual artists may only apply for up to 1 project per year. Partial awards may be possible depending on funding availability.

Structure:

Events produced by successful applicants (presenters) will be considered co-productions of the Dairy Arts Center in which the Dairy effectively partners with the presenter under the supervision and guidance of the Dairy’s Director of Programs. In lieu of venue rental charged to the presenter, the Dairy offers a revenue sharing model that minimizes the financial risk of these programs, ranging from 20% – 80% depending on the needs of the event. Ticket revenue is intended to recoup costs and create equitable wages for artists, but is not intended to generate profit for any individual artist or organization.  

Application Requirements:

• Performances must take place at the Dairy Arts Center between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026
• Performance must be in the field of arts and culture including, but not limited to, theater, dance, film and digital arts, music, literary arts, events focused on cultural arts, history, or heritage. Ineligible events include private ceremonies and events, fundraising events or events promoting a specific candidate or endorsing a specific bill 
• All applicants must be in good standing with the Dairy Arts Center, including no previous venue rental contract violations
• All applicants must be able to agree to the rules and regulations outlined in the Dairy’s co-production contract

Review Process:

All applications will be reviewed during the month of October 2024 by a volunteer advisory committee. You may be contacted by a member of the Dairy Arts Center staff on behalf of the volunteer advisory committee with follow up questions during this time. The committee will select finalists based on their initial scoring for in-person interviews. Interviews will be conducted during the month of November 2024. Final decisions will be made and successful applicants will be notified December 2, 2024.

Dairy Arts Center staff will act in an administrative capacity to facilitate the review process; however, Dairy Arts Center staff do not determine who is selected for the Co-Production Program and Dairy Arts Center staff are not considered voting members of the advisory committee. 

Implementation: 

• Successful applicants (presenters) will be connected with the Dairy Arts Center Operations staff to reserve calendar dates for their choice of venue and execute a co-production contract during the month of December 2024. 
• All official communications and notifications will be made to the named individual designated as the organization contact. It is this person’s responsibility to communicate the Dairy Arts Center requirements of the program to collaborators or other participants. This includes, but is not limited to, requirements for compliance with the Dairy’s co-production contract, identifying Dairy Arts Center support on publicity materials, and reporting.
• Presenters shall implement programs / projects as outlined in the co-production program application. Any change to the project, venue, schedule, or staff /team members, or designated contact information must be reported to Dairy Arts Center Staff
• All publicity for Dairy Arts Center co-produced projects must include the Dairy Arts Center Logo. The presenter must sign a release form and submit photographs and/or videos of the project that the Dairy Arts Center may use on its website, social media, printed materials or for any other publicity purpose.
• A project report will be due 1 month or (31 days) after the event has been completed. Reports must be submitted to Shay Wescott, Development Manager at swescott@thedairy.org

Please note that the review and implementation process coincides with the Dairy Arts Center’s Public Venue Rental Timeline through which any individual or organization is eligible to apply to rent the Dairy’s venues. As part of the application process, Co-production program applicants will be asked whether or not they plan to apply to rent space at the Dairy regardless of the final application decision. All applications interested in renting space regardless of the final decision MUST fill out a venue rental application form. Please visit the Venue Rental Calendar Announcement information to learn more about the general Venue Rental Application and Timeline. 

Due to high demand and limited space, Dairy Arts Center cannot guarantee the availability of the preferred date(s) of Co-Production program selected applicants. Our operations staff will do their best to work with you to find a suitable date and venue alternative within the Dairy should your first choice not be available.