2010 NAPAMA AWARD GOES TO DAN DEWAYNE OF CHICO PERFORMANCES, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

The 8th annual NAPAMA Award for Excellence in Presenting the Performing Arts was presented to Dan DeWayne, Director of University Public Events and Chico Performances for California State University.  The award presentation took place at the Arts Presenters’ Conference, at the very beginning of the APAP Member Meeting & Plenary on Saturday, Jan 9, 2010, 12PM at the Hilton Hotel in New York.

The NAPAMA Award is given each year to a distinguished presenter in recognition of the awardee’s dedication to the future of presenting the performing arts, professionalism, respect for colleagues, and high ethical standards. The award includes a citation for excellence, and the recipient’s organization receives $1,000 toward its endowment for presenting.

On learning of the award from NAPAMA President Eleanor Oldham, Mr. DeWayne said, “I am both deeply grateful and tremendously humbled by this recognition from NAPAMA.  I feel so fortunate to have such great colleagues to work with, learn from, and laugh with.  Everyday I try to remember how lucky we are to work in the arts; thanks to the NAPAMA Board and members for making this day extra special for me. “

NAPAMA member Jeff Laramie of SRO Artists spoke for many in the industry when he said “Dan has displayed the highest level of achievement in our field as a presenter of multiple disciplines. Not only does he schedule/program the music and performing arts at Cal State Univ in Chico,  Dan has participated in numerous Western Arts Alliance sessions and never hesitates to share his knowledge with a new colleague. He has the highest respect for agents, managers and artists and is always the first to suggest support routing, career observations and even tax and visa assistance. One of his great qualities is his devoted interest in the arts and music, and he is a great resource of the art itself. It is rare to find a programmer with the dedication to knowing the music and performers in such a wide array of styles. I am only scratching the surface of accomplishments and skill that Dan brings to the field.”

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Biography

Dan DeWayne, the Director of University Public Events and Chico Performances for California

Dan DeWayne has been the Director of University Public Events and Chico Performances for California State University, Chico since 2001.  In addition to managing the year round presenting program of Chico Performances, he is a member of the Council of Academic Deans, oversees the University’s NPR radio affiliate and manages the campus Instructionally Related Activities program.

Nurturing a hard-to-understand passion for starting large projects, he co-founded the Strawberry Music Festivals in 1982, the Shakespeare in the Park Summer Theater series in 1992, the Chico World Music Festival in 1994, and the California WorldFest in 1997.

Dan served on the Western Arts Association Board of Directors and chaired the WAA Mentoring Program for a number of years.  He has led workshops in the Art of Presenting and the Nuts,  Bolts and Art of Negotiating for WAA, Arts Northwest, North American Folk Alliance, and for regional arts organizations.

He is most proud of the focus on children within the context of both the music festivals and the University presenting season.  During the annual California WorldFest nearly 1,000 children take part in the California Kids hands-on crafts, music and dance workshops, and improvised games.  The Field Trip Series for Chico Performances introduces more than 25,000 children annually to live performance in music, dance and theater.

To balance his life in the arts, Dan enjoys playing music, harvesting the garden and orchard, and remembering his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa

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Dan DeWayne NAPAMA Award Acceptance Speech

Thank you very much to my friend, Jeff Laramie, for his kind words and thank you to NAPAMA President Eleanor Oldham, Kerby Lovallo, everyone on the NAPAMA Board for this amazing honor.

I know I am very lucky to have spent my career in the arts, and feel so fortunate to work with incredible artists, wonderful managers and agents, and great staff and tech crews that make performing art happen.  On a daily basis we are all enriched by new insights from our world’s great artists; a new thought is expressed through that just right dance choreography, a perfect chord is struck by the string quartet, an aha “oh, that is what he meant” moment comes during yet another Shakespeare reading, or, and maybe the best part, witnessing the expression of pure joy on the faces of children attending their first rockin’ world music performance.

Over the 28 years I have been presenting music festivals and PAC performances, my wife and I share what we call “that magic moment”, the time during the event when everything is in sync; the artist is fully connected with the audience and all the support, planning, and dedication of the staff, volunteers, and managers coalesces at one time, and the ovation reinforces that it is, once again, worth all the effort.  I live for those times of real connection.

During these turbulent times the performing arts are more important and more needed than ever by all of us.  I have always loved the fact that regardless of your political bent, your religious beliefs, your cultural heritage or your economic condition, we can embrace the shared experience of magical arts moments, together.  And maybe, just maybe, understand and accept each other just a little bit more.

I appreciate the recognition from NAPAMA and my colleagues, but I feel even more lucky for all that you have taught me and helped me learn over all the years….I am very  grateful.