Dance/USA’s New Director Michele Kumi Baer on Rebuilding and the End of Fellowships
Dance/USA has declared the termination of its Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists (DFA) program, following the conclusion of financial support from the Doris Duke Foundation. This announcement, made last month, has led to disappointment within the community as funding opportunities shrink. Michele Kumi (久美) Baer, who took on the role of executive director in April, emphasized the organization's difficulties, mentioning it operates with just four and a half staff members and a budget of $1.6 million, which is less than that of its counterparts. Since 2018, membership revenue has plummeted by 50%. Baer intends to shift Dance/USA towards a 'field catalyst model' aimed at capacity-building and fundraising, but she cannot guarantee a quick return to regranting, describing the situation as 'a big loss.'
Key facts
- Dance/USA ended its Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists program last month.
- The program was funded solely by a Doris Duke Foundation grant.
- New executive director Michele Kumi (久美) Baer started in April.
- Dance/USA has 4.5 employees and an annual operating budget of about $1.6 million.
- Membership revenue has declined by about 50% since 2018, projected at $150,000 next year.
- Baer aims to transform Dance/USA into a field catalyst model with three pillars: capacity-building, field-serving, and field-building.
- Dance/USA no longer has regranting funds and cannot promise regranting soon.
- Baer gave an exclusive interview to Dance Magazine.
Entities
Artists
- Michele Kumi (久美) Baer
- Eddie Rhea Hemphill
Institutions
- Dance/USA
- Doris Duke Foundation
- Dance Magazine