Join or Renew

[If you are a current NET member, CLICK HERE to log in to your account!]
 

What is NET?

NET is excited to announce the extension of our Pay What You Decide membership through June 2023! NET acknowledges the transitional moment we are in as a field and have heard from members their appreciation for this flexible model. We are always in conversations around how best to serve our community and hope this offering continues to bring the accessibility needed to meet this moment. 
Scroll to the last section on this page for more information.

The Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) is a national community of artists and organizations dedicated to collaborative creation. Working to propel ensemble theater practice to the forefront of culture and society, NET:

• nurtures permanent ensemble companies and the legacy of the ensemble movement;
• links a diverse array of ensembles and practitioners across performance disciplines; 
• encourages collaborations, peer-based knowledge sharing, and bold artistic and civic experiments;
• aims to heighten the impact and rigor of ensemble performance and advance the ensemble form;
• and strives to bring about change in the world through the transformative power of collaborative theater and ensemble practice.

Through our member programs and other activities, NET works to build, convene, and provide resources for the field of ensemble arts practice and performance in the United States.

Want to know more? Explore our website for info on NET events and online offerings, member-only grants, and community knowledge sharing!

Who can be a NET member?

We have four categories of membership:

• Students
• Individuals
• Ensembles: NET defines an ensemble as a group of individuals dedicated to collaborative creation, committed to working together consistently over years to develop a distinctive body of work and practices. Ensemble members, both artists and administrators, are empowered as core decision-makers to help shape their theater's artistic direction and organizational structure.
• Affiliates: Affiliate members are non-ensemble-based companies or organizations that support and are interested in the work of the ensemble movement (i.e. presenters, producers, regional theaters, universities, service organizations, etc.)
   

Why be a part of the NET community?

NET provides the opportunity for ensembles and practitioners to organize at the national level and co-create an artistic community with like-minded peers. NET supports and advocates in the national arena for ensemble practice as a specific and recognized form of theatermaking and live performance, and provides a range of artistic assets to the ensemble field.

As a member of NET you will:

• Revel in Community: Advocate for the Field

As a NET member, you or your company are part of a national network of artist collectives, ensembles, and co-creators  who are building a strong, vibrant, participatory movement where you will have a voice in setting NET's organizational priorities and how NET serves the field. Each member helps to strengthen NET’s advocacy and cultural policy efforts with funders, unions, and policy makers, and you will receive critical advocacy reports through NET's participation in the Performing Arts Alliance.

• Connect for Resource Sharing: Download NET's Member-Only Mobile App (New for 2022!)

Exclusive to NET, our new Connector app provides NET members with a digital tool to co-create a more equitable, inclusive, and artist-empowered community model for developing work, touring, and sharing skills and resources nationally, regionally, and virtually. Rooted in ensemble values, mutual aid principles, and solidarity-economy mindsets, it prioritizes generosity, reciprocity, relationships, trust, and community care to connect the NET membership and harness our collective power through paid/trade/in-kind exchanges.

As a member, you'll be able to update your Connector user profile with information about your work; add free/paid/trade offers to share resources with other ensembles and artists in the NET community; and browse other members' profiles and offers to find like-minded peers you can connect or collaborate with! 

• Be Eligible for Funding: Apply for Member-Only NET Grants

NET members are eligible to apply for funding support including NET's Travel & Exchange Network (NET/TEN), and a joint funding program by NET and the Playwrights' Center that supports the development of new work.

• Engage & Learn: Attend NET Events & Online Offerings

Develop and deepen connections with NET members and colleagues, and share in field learning at regional and national NET events and gatherings, and NET-hosted convenings, conversations, and professional development sessions in-person and online. Members receive discounted registration rates; travel subsidies for members may also be available.

• Stay Updated: Receive Monthly Newsletter & Member Mailings

We send out member info and a monthly e-newsletter that outlines NET's activities and offerings and connects you with field opportunities. Join NET's mailing list to make sure you receive these updates.

• Exchange Ideas and Resources: Engage Colleagues

Join NET’s Facebook group community which is particularly active with over 4,000 members throughout the U.S. and around the world frequently sharing workshops/training opportunities, promoting upcoming offerings, and engaging in conversation around their practice. NET members, staff, board, and numerous others from the field regularly post job/casting opportunities, grant deadlines, links to relevant articles, and requests for information. Also, investigate the field-related articles and materials on NET’s website, including the NET blog for knowledge-sharing and NET updates, and the NET/TEN Shareback Library for real-talk, peer-based learning and resources from past grant recipients. Comment on an existing blog post to join the discussion, or ask us about contributing an article of your own. 

• Explore: Discover Through NET's Member Directory

NET's Member Directory serves as a resource for our community and the field. [NOTE: we've temporarily paused the Member Directory display on the NET website to address database issues -- this feature will return soon! We encourage NET members to use the Connector mobile app to explore and engage with other members.]