Boston Center for the Arts Announces New Performing Arts Residencies

The Boston Center for the Arts (BCA), Boston's premier nonprofit organization dedicated to serving up-and-coming visual and performing artists in the Greater Boston area, is pleased to announce the recipients of the new BCA Performing Arts Residency Program. The BCA Performing Arts Residency Program serves emerging and early stage theatre and dance companies. Prompted by the close of the Factory Theatre, the newly restructured Performing Arts Residency grew out of community conversations with area small theatres. BCA is excited to offer an expanded program that includes three dance companies and an additional eight resident theatre companies.

Each group is awarded a three-year residency at the BCA with discounted performance and rehearsal space, as well as professional development and networking opportunities. At the end of the three-year period companies have the option to renew their residency for an additional two years. Each company is expected to produce at least one public event per season. The 2016-2017 season will be the inaugural round of the program.

"The new BCA Performing Arts Residency provides the stability many companies need in order to dive into the work of making art," said Veronique LeMelle, BCA President & CEO. "One of the biggest barriers to 'creating' in the performing arts is the time spent looking for space. By making our campus home to these 10 companies they can focus their energies on the creative process. This reflects one of the core principles of the BCA mission - to support working artists."

The companies selected for the BCA Performing Arts Residency are: Anthem Theatre Company, Fresh Ink Theatre, imaginary beasts, Jean Appolon Expressions, Liars and Believers, Moonbox Productions, Navarassa Dance Theater, Office of War Information (Bureau of Theatre), Public Displays of Motion, Sleeping Weazel Theatre, and Zeitgeist Stage Company.

Resident Companies will hold performances in the BCA Plaza Theatre, Black Box Theatre and the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA's Martin Hall.