AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

HELP DESK/L.A.

Pentacle Announces the Inauguration of Help Desk/L.A.

Pentacle brings a new initiative to the Los Angeles area dance and
performance art communities-Help Desk/L.A. Pentacle (www.pentacle.org)
created Help Desk in 1998 responding to the increasing business,
organizational and professional pressures felt by emerging and mid-career
creators of dance and performance art. Help Desk/L.A.'s mission is to work
with artists in delineating and supporting their professional systems;
allowing them to maintain a stable professional base, and thus securely
nurture their creative processes.

Help Desk/L.A. will serve the managerial and administrative needs of
performing artists and companies who do not have full or even part time
administrators but who need support in these areas to be able to flourish.
Help Desk/L.A. all will create, support and nurture a community of small to
mid-sized and emerging dance and performance art companies based in the Los
Angeles area.

At the heart of Help Desk are two equally important relationships: the one
between artist and mentor and the one between artist and his/her community.
Help Desk/L.A. will:

* provide participating artists and companies with strategic
planning, guidance and infrastructure support to their professional entity
during the course of a fiscal year.

* provide administrative guidance with a particular project.

* offer a forum for artists and participating non-performing
partners to attend monthly working meetings that will foster a strong
peer-based community.

An informational session about Help Desk/L.A. will be held January 21, 2009,
7:00 pm at:

Mandrake Bar

2692 S. La Cienega Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90034

Those interested in participating will submit a proposal in writing by
February 12, 2009. Applications will be reviewed by a panel made up of
Pentacle Staff and members of the Los Angeles area dance community.

Help Desk/L.A. will take place during a fiscal year cycle, from July 1 to
June 30. Each participant will work with a mentor to articulate the goals
of the organization, determine strategies for attaining the goals and
guidance in areas of infrastructure support. Appropriate written
documentation of goals attained and outcomes of sustainability will be kept
during the process. Monthly meetings of all Help Desk/L.A. participants and
mentors will focus on issues elucidated from the issues being worked on by
participants, as well as larger issues that impact the greater community.
Artists will be asked to pay a fee based on their annual professional
budgets.

Help Desk/L.A. will be fluid and flexible enough to meet the diverse needs
of its artist participants. The initiative will focus on helping to create
viable and stable infrastructures. Help Desk/L.A. participants will seek to
develop a lively and supportive community for Los Angeles area dance and
performance artists and by so doing will also support the no-performing
champions of dance.-a substantial accomplishment considering the stresses
faced by the dance world.

To R.S.V.P. for the January 21st event or if you have questions: contact
Felicia Rosenfeld at feliciar@pentacle.org or 310-471-7853.

from LA Culture Net