CitySpace Opens Pay It Forward 2023

CitySpace launches its application for Pay It Forward, a program for artists and organizations that are located in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. The program provides free venue access for rehearsal and performances in CitySpace’s Blue Room, a performance and incubator space located in Old Town Hall in Easthampton, MA. Applicants may apply at cityspaceeasthampton.org/pif through May 12, 2023, 11:59pm.

Pay It Forward, a program offered by CitySpace provides artists of all kinds access to the Blue Room for rehearsals, performances, and events from July to December 2023. Artists may apply for stipends for public performances hosted in the Blue Room. Further, recipients will have access to peer-learning cohorts to deepen their practice, build new skills and relationships, and explore new ideas.

In 2022, CitySpace piloted the Pay It Forward and introduced the program with the opening of the Blue Room. Recipients were given short-term residencies to incubate ideas, practice and perform in the Blue Room.

CitySpace updated the program for 2023. Burns Maxey, president of CitySpace says, “With the launch of the program this year, we are updating Pay It Forward to better reflect the needs of the performing arts community. Rather than short term residencies, we are opening our calendar from July to December to match schedules and needs for rehearsals, meetings, and events. Providing access to space is the key ingredient of this program to nourish creative projects in Western Mass.”

Pay it Forward is open to all artists (musicians, performers, dancers, and multimedia, literary, visual, and multidisciplinary artists) and organizations that are based in Hampden, Hampshire, or Franklin counties. Priority will be given to artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and artists of color and/or low income artists.

Pay It Forward is made possible by the generous funding from Valley Creates, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.