What Creative & Independent Producer Alliance - CIPA does

The Creative & Independent Producer Alliance (CIPA) is a US-based nonprofit membership organization dedicated to supporting independent creative producers working across the live performing arts. Founded in 2020 by eight producers (Linda Brumbach, Alisa Regas, Mara Isaacs, Rika Iino, Thomas Kriegsmann, Jennifer Newman, Kim Whitener, Beth Morrison, and Miranda Wright) out of informal gatherings that began in 2018, CIPA grew rapidly during the COVID-19 disruption to over 600 members. It is fiscally sponsored by Producer Hub and has received development funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with its current development and planning phase hosted by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

CIPA's product surface is a portfolio of community and professional development programs rather than a technology platform. Core offerings include the Rising Producer Fellowship (direct funding of up to $3,000 plus mentorship and a 6-month paid placement), Producer Clinics (monthly mentorship sessions with senior producers), CIPAConnect (virtual knowledge-exchange convenings), conference scholarships across six major industry events (APAP, ISPA, Under the Radar, FAI, WAA, MAX), quarterly membership meetings, and the annual CIPA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Producing presented at APAP. The member-exclusive online community runs on the third-party Circle platform, the website is hosted on Squarespace, membership applications are collected via Google Forms, and virtual events use Zoom.

CIPA's business model is freemium at the membership level: it is free to join, with no dues or fees charged to producers. Revenue is generated entirely from foundation grants (notably the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation) and fiscal sponsorship arrangements via Producer Hub. GTM is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, peer referrals, quarterly meetings, conference presence, and a Howl Round content partnership. The organization is governed by a board of directors and operates a decentralized leadership structure responsive to member needs.

Name

Creative & Independent Producer Alliance - CIPA

Legal name

Creative and Independent Producer Alliance

Website

https://cipausa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIPA is a US-based nonprofit membership organization serving 600+ independent creative producers in the live performing arts through fellowship funding, mentorship clinics, conference scholarships, and an annual industry award. Founded in 2020, it is fiscally sponsored by Producer Hub and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CIPA membership is free to join. No membership fees are charged to producers.
2. Foundation Grants and Sponsorships: CIPA is fiscally sponsored by Producer Hub and has received funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Current development and planning phase is funded in part by the Mellon Foundation and hosted by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
3. Fellowship Program Funding: CIPA provides direct funding to fellows through the Rising Producer Fellowship program, with inaugural fellows receiving up to $3,000 for strategic professional expenses, mentorship opportunities, and professional development sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIPA is a free-to-join US-based nonprofit membership network that provides advocacy, mentorship, professional development, fellowship funding, and community programs for independent creative producers working across live performing arts disciplines. Core programs include the Rising Producer Fellowship (up to $3,000 in direct funding), monthly Producer Clinics mentorship sessions, CIPAConnect virtual convenings, conference scholarships for major performing arts industry events, and the annual CIPA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Producing presented at APAP.

Product overview

CIPA operates as a membership-based network organization rather than a software product. Its core offering is a suite of professional development and community programs for independent performing arts producers, including the Rising Producer Fellowship (funding and mentorship program), Producer Clinics (veteran mentorship sessions), CIPAConnect (virtual convenings), Conference Scholarships, Quarterly Meetings, and the Circle online community platform. The organization is free to join and provides networking, knowledge-sharing, strategic advising, and advocacy services. CIPA also presents the annual CIPA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Producing at the APAP conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rising Producer Fellowship A fellowship program supporting early- to mid-career independent creative producers with funding (up to $3,000), mentorship, and professional development resources, including a 6-month paid placement with an established producer.
• Producer Clinics Monthly mentorship sessions where industry-leading producers conduct two half-hour calls with CIPA members to provide advice on topics selected by participating members.
• CIPAConnect Virtual knowledge-exchange sessions and convenings led by industry knowledge leaders covering relevant topics for creative and independent producers.
• Conference Scholarships Full and partial scholarships for CIPA members to attend performing arts industry conferences including APAP|NYC, ISPA Congress, Under the Radar, Folk Alliance International, Western Arts Alliance, and Midwest Arts Expo.
• Circle Online Community Platform Member-exclusive digital community hub featuring resource library, events calendar, collaborative vendor list, and member directory for connecting and collaborating among CIPA's 600+ producers.
• CIPA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Producing Annual award presented at the APAP conference recognizing a US-based independent creative producer whose pioneering spirit and body of work have had significant impact on the performing arts field.
• Quarterly Membership Meetings Regular membership meetings providing networking opportunities, connection with CIPA leadership and members, and forums to share challenges and concerns.
• CIPA Membership Free membership providing access to networking, knowledge-sharing, strategic advising, peer-learning opportunities, monthly newsletter, and member-exclusive web portal for independent creative producers across all career stages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150 new performing arts projects produced by CIPA members since 2010 that would not have been produced otherwise
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• International Creative Producers (ICP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020ICP is a peer network for creative producers through co-learning and collective decision-making, initiated by Art of Festivals. Many items in ICP's manifesto directly support CIPA's values including working better, feeling better, engaging more, earning more, and being more equitable.
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLMCC hosts CIPA's current development and planning phase. LMCC serves, connects, and makes space for artists and community in New York City, championing independent artists since 1973.
• Howl RoundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIPA collaborates with Howl Round to publish articles and essays about creative producing. Howl Round publishes a series of pieces crafted by CIPA members exploring the expansive nature of creative producing and how CIPA came together during COVID-19.
• Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCIPA collaborates with APAP on the annual CIPA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Producing, presented at the APAP conference. CIPA also offers scholarship opportunities for members to attend APAP|NYC.
• International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCIPA offers exclusive full and partial scholarships for ISPA Congress in NYC. CIPA staff lead Coffee Klatch sessions at ISPA events.
• Under the Radar FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCIPA offers exclusive scholarship opportunities for members to attend the Under the Radar festival.
• Western Arts Alliance (WAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCIPA offers exclusive full and partial scholarships for WAA conference. CIPA team members attend WAA expo.
• Midwest Arts Expo (MAX)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCIPA offers exclusive scholarship opportunities for members to attend MAX.
• Folk Alliance International (FAI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCIPA offers exclusive scholarship opportunities for members to attend Folk Alliance International.
• Authentic Arts and MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthentic Arts and Media partners with CIPA for CIPAConnect sessions, including 'Sowing Seeds of Equity for Your Producing Practice' facilitated by Beatrice Thomas.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA): Regional grantmaker and service organization supporting artists and arts organizations across New England and nationally through grant programs and convenings. Comparable as a performing arts grantmaker and capacity-builder operating in CIPA's broader ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Dance/USA: National service organization for the professional dance field, supporting dance artists, administrators, and organizations through advocacy, research, and programming. Comparable as a discipline-focused performing arts membership body serving producers and administrators.
• National Performance Network (NPN): National network of performing arts presenters, producers, and community organizations supporting new work creation and touring. Comparable as a performing arts membership and grant-distribution network serving producers of live work.
• OPERA America: National service organization for the opera field, providing grants, convenings, and resources to opera companies, artists, and producers. Comparable as a performing arts membership organization focused on one discipline within the broader live performance ecosystem.
• Producer Hub: Connective space for independent producers, artists, and arts workers creating live performance, providing community, mentorship, education, and resources. Comparable as a peer support network for independent producers and CIPA's fiscal sponsor.
• International Creative Producers (ICP): International peer network for creative producers built on co-learning and collective decision-making. Comparable as a creative-producer-specific membership network; values-aligned and explicitly partnered with CIPA.

Broad incumbents

• Theatre Communications Group (TCG): National service organization for the American theatre, providing advocacy, resources, and professional development for theatre makers and organizations. Comparable as a discipline-specific membership and service organization in the performing arts nonprofit space.
• International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA): Global membership network of performing arts industry leaders including presenters, producers, and managers. Comparable as a convening and scholarship-granting body for performing arts professionals, with which CIPA partners on congress scholarships.
• Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP): The leading US membership association for the performing arts presenting, producing, and touring ecosystem. Directly comparable as the broader industry body serving performing arts professionals, with which CIPA partners on the annual producing award and conference scholarships.

Emerging players

• Howl Round: Online knowledge commons and publishing platform for the performing arts community. Comparable as a content and thought-leadership platform serving performing arts makers, with which CIPA maintains a publishing partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creative-independent-producer-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creative & Independent Producer Alliance - CIPA