ARC @ 2025 National Performance Network Conference
New Orleans, LA
2:00pm to 3:30pm – Wednesday, 8 October 2025
The Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana
ARC is honored to participate in a plenary session titled “You Are Not Alone: Safety and Solidarity” as part of the National Performance Network (NPN) 2025 Conference “Stormshaping: Adaptation, Resistance, Imagination” on Wednesday 8 October in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Around the world and throughout history, the arts are among the first targets of authoritarianism. Dissent calls on us to not only reaffirm the vital role of artists as disruptors and risk-takers, but to build and invest in safety and solidarity for artists and cultural spaces that speak truth to power. As The Theater Offensive offered in its rules for fellowship in this era: “No blame. No hatred. Love. Unity. Liberation. Abundance.” With Giselle Byrd, The Theater Offensive; Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez, MACLA; and Julie Trébault, Artists at Risk Connection.
Speakers
Giselle Byrd
Giselle Byrd is the new executive director of The Theater Offensive, which presents liberating art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color. She was appointed in December 2023, capping a decade’s experience in talent management, production, casting, script coverage, brand partnerships, and fundraising. Byrd is the first Black trans woman to lead a regional theater company in the United States. Before coming to TTO, Byrd worked at the Katz Company in New York, where she managed the careers of actors, musicians, activists, and content creators. Additionally, she created brand strategies and developed partnerships with companies such as OPI, Gucci, Google, The WNBA, GLAAD, Netflix, ViacomCBS, and BET.
Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez is the Executive Director of MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana). As a lifelong cultural worker, Anjee has led transformative efforts at MACLA to build organizational capacity, secure a permanent facility, launch a youth digital media lab, and deepen program engagement while ensuring artistic excellence and community relevance. Serving as MACLA’s Executive Director since 2008, she is interested in the intersection of arts and culture in movement-building work, aiming to reimagine what is possible. She contributes to this crucial work by serving as a frequent advisor to the cultural sector and the philanthropic community. Her areas of expertise include fundraising, financial management, creative placemaking, commissioning artwork, capacity building, program development and evaluation, as well as economic and real estate development.
Julie Trébault
Julie Trébault is the Founder and Executive Director of Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), a global organization dedicated to safeguarding artistic freedom and supporting artists and cultural workers under threat. Under her leadership, ARC provides critical resources and support to more than 2,000 artists facing persecution from state and non-state actors, empowering them to overcome challenges to their creative expression. Prior to founding ARC, she served as director of public programs at the Museum of the City of New York and the Center for Architecture.
