Performing Arts records, Coordinator, Nigel Redden, 1976 - 1982 Accession Code: 94.02.PA Collection Code: WAC RG 6 S4 Inclusive Dates: 1973 - 1982 Volume: 19 linear feet Prepared by: Jill Vuchetich Provenance: These files are part of the Walker Art Center institutional records. They were created by Walker Art Center staff and stored on the roof since 1971. Bio / History: Nigel Redden was born in Cyprus to American diplomats. He studied art history at Yale University. After graduating in 1972 he worked with Harvey Lichtenstein at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He also worked for a time with several dance companies and festivals including as an interpreter at the Festival of the Two Worlds, Spoleto, Italy. In the fall of 1976 coordinator, Suzanne Weil, accepted a new position at the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, DC as the Director of Dance Programming. Nigel Redden became the Walker Art Center’s Performing Arts Coordinator in November 1976. Redden brought with him a passion for festivals, a passion that he would further develop during his time at the Walker. Redden is probably best known as the general director of the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. and director of the Lincoln Center Festival; positions that he has held for many years simultaneously. After leaving the Walker, Redden like Weil before him, became the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Program Director from 1982 – 1985. From 1986 to 1991 he was the general manager for the Spoleto Festival USA. After a stint at the Santa Fe Opera Company he became the executive producer for the Lincoln Center Festival in 1994. In 1995 he again became the general manager of Spoleto USA and in 1998 he was named Lincoln Center Festival director. Scope and Content: Arrangement: The Coordinator records, also referred to as programming files are divided into four subseries: administration, music, dance, and theater. Within each subseries the folders are arranged chronologically by season. A season begins in July and ends the following June. Description: The Programming files of the Coordinator contain information regarding events organized by the Walker Art Center in various venues around the Twin Cities including The Guthrie Theater, State Theater, and Cedar Cultural Center. Events fall into three categories: music, dance and theater. Theater also contains poetry and intermedia. In Nigel Redden’s first season as Performing Arts Coordinator he continued the programming that Suzanne Weil, his predecessor, began. Weil left the Walker in the fall of 1976 and the files will reflect her contributions and correspondence for the months before Redden’s arrival in October. The programming continued seamlessly for the first season despite the two coordinators. While the programming reflects Weil’s established music series and dance residencies, Redden added to the programming by presenting more theater productions and most notably by bringing many festivals to the Twin Cities. Several of which are still referenced today, both locally and nationally. The first festival Redden helped organize was French Week, October 28th to November 1st, 1976. The festival was part of the French Contemporary Arts Festival, October 7 through November 21, 1976 held in various locations around the United States and organized by the French government in honor of the US bicentennial. From May 12th to 14th, 1978 Redden organized the Minnesota Regional Theater Festival including performances and workshops by local theater companies including: The Playwright’s Lab, Powderhorn Puppet Theater, Illusion Theater, and Penumbra Theater. In 1979 Redden explored the changing contemporary music scene by presenting the legendary M-80 Festival. Held at the University of Minnesota Field House on the Minneapolis campus, Marathon 80: A New-No-Now Wave Festival, September 22nd and 23rd included performances by Devo, Judy Nylon, the Fleshtones and Suicide among others. The festival was videotaped and loyal fans came to the Walker the following year to watch and relive the event. And even twenty-five years later the M-80 festival video drew a large crowd to the Oak Street Cinema for another chance to watch and revel. Redden would end his tenure at the Walker with two of the largest and most lasting festivals ever held at the Walker Art Center: New Music America in 1980 and New Dance USA in 1981. These very large festivals brought together diverse experimental and avant-garde performers from across the country. New Music America 1980 in Minneapolis was the second season of this festival that began in New York, 1979. The performances were audio taped for radio broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio and a festival catalogue was produced. Artists included: Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Libby Larson, Philip Glass, Julia Heyward, Steve Reich, and Pauline Oliveros to name just a few of the more than 50 artists presented in June of 1980. While artists gave concerts in traditional settings, several musicians created installations such as Brian Eno’s “Two Fifth Ave” in the Walker Art Center / Guthrie Theater Lobby and Christopher Janney’s “Soundstair” at the state capitol in St. Paul. New Music America has had a lasting influence on musicians and fans alike. The festival was presented in different cities across North America. The last festival was held in Montreal, 1990. New Dance USA was similar in design to New Music America except that it was created by the Walker Art Center and was not an ongoing festival. But like New Music America, New Dance USA left a lasting impression; this time on the world of contemporary dance. The festival included young contemporary choreographers and dancers from across the country, some of them well known, such as Trisha Brown and Lucinda Childs and others not so well known yet, including Bill T. Jones and Eiko and Koma. New Dance USA was videotaped and a festival catalogue was produced. Twenty-five artists performed throughout the Twin Cities during one week in October 1981. Nigel Redden finished out his tenure at the Walker in the fall of 1982 when his replacement, Robert Stearns, joins the Walker as the next Performing Arts Coordinator. During Redden’s six years as coordinator he presented some of the Walker’s most lasting events. His passion and skill at producing festivals created memorable moments in music, dance, and theater. Restrictions: No Restrictions Separation Note: None Access: By appointment only. Container List to follow WALKER ART CENTER INSTITUTIONAL RECORDS: FOLDER INVENTORY Series loc BoxFolder no Date Span 4 A- 001 001 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Annual Report on Performing Arts; Sept. 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 002 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Correspondence; July, 1976 - June, 1977 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 003 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Expenses, general; July 1976 - June 1977 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 004 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Correspondence; Oct. 28 - Nov. 1, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 005 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Film-Related; Oct. 28 - Nov. 1, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 006 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Financial Info.; Oct. 28 - Nov. 1, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 007 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Musique Vivante; Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 001 008 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Promotion and Publicity.; Oct. 28 - Nov. 1, 1976 - 1977 1976 4 A- 002 001 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Schedule: Peter Brook’s “The Ik”: (1973) 1976 - 1977 Background Info.; Oct. 29 - (Nov. 1), 1976 (incl. 1973 material) 4 A- 002 002 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Schedule:Peter Brook’s “The Ik”: 1976 - 1977 Correspondence and General Info.; Oct. 29 - (Nov. 1), 4 A- 002 003 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: French Week: Schedule: Peter Brook’s “The Ik”: 1976 - 1977 Production and Press Info.; Oct. 29 - (Nov. 1), 1976 4 A- 002 004 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Performing Arts Grants: Minnesota State Arts Board: 1976 - 1977 Dance; Sept. 1, 1976 - June 30, 1977 4 A- 002 005 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Performing Arts Grants: Minnesota State Arts Board: New 1976 - 1977 Music, May 20, 1976 - June 30, 1977 4 A- 002 006 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Performing Arts Grants: Minnesota State Arts Board: (1975) 1976 - 1977 Poetry: March 6, 1975 - June 30, 1977 4 A- 002 007 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Performing Arts Grants: Minnesota State Arts Board: 1976 - 1977 Theater; May 20, 1976 - June 30, 1977 4 A- 002 008 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Performing Arts Grants: National Endowment for the Arts: 1976 - 1977 Special Projects; Sept. 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 009 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra: Financial; 1976 - 1977 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 010 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Administration: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra: General Info.; 1976 - 1977 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 011 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Summer “Front Porch” Concerts; July - August, 1976 1976 - 1977 WALKER ART CENTER INSTITUTIONAL RECORDS: FOLDER INVENTORY Series loc BoxFolder no Date Span 4 A- 002 012 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Robert Moulton and Vern Sutton; July 15, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 013 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Aliza Ngono with Abadingi; July 31, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 014 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Keyboard Festival: Ruth Slenczynska and Joan Benson; August 1976 - 1977 11, 12, 13, 1976 4 A- 002 015 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Braginsky and Reminkova; Sept. 27, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 016 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Perspectives Series: The Times Square Bastet; October 11, 1976 1976 - 1977 (calendar states “October 6, 1976”) 4 A- 002 017 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: Minnesota Composers’ Forum, October 17, 1976 - May 22, 1977 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 018 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music:Dale Warland Singers; October 24, 1976 1976 - 1977 4 A- 002 019 Coordinator Nigel Redden: Music: ECM Jazz Festival; Oct.