Page 22 - APAP Inside Arts - Spring 2020

Final Act
AS HE PREPARES TO STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF APAP, MARIO GARCIA DURHAM REFLECTS ON THE ORGANIZATION, THE FIELD, JOY AND THE FUTURE.
EDITED BY ALICIA ANSTEAD
During APAP|NYC 2020, Mario Garcia Durham, the outgoing president and CEO
of APAP, sat down to discuss his eight-year tenure with Megan Pagado Wells, associate director of programming of the Artist Partner Programs at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center; Kyoung H. Park, playwright, director and founder of Kyoung’s Pacific Beat; and Allen Moon, director of touring and artist management of David Lieberman Artists’ Representatives. The following is an edited and condensed version of their conversation.
MPW: Why are you choosing to leave now?
MGD: Some years ago when I was at the National Endowment for the Arts, there was a presenter – Toby Maddox. I’m from Houston originally, and there’s a place called Jones Hall that I use to perform in as a dancer when I was a kid. Toby was retiring from there and wanted me to take over. It’s a great place. But I had just started at the NEA, and I had a goal that no matter what the job is, I’m not leaving. At the beginning of
my time at APAP, that’s how I looked at it: When I was discouraged, I said no, I’m not leaving. What happens on the other end, when I think I get it and have done this, typically I am ready to move on. I have an internal guide. I never want to stay too long, and everyone knows when their too long is. My too long is usually eight years, when I feel like I’m not bringing what I brought in the beginning, and I don’t want to hang on.
20 INSIDE ARTS SPRING 2020
ADAM AND CHRISTY KISSICK/APAP