December 13, 2010 Dear Friend of Performa, Since 2005, Performa has produced three biennials to critical acclaim, triggering an exciting new trend in museum and exhibition planning around the world; Major arts institutions are now presenting important performance art exhibitions and festivals, and indeed, the combined effect of all our efforts has exponentially raised the profile of performance by artists for the broad public and media alike. Performance is more relevant than ever before, as art institutions grapple with ways to present historical material of live art and to respond to the multidisciplinary practices of artists working today. Performa is now the leading authority, worldwide, for the production and presentation of international performance, as well as  for showcasing groundbreaking precedents from the history of performance. From the start, Performa was also determined to build a large and inclusive community of artists, writers, architects, filmmakers, philosophers, choreographers, and composers to meet and produce art about life in the twenty-first century. Performa’s goal of reclaiming New York and the art world for this vibrant community has been remarkably affective, as evidenced by the enthusiastic reception of audiences at all Performa events. 2010 has been an extraordinary year for us in that we significantly expanded the scope of our work well beyond the biennial program. Specifically, we bolstered our international presence by touring important Performa projects to venues around the world, including the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow, Russia, the Transart Festival in Bolzano, Italy, Tramway in Glascow, Scotland, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Santiago, Chile, and the Shanghai Biennial in Shanghai, China. Awards and accolades include being in the “Top 10” list of two Artforum writers for Mike Kelley’s Performa 09 Commission; Performa 09’s opening night commission, Creation by Jennifer Rubell, being nominated as “Alternative Project of the Year” by the Rob Pruitt Art Awards;  being included in Art Review’s “Power 100” list for “the impact of (Performa’s) festival on the international art landscape”;  and being honored by Independent Curators International with the Agnes Gund Curatorial Award for outstanding curatorial achievement. With Performa 11 taking place less than a year from now, we are deeply engaged in programming the next biennial. We hope you will take an active role in developing Performa 11 by making a fully tax-deductible contribution today. • $100 will help us to present a series of free public education programs, featuring artists, authors, and critics in lively discussion on current issues in performance and new media. • $500 will enable us to create an important publication that documents the biennial and is a reference for contemporary art and performance of the past two years. • $1,000 will add to our Performa Commissions fund, providing substantial financial awards and unique production support to realize powerful, intellectually reflective, and artistically innovative works of live performance. • $2,500 will allow us to work with leading architects to build the Performa Hub, a convening center and “think tank” that features a recording studio, amphitheater, gallery space, pop-up exhibitions, lounge, and rehearsal space. Over the next several months, we will work to produce more than 160 events, partner with over 40 arts and cultural organizations, and spotlight more than 100 established and emerging artists from all over the world. Your generous contribution makes all of this possible. Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays! Sincerely, RoseLee Goldberg Founding Director & Curator Or mail the response form below to Performa 100 West 23rd Street 5th Floor New York, NY 10011

_____ About Performa Performa, the leading organization world wide for performance by visual artists, established by RoseLee Goldberg in 2004, is dedicated to exploring the critical role of live performance in the history of twentieth century art and to encouraging new directions in performance for the twenty-first century. In 2005, Performa launched New York’s first performance biennial, Performa 05, followed by Performa 07 (2007), and Performa 09 (2009). In 2011, Performa will present its fourth biennial, Performa 11 (November 1–21, 2011). Performa is supported by grants from Toby Devan Lewis and the TOBY Fund, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Lambent Foundation, the Peter Norton Family Foundation, the David and Elaine Potter Charitable Trust, The Dedalus Foundation, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Funding is also provided by the Performa Board of Directors, the Performa Producer’s Circle, the Performa Visionaries, and many generous individuals. Public support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, the New York Council for the Humanities, and The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Performa Board of Directors Laurie Beckelman, Irving Benson, Todd Bishop, Wendy Fisher, Stephanie French, Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn (Chair), RoseLee Goldberg, Ronald Guttman, Barbara Hoffman, Michael Kantrow, William Kornreich, Toby Devan Lewis, David Orentreich, David Raymond, Illya Szilak, and Julie Thornton. Images: Anne Hathaway with Performa Director RoseLee Goldberg at The Red Party (photo: Amber de Vos), Judson Church Dance by Mike Kelley (photo: Paula Court), Aki Sasamoto performing at Transart Festival (photo: Gregor Khuen Belasi), Padded Cell by Jennifer Rubell (photo: Paula Court), Intonarumori at Town Hall (photo: Paula Court), Performa Hub in Santiago, Chile.		_____ Get in Touch 100 W 23rd Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10011 Tel: 212 366 5700 | Fax: 212 366 5743 www.performa-arts.org Performa is a 501c3 non-profit organization