The National Performance Network has been an important support system for emerging, unconventional artists for 25 years — promoting the live stage works of smaller communities by giving their artists greater exposure, helping such groups as Urban Bush Women and the Blue Man Group tour the country when they were just starting.

NPN will be holding its 25th anniversary annual meeting in Dallas Dec. 9-13. The host is the South Dallas Cultural Center, one of the NPN’s members, and in addition to the usual professional-meeting activities, the NPN will be presenting public performances, including two evenings at the Majestic that will feature some of NPN’s ‘greatest hits’ over its history from such groups as the Jane Comfort Dance company. There will also be a solo performance by Antonio Salinas (Toneladas de Luz or Tons of Light) at the Latino Cultural Center.

We talk to National Performance Network CEO MK Wegmann about the Pomo Afro Homos, why the network has  stayed small, where the call for edgy ‘hybrid’ works comes from and why the hell does San Antonio have three NPN members while North Texas has only one.