The Performance Art Museum presents “First Sessions,” a series of roundtable seminars taking place in April 2023 within the studios of performance artists John Birtle, rafa esparza, and Liz Glynn. These conversations will bring together a distinguished group of artists, curators, scholars, and patrons including Amelia Jones, Paul Schimmel, Julie Tolentino, Elsa Longhauser, Laura Gutierrez, Debra Irmas, Suzanne Lacy, Simon Leung, Jennifer Moon, Cauleen Smith, Alex Sloane, and Xandro Segade to explore how the Performance Art Museum can effectively support contemporary artists working in performance and strengthen the broader ecosystem that surrounds this medium. By hosting these foundational discussions in active artist studios, the museum creates an environment for meaningful dialogue about institutional support, artistic practice, and community building, while positioning itself to become the leading institution dedicated to advancing the visibility, legacy, and scholarship of performance art. Through these collaborative sessions, participants will establish critical frameworks that will guide the museum’s future programming and its role in nurturing performance practitioners.