Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation will support 12 artist tour consortia projects involving 55 presentations at 49 different organizations across the mid-Atlantic region through its ArtsCONNECT program in the 2007-2008 season. ArtsCONNECT provides access to live performing arts engagements of excellence to audiences across the mid-Atlantic region through support of tours incorporating public performances and activities that enhance the concert experience.

The grants will provide $308,720 in support for the following artist tours: Borealis Wind Quintet; Diavolo; Gary Burton Chick Corea Duo; McCoy Tyner and Savion Glover; Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; Grupo Mono Blanco, Rapetipetam, and Ata Gallup, touring under the combined title of NAFTA: North American Festival of Traditional Arts; Peru Negro; Ragamala Music and Dance Theater; Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE; Urban Bush Women; Victoria Marks; and Yamato. ArtsCONNECT 2008 grants will support performing arts presenters in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In keeping with the Foundation's mission and commitment to increasing access to the arts at the community level, each of the funded tour projects will feature workshops, residencies, or classes in conjunction with performances.

The Foundation received 73 applications requesting over $730,000 in support of 16 tours in this recent funding round of the program. Guidelines for the next funding round, which will support tour consortia projects for the 2008-2009 season, will be available in fall 2008.

Photo: Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Dance Company in One Shot. Credit: Basil Childers

Fellowship applications are now available online for Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania individual artists. Mid Atlantic administers the fellowship review process for multiple disciplines for these four partner states. Each state offers a varying schedule of disciplines - so be sure to read your state's guidelines carefully. All four states now offer an online grant application process and some genres may submit work samples electronically. Additionally, MD, NJ, and VA are offering workshops on application preparation and the online process.

PA Presenters Conference
The 2007 PA Presenters Conference offered a wide variety of learning and networking experiences, from a thought-provoking keynote address by Ben Cameron, Program Officer for the Doris Duke Foundation, to showcases by more than 25 artists, presentations and roundtable discussions on a variety of topics and receptions/mixers at venues throughout Bethlehem and Easton, PA. The 2008 conference will be in Harrisburg, PA on June 28-30. www.papresenters.org

Photo: PPAT Roster Artist Eleone Dance Theatre

Position Opening
PennPAT Program Associate - Marketing and Artist Services. Click here for a copy of the job description.

PennPAT Presenter Travel Grants Increased to 100% of Allowable Costs For Presenters based anywhere in the U.S.
Presenter Travel Grants are provided to U.S. presenters who are interested in booking a PennPAT roster artist, and would first like to see a live performance by that artist. Funds may be used either to attend a full public performance by a PennPAT roster artist, at home or on tour (presenter may be based anywhere in the U.S.); or, if the presenter is from outside Pennsylvania, funds may also be used to attend a showcase by a particular roster artist at the PennPAT Showcases at the annual PA Presenters Networking Meeting.

Grants are available for up to $500 and may cover, on a reimbursement basis, up to 100% of reasonable travel/lodging cash expenses related to this project. For more information and application form, click here .

PennPAT Fee-Support and New Directions Grants Deadlines

October 15, 2007: For projects scheduled between February 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009.

February 15, 2008: For projects scheduled between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010.

For more info and to apply, click here .

Mid Atlantic is pleased to annouce the addition of two new program staff members this June! Joanna Raczynska is the Program Assistant, Fellowships and Lexie Bubb fills the position of Administrative Assistant, Programs.

In her new role, Joanna will manage the Foundation's programs supporting individual artists, including administration of contracted services for the state fellowships of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining MAAF, Joanna served as the Exhibits Department Coordinator at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. She holds an MA in Documentary Film Production from Royal Holloway College, University of London.

Lexie will assist Foundation program staff in the administration of over 20 programs and projects supporting artists, arts organizations, and audiences in the mid-Atlantic region, nationally, and internationally. Lexie comes to MAAF from the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and holds a BFA in painting from the Tyler School of Art.

We welcome them to our staff and look forward to working with them in the coming years.