Press Releases

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Announces Availability of Jazz Touring Network Guidelines
Selected Grantees to Learn Nuts and Bolts of Jazz Presenting from Leaders in Field

Baltimore, MD – Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has announced the availability of its 2006-2007 Jazz Touring Network guidelines. As part of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s programs to support jazz presenting and touring in the region, the Foundation has partnered with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC to establish and train a network of new jazz presenters and support regional jazz tours to their venues. The Foundation solicits applications from presenters in underserved areas of the region that have experience presenting other arts forms, but limited experience presenting jazz.

Selected presenters will attend a total of six training sessions over a three-year period on topics that will help them build an infrastructure for jazz programming in their communities. Faculty for the sessions is comprised of jazz industry professionals located across the country: including jazz presenters, artists, agents, educators and media representatives. Session topics will include audience development, jazz programming, corporate sponsorship, promotion, and partnerships with schools and community groups.

Over the three-year period of training, the participating presenters will work with the faculty to select artists for regional tours to their venues. The presenters will receive fee support grants from the Foundation to sponsor the tours.   Previous tours have included: Cyrus Chestnut, Hilton Ruiz/Dave Valentin, Jane Monheit & Trio, Kenny Barron, Lizz Wright Quintet, Nnenna Freelon, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Rene Marie, and T.S. Monk. The tours are funded by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation supports the richness and diversity of the region’s arts resources and promotes wider access to the art and artists of the region, nation and world. The region includes nine states and jurisdictions that are closely related by geography or culture: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the U.S.Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.