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Learn more about how we can help support your work!
ArtsCONNECT
ArtsCONNECT supports performing arts touring projects collaboratively developed by presenters working together in the mid-Atlantic region. The tours include performances as well as complementary engagement activities designed to create greater understanding or connections between artists, audiences, and communities.
![Clor photo of two puppeteers dressed in black on stage. They each manipulate figures - a puppet dressed in traditional Japanese clothing on the right and two stylized horses with human faces on the left. Behind them a brightly colored backdrop featured many reaching human hands.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACNF_2023_2616_AKUTAGAWA_226_copy_c_Richard_Termine-600x400.jpg)
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Photo: AKUTAGAWA is a stage portrait of Ryunosuke Akutagawa, father of the modern Japanese short novel and author of In a Grove, the basis of Akira Kurosawa’s landmark 1950 film Rashomon. Told through the traditional puppetry style kuruma ningyo blended with dynamic video images, AKUTAGAWA is an amalgam of five of his famous short stories. This tour of Koryu Nishikawa V and Tom Lee/Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo Puppet Company was presented by the Japan Society with support from ArtsCONNECT 2023. Credit: Richard Termine
ArtsHERE
Through grants and peer learning opportunities, ArtsHERE invests in organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming, with the goal of increasing arts participation for underserved groups/communities, and sharing insights that may inform similar funding programs in the future.
![Color Photo of a group of people outside on a beach. Musicians play instruments inder a green tree and the ocean can be seen in the background.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AdobeStock_451029448-1-600x400.jpeg)
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Buen Hombre. Dominican Republic. August 02. 2021. Beach Music Group
CALT Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellowships
The Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellowships honor, celebrate, and support foodways tradition bearers and practitioners in Central Appalachia who have made significant contributions to sustaining and supporting the foodways heritage of their communities.
![Up close photo of dried beans in a white plastic container.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fugate2-600x400.jpg)
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Image: Harvested Beans from Travis and Rebecca Fugate, 2022 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellowship recipients. Credit: Courtesy Travis and Rebecca Fugate.
CALT Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship
The Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowships honor, celebrate, and support Black storytellers representing Appalachian Regional Commission-designated counties in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
![Seven storytellers pose with their awards and cowtail switches.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_1149-600x400.jpg)
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Image: The 2023 Fellows gathered at the National Association of Black Storyteller’s Conference in Salt Lake City. Credit: Courtesy Taylor Burden.
Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships
Individual Artist Fellowships provide funding to Delaware creative artists to fulfill needs that will allow them to advance in their careers.
![Color image of two artists seated on chairs with stand mics performing in a space with large paintings on the walls behind them.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/tahira-and-darnell-miller_53051919467_o-600x400.jpg)
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Image: Delaware Division of the Arts Master Fellow TAHIRA performing at the 2023 Individual Artist Fellowship awards ceremony and reception at the Biggs Museum. Credit: Courtesy of Delaware Division of the Arts.
Folk and Traditional Arts
Folk and traditional arts reflect the aesthetics, practices, values, and beliefs of community groups, such as families, geographic communities, occupational groups, ethnic heritage groups, faith communities, and more.
![Color photo of a group of people shot from the back - hands joined in a folk dance. They wear street clothes and in the background, a carousel and ticket booth can be seen.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CAFTA_2019-07-28_TRUMBULL_JLRH_14-scaled-1-600x400.jpeg)
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Image: Performers and attendees at the Annual Warren Greek Festival of the St. Demetrios Orthodox Church near downtown Warren in Trumbull County, Ohio. Credit: Jess Lamar Reece Holler.
Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grants
The Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects grants fund projects designed to support the vitality of traditional arts and cultural communities in the mid-Atlantic region.
![Color photo of women leading a African dance and drumming workshop.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FTCP_2022_2983-_Kulu_Mele_Credit-Ira-Bond-600x400.jpg)
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Image: Kulu Mele artists demonstrating West African dance (and drumming, not seen in the photo) at the Baltimore Rhythm Festival. Credit: Ira Bond.
Iber Exchange
Iber Exchange is designed to increase availability of international music programming throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and to promote a greater understanding of other cultures through the performing arts.
![Three males musicians site on boxes in a semicircle. They all ear shades of black with accents. To the left a bass lays on the floor. The center musician holds an accordion. The man to the right has an acoustic guitar. Behind them standing center is a woman with a flute.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/alejandro-brittes-e1691415839854-600x400.jpg)
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Image: Alejandro Brittes Quartet. Credit: Courtesy of the artist.
Jazz Road
Jazz Road is an artist-centric touring and residency grants program to spread jazz throughout the country, strengthen work opportunities and compensation for jazz artists, and bolster deeper engagement between jazz musicians, presenters and communities.
![Color photo od a musician playing a trumpet with the Word Jazz Road over top.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jazz-Roads-e1723645728875-314x400.jpg)
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Jazz Touring Network
The Jazz Touring Network (JTN) is a presenter-based membership program that supports professional development, building partnerships, and working together to curate tours that reflect the richness of the field of jazz.
![Color photo shot from behind an outdoor stage of a large jazz band facing an audience in a grove of trees.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JTN21_1N0A6563_Go-Go-DC_REQUESTS-32581-600x400.jpg)
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Image: Marc Cary's Go Go Project performs at Malcolm X Park for NEXTfest 2021 with support from Jazz Touring Network member CapitalBop, DC. Credit: Viva Ventura.
Mid Atlantic Tours
Mid Atlantic Tours brings exemplary performing arts ensembles to communities across the mid-Atlantic region.
![Color photo of a musician explaining her instrument to children and audience members.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MAT_REQUESTS-34457-MAT22_Campbell147A1888-600x400.jpg)
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Image: Charlotte Blake Alston giving instructions to children and family members who attended her MAT performance at Montgomery County Community College, PA. Credit: Lou Liguori Photography.
National Leaders of Color Fellowship
The National Leaders of Color Fellowships (LoCF) is a nationwide strategic leadership development program for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders who are committed to the advancement of cultural equity in the arts. Using a cohort structure, the program, administered by Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), emphasizes experiential learning, community building and service to the field.
![A large group of people kneel and pose for a photo on a pedestrian street.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/86740c71-ce8c-4976-9906-8fe59eeb969c-e1691090908732-600x400.jpg)
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Image: National Leaders of Color 2019 Convening. Credit: National Leaders of Color program.
New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships
Individual Artist Fellowships are awarded to practicing New Jersey artists through an anonymous, competitive application process to help them pursue their artistic goals.
![Color photo of a musician playing a guitar at a stand mic.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Allison-Strong-2023-NJSCA-Composition-Fellow.Photo-Credit-Jeremy-Varner-600x400.jpg)
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Image: 2023 NJ State Council on the Arts Composition Fellow Allison Strong. Credit: Jeremy Varner
Performing Arts Global Exchange
Open to presenters nationwide, the Performing Arts Global Exchange (PAGE) is an annually curated roster of international performing artists selected to tour to communities across the United States.
![Color image of a group of musicians performing on an outdoor stage.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PAGE_REQUESTS-33838-PAGE21_DCJFVoxSambouPerformanceatD-600x400.jpeg)
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Image: Vox Sambou performs at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. Credit: DC Jazz Fest.
Special Presenter Initiatives
The Special Presenter Initiatives provide additional opportunities for the support of small to mid-sized performing arts presenters in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Native nations that share this geography.
![Color photo of a children's choir singing onstage.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DSC5621-1-600x400.jpg)
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Image: SPI grantee Choir School of Delaware performs "We Hold These Truths: A Celebration of Black Excellence." Credit: Moonloop Photography.
USArtists International
USArtists International® supports in-person performances by artists from any state or territory in the U.S. at engagements at international festivals and global presenting arts marketplaces outside of the United States.
![Color photo shot from behind two performers on stage with mics singing to an audience in a venue. In the foreground, a full drum kit can be seen.](https://www.midatlanticarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/USAI_DDAT_WOMAD_2022_2092-600x400.jpg)
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Image: USAI supported D'DAT's Nelisiwe Mtsweni & Alexandria Holiday at WOMAD in 2022. Credit: Delbert Anderson