Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
/OVERVIEW: Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation supports artistic work created by, presented to, and engaged with the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Its grants focus almost entirely on the performing arts; however, its fellowships do fund creative writing and visual arts residencies. Its USArtists International program supports U.S.-based artists performing abroad, and its ArtsCONNECT program funds projects that unites mid-Atlantic presenting organizations from different states with a touring artist. Many programs require a community outreach component in addition to the public performance. Jazz Road is a national touring and residency program that supports jazz performances throughout the U.S.
IP TAKE: This accessible funder is a good one to know for performers and presenting organizations either based in or planning to tour the mid-Atlantic region. Grantseekers should keep in mind that there are international opportunities. MAAF is more limited in scope than some of the other regional arts organizations in that it specializes in performance art, specifically dance, music, and theater. There are programs tailored for visual artists and writers; however, these tend to be the exception rather than the norm.
Interested grantseekers will want to read over each program page carefully, as they frequently have their own application requirements and deadlines.
PROFILE: Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, or MAAF, seeks to nurture and fund “the creation and presentation of diverse artistic expression and connect people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond.” For MAAF’s purposes, the Mid-Atlantic region consists of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. However, it also supports the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is part of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations group of funders and partners with the National Endowment of the Arts for many programs and projects. MAAF has separate grant programs for Individual Artists and Arts Organizations, and focus areas include tour support, residencies, and fellowships.
Grants for Theater, Dance, and Performing Arts
The foundation’s grantmaking programs cover a range of needs and support both individual artists and arts organizations, typically presenting organizations. For artists, MAAF funds two fellowship programs. The first, Creative Fellowships, is a sponsored residency program that “supplements the cost of residencies for a limited number of artists residing in our nine state and jurisdictional region.” Grantees must have been accepted to a residency program to receive support through this program: a residency at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts for artists in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia; a residency at Millay Colony for the Arts for artists residing in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The State Fellowships program is exclusive to individual artists living in Delaware and New Jersey. It makes awards to artists to help them advance their careers and achieve their creative goals. The two states have separate requirements and application guidelines, so interested grantseekers should read the program descriptions carefully.
One of MAAF’s signature programs for artists, USArtists International (USAI) operates in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It “supports performances by U.S. artists at important cultural festivals and arts marketplaces around the globe.” USAI supports performers by defraying costs, which can be significant. The program recognizes the scope of these expenses, and the grants will cover travel, housing, per diem, shipping, visa fees, and agents’ fees. Grants go up to $15,000, but typically range from $1,000 to $10,000. USAI covers festival and performing arts markets, both of which need to be curated—meaning performers must be selected to perform; it is not open-entry. The festival or market also needs to be international in scope, a bill that either singularly touts American performing artists or represents performing artists from at least two countries beyond the host nation. The festival or performing arts market also has to program a “consistently high level of activity,” including performances, lectures, and workshops. Additionally, performers must be talented to garner a USAI grant. USAI states that it seeks “artistic excellence,” which it does not define. It will judge for itself when it reviews work samples and looks over a grant seeker’s performing resume. Lastly, USAI seeks diversity within all these forms of excellence and states: “Priority consideration is given to those application that are exemplary in meeting the review criteria and foster the program’s goals of broad domestic and international geographic representation as well as diverse aesthetic expression.”
MAAF’s primary tool for supporting arts organizations is its ArtsCONNECT program, which supports projects in which at least three Mid Atlantic performing arts presenters from two different states work collaboratively to present a touring solo performer or group. The consortium’s plan must include public performances as well as community outreach engagements; ideally, both of these elements should reach underserved communities. Grant seekers should read the guidelines carefully, especially the details regarding which presenting organizations can band together to submit an application. The artist or ensemble being presented must also have a proven history of “experience in touring.” MAAF provides a list of its current tours.
In a similar vein, MAAF also operates a Special Presenter Initiatives program. It is a microcosm of ArtsCONNECT, specifically geared towards bringing performance to Delaware, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (the smallest populations in the Mid Atlantic region) with grants ranging from $500 to $5,000. For this program, the performance groups must be from the Mid Atlantic or reside outside of the U.S.
Performing Arts Global Exchange is another program that brings international music, dance, and theater performers to communities throughout the United States. Its funding covers a variety of expenses, including travel expenses, visas, and routing, and the program prioritizes support for “performances in communities with reduced access to international performing arts due to geography or other features.” To be eligible, grantseekers must book artists from a curated roster of artists that have limited experience touring in the U.S.
Groups whose home base is either in the Mid Atlantic region or outside of the U.S. may want to seek out the opportunity to join MAAF’s Mid Atlantic Tours roster, a curated roster program which puts grantseekers on a touring bill traveling throughout the region with the foundation’s oversight. Eligible presenting organizations receive a fee subsidy amount of up to 50% of the project’s negotiated artist fee, but no less than $750. Organizations also receive $2,000 to help cover project expenses, including marketing and promotional materials, equipment rental, and artist travel expenses and lodging.
Lastly, Folk and Traditional Arts Network is a “presenter-based membership network” that works to promote and increase the audience for folk and traditional arts in the mid-Atlantic region. Applications for this program are by invitation only, and beneficiaries must be members. Keep an eye on the foundation’s newsletter for updates on the program.
Grants for Creative Writing, Visual Arts, and Arts Education
MAAF gives most of its support to writers and visual artists through its Creative Fellowships program, a sponsored residency program that “supplements the cost of residencies for a limited number of artists residing in our nine state and jurisdictional region.” Grantees must have been accepted to a residency program to receive support through this program: a residency at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts for artists in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia; a residency at Millay Colony for the Arts for artists residing in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many past fellows have been writers and poets, and visual artists are also commonly supported.
The Poetry Out Loud program is operated in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation. It is a “a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country.” Poetry Out Loud seeks to aid with students’ self-confidence, teach literary history, and help students acquire essential life skills. View the program website for complete lesson plans and competition details.
Grants for Music
The Jazz Road program is a national touring and residency initiative run in partnership with South Arts that works to bring jazz music and musicians to communities throughout the US. It has two grants programs. Jazz Road Tours supports small tours for emerging and mid-career musicians. Grants range from $5,000 to $15,000. Jazz Road Creative Residencies “allow artists to spend multiple weeks in collaboration with a presenter and a community to develop/perform new work, foster new connections, and share resources.” This program only funds individual, mid-career professional jazz artists with “a noteworthy record of work experience and accomplishments in the jazz field.” Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000.
The Jazz Touring Network program is a “presenter-based membership program” that supports professional development opportunities and performance fee subsidies for its members. Its funds prioritize presenting organizations from “communities underserved by the arts.”
The Living Legacy Jazz Award honors living American jazz musicians who have made their mark in Jazz in the mid-Atlantic region, and helped increase the genre’s audience. There is also a mentorship and education component to the award, which “recognizes distinguished performers who have made a special commitment to jazz education, and who have worked to impart his or her unique knowledge of the art of jazz to emerging artists.”
One of MAAF’s signature programs for musicians and other artists, USArtists International (USAI) “supports performances by U.S. artists at important cultural festivals and arts marketplaces around the globe.” USAI awards cover travel, housing, per diem, shipping, visa fees, and agents’ fees. Grants go up to $15,000, but typically range from $1,000 to $10,000. USAI covers festival and performing arts markets, both of which need to be curated—meaning performers must be selected to perform; it is not open-entry. The festival or market also needs to be international in scope, a bill that either singularly touts American performing artists or represents performing artists from at least two countries beyond the host nation.
Important Grant Details:
Grants are modest. Performers/programs must have 501(c)(3) status, or else be fiscally sponsored by a reputable non-profit agency. Applications are online, and are administered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Alliance. There are three deadlines each year: in April, September, and December. Each deadline is synced with performances set to happen about three months later, and grant seekers will hear if they have received the grant about 10 weeks after each application deadline. To access the database of past grantees, click here. Grant seekers can sign up for the newsletter here.
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