Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has awarded 18 grants totaling more than $250,000 through its 2007 - 2008 Artists & Communities residency program. The grants will support 24 artists who will spend approximately 718 days in communities throughout the mid-Atlantic region over the next 12 months.

2007 Artists & Communities projects will take place in the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Projects include a collaboration between choreographer David Parker, 15 inner-city elementary school drummers and Dance Alloy Theater in Pittsburgh; a youth film workshop at the University of the Virgin Islands; and an site-specific installation incorporating solar-powered sound elements in upstate New York, among others.

The 2007 grantees were chosen from a field of 52 applications. A panel of artists and arts professionals experienced in community-based practice reviewed submissions and recommended the 18 funded applications based on artistic excellence, quality of the proposed project, and organizational capacity, to implement the project successfully.

Artists & Communities 2007 is supported by funding from Johnson & Johnson, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Heinz Endowments, The William Penn Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

USAI has just awarded 23 grants totaling $86,600 to help music and dance ensembles throughout the United States travel to and perform at international festivals.

This NEA program is managed by Mid Atlantic with support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, for New York City-based ensembles, and by the Trust for Mutual Understanding, for engagements in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe.

For this first grant round of 2007, fifteen of the grantees are dance companies and eight are music ensembles. The dance companies include modern dance, ballet, jazz, and traditional/folkloric companies while the music ensembles are a cross-section of contemporary new music, experimental and improvisational music idioms, jazz and jazz hybrids, folk and traditional forms, and spoken word.

Collectively the ensembles will travel to 22 different festivals in 14 countries in the European Union. Festivals include Edinburgh International Festival (Scotland), Musik Triennale Köln (Germany), Springdance Festival (The Netherlands) and the XIV Annual International Contemporary Dance Conference and Performance Festival (Poland).

Spring is the time for state fellowships ramp up at MAAF. Guidelines are busily being edited, dates are being checked, staff has begun to make panelist lists. If you are an artist residing in the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey or Pennsylvania - you can check the fellowship section of our website for up-to-the-date information or go to your state arts agency website. All guidelines will be posted by early summer with deadlines and disciplines varying by state. If you plan to apply this year please remember, a quality work sample is the most important part of your application. So give yourself some time to make yours great!

March 3, 2007, Bloomsburg University, PA

Bloomsburg University (PA) seized an opportunity to capitalize on the large numbers of community members coming to campus to learn guitar, in a variety of styles, by organizing a joint concert and residency featuring Pennsylvania guitarists in three distinct styles. The project was supported by the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (PennPAT) program.

The public concert, part of Bloomsburg University's Celebrity Artist Series, featured Tim Farrell (fingerstyle guitar) as emcee. Bradley N. Litwin wooed the crowd with his crooning and stride blues guitar, followed by the rich harmonies of the Philadelphia Classical Trio. Tim also joined both Brad and the Trio on specially arranged pieces, and played a set of his own style. Finally all five players joined together for a lively rendition of one of Brad's songs.

There were also a variety of activities for the community, including master classes in each style, and an impromptu poetry/songwriting workshop presented jointly by Tim and Brad. "I was amazed," said Presswood. "The two of them taught together for the first time ever and no one would have believed they hadn't been playing and working as a duet for years."

Presswood reported that for two weeks afterwards he couldn't go anywhere in town without being congratulated for putting together such a fantastic concert. He noted that the success of the program was a result of everyone's total commitment. "Bringing together five different artists who had not played together before had me a bit worried," said Presswood, "but watching the groups work collaboratively and arrange music to feature each other was better than I could have imagined."

PennPAT Roster Application Deadline and Workshops
PennPAT is accepting applications from eligible Pennsylvania artists for the 2008 PennPAT Artist Roster. The deadline for the 2008 PennPAT Artist Roster is June 1, 2007. The application is available by clicking here. For information about workshops on how to apply for the roster click here. There is no cost for this workshop, however please register in advance by calling (215) 496- 9424.

PennPAT Professional Development Workshops For Performing Artists

PennPAT joins forces with Tabula Studio to present a workshop for performing artists entitled Using Your Website to Support Your Performance Career. The workshops, taking place in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, will cover how to work with a web designer and how to create a site that achieves your goals and generates business. The sessions will also address how to select a designer, what you should know about the technology involved and cost evaluation. This workshop is a good introduction for performing artists who are developing a website or upgrading an existing site. Click here for workshop dates and times. The cost is $20 ($10 for PennPAT Roster Artists). Please register in advance by calling (215) 496-9424.

PennPAT showcases at the PA Presenters Conference

PennPAT will be hosting two days of showcases at the PA Presenters Conference May 31 - June 2, 2007 in Bethlehem, PA. PA Presenters is a membership organization that provides networking and block booking opportunities for Pennsylvania presenters (and presenters from many neighboring states). The showcases provide a valuable way to link touring artists and presenters and encourage the development of more in-depth artist/presenter relationships. To register for the conference and for more information click here.

The following PennPAT Roster Artists were selected to showcase at the PA Presenters Conference:

(Artists listed in alphabetical order, program subject to change.)

Friday, June 1, 2007 from 2:45 - 4:45pm Williams Center for the Arts, Lafayette College

Charlotte Blake Alston, MC, ASH Contemporary Dance, Sherry Wilson Butler, Eleone Dance Theatre, Miro Dance Theatre, Tatsuya Nakatani, Shtreiml, The Half of It, Two Part Invention

Saturday, June 2, 2007 from 2:45-4:45pm Diamond Theater at the Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University

Matthew Bengtson, Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo, Hua Hua's Visual Expressions, Kenia, Shafaatullah Khan, Philadelphia Chinese Opera Society, Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble, Resonance Percussion

Upcoming PennPAT Presenter deadlines

Fee-Support and New Directions Grants
June 15, 2007: For projects requesting $1,500 or less, scheduled between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008.

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