Kenny Barron was presented with the BNY Mellon Jazz 2008 Living Legacy Award on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The 2008 Award coincided with Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation's 30th Anniversary and the 15th Anniversary of the Living Legacy Award. Event guests enjoyed a performance honoring the 2007 awardee Benny Golson in the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater. The performance, Benny Golson at 80, was a salute to the 60-year career of the award-winning saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master with concert appearances by the Clayton- Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Al Jarreau, Ron Carter, and others.

In addition to Kenny Barron and Benny Golson, Mid Atlantic was delighted to host previous Legacy awardees including: Dr. Billy Taylor, Oliver Lake, Doris Reid attending for Rufus, Randy Weston, Jimmy Heath, Reggie Workman, and Larry Ridley. Additionally, performers from the Benny Golson at 80 joined us for our post-concert celebration and award ceremony.

Click here to view the event slide show.

Click here to listen to the Kenny Barron podcast.

Photo: Kenny Barron receives the BNY Mellon Jazz 2008 Living Legacy Award from Michael DiMedio of BNY Mellon. Credit: Valerie S.M. Russell/RUSSELLVISUAL

Fee support grants are available to presenters booking artists on the Foundation's 2009-2010 American Masterpieces and Mid Atlantic Tour rosters. If you wish to be considered for support, offer letters should be sent to the agents of roster artists by March 9, 2009. If you've been on the fence about an artist, now is the time to finalize your plans and contact the booking agent today. Find out more about the artist rosters, contact information for their booking agents, and how to access these funds, click here for American Masterpieces or here for Mid Atlantic Tours. Should you have question about funding availability, contact Krista Bradley, Program Officer, Performing Arts at krista@midatlanticarts.org.

Photo: American Masterpieces artists The Klezmatics.

The 2009-10 ArtsCONNECT application deadline is March 30, 2009. The program provides support for projects in which at least three performing arts presenters from two mid-Atlantic states work collaboratively to present a solo artist or touring company from the United States or abroad. The tours must include performances as well as complementary activities designed to build greater understanding of and appreciation for the work, the artist, or an artistic discipline. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) presenting organizations located in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Eligible projects must take place between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. For more information about ArtsCONNECT and to review the guidelines, click here.

ArtsCONNECT Projects in Development - Newly Updated!
To help facilitate discussion and collaboration among presenters interested in pursuing an ArtsCONNECT grant application for the March 30, 2009 deadline, the Foundation has created ArtsCONNECT Projects in Development. The list of projects is culled from an ongoing survey of presenters and agents developing tours in the mid-Atlantic region for the 2009-10 season. The list of projects was recently updated. To review the current list of projects, click here and scroll down the page to the Projects in Development link.

Photo: ArtsCONNECT 2008-2009 season artist Hot 8 Brass Band. Photo Credit: Chris Carson

The Foundation's first Folk Arts Outreach Project of 2009 explored and celebrated the rich heritage of African-Americans working in the oyster industries of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. On January 30-31, the Whittington Family Singers of Port Norris, New Jersey met with staff at the Annapolis Maritime Museum and members of the local Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Gospel Choir to share vocal traditions, oyster shucking techniques, and food customs gleaned from years working in their respective maritime communities. Visiting independent folklorist and author Dr. Rita Moonsammy of Tabernacle, New Jersey worked with museum staff to share best practices in presenting folk arts and occupational traditions before a public audience. In separate public presentations, the Whittington Family Singers enthralled spectators with demonstrations of oyster shucking, oyster recipe preparation, and an inspired gospel concert performed with the Mt. Zion Gospel Choir.

Mid Atlantic Folk Arts Outreach Projects enable folklorists and traditional artists to travel from their home locations to host sites in other mid-Atlantic jurisdictions in order to strengthen the region's folk and traditional arts infrastructure through exchange of information, shared practice and public presentation. For more information, click here.

Photo: Preparing oyster fritters. Folklorist Rita Moonsammy, tradition bearer Sarah Cisrow and her father, master artist Beryl Whittington. Photo Credit: Sally Van de Water.

PennPAT Showcases at 2009 PA Spring Arts Conference
The 2009 PA Spring Arts Conference will be held May 27-30 in Pittsburgh, PA. During the conference, PennPAT will produce two afternoons of showcases by 11 different roster artists at the Byham Theater. The showcases are open to the general public at no charge. A complete list of showcasing artists is available on our website. For more information about the conference including registration, hotel and a detailed schedule, visit the official conference site. PennPAT Presenter Travel Grants are available to presenters based outside of PA who are interested in attending the showcases. The application deadline is April 15, 2009 (in the PennPAT office at least 6 weeks prior to the event).

2008 Fall PennPAT Grants for Touring Engagements
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation announced PennPAT grants totaling $194,615 for 43 touring engagements with 28 different PennPAT artists. Read the press release.

2009 PennPAT Spring Artist Workshop
Showcasing: Why, Where and How? PennPAT's Spring Artist Workshop is open to all Pennsylvania- based performing artists and groups, and will be offered in Philadelphia (April 16) and Pittsburgh (April 17). For complete details and information on how to register, please visit our website.

Photo: PennPAT roster artist Babatunde Lea.

Performing Arts Exchange 2009 will take place in Norfolk, VA September 23 - 27, 2009 and artist showcase applications are now available. Whether you are an established artist trying to connect with new venues or an emerging artist entering into the touring industry, showcasing at the Performing Arts Exchange can be a great way to have your work seen by presenters as they decide which artists to book for their upcoming seasons. Showcase applications for PAE 2009 are available online. All materials are due by March 27, 2009. For more information, click here.

Upcoming deadlines and their corresponding guidelines are listed below!

Deadlines:

• March 9, 2009 - American Masterpieces - Cultural Currents Tour
• March 9, 2009 - Mid Atlantic Tours - 2009/2010 Roster
• March 30, 2009 - ArtsCONNECT
• May 4, 2009 - USArtists International - Round Three

Guidelines:

• American Masterpieces
• Mid Atlantic Tours
• ArtsCONNECT
• USArtists International

Since 2003, the BIG BAND JAM! has been bringing the best in big band jazz to our Nation's Capitol through the presence of youth and jazz education. The 2009 BIG BAND JAM! will be hosted at Blues Alley, Voice of America Stage, Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History from April 17-29, 2009. Features include the Collegiate Jazz Jam! which showcases several D.C.-area university ensembles, our nation's Air Force, Navy and Army jazz ensembles, multiple guest master classes and D.C.-area high school ensembles. Please come together with us to celebrate America's music as we attempt to bridge age, education, ethnicity and income.

email: karen@midatlanticarts.org

web: http://www.midatlanticarts.org