Guidelines for the Artists & Communities 2008- 2009 program are now available on the Foundation website. Artists & Communities provides opportunities for professional artists who are residents of the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to collaborate with nonprofit organizations in long-term residencies that result in the creation of new work and actively involve members of the host community in the artistic process. Participating organizations must be located in the Foundation's service area of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.

New for 2008-2009, Artists & Communities applicants will fill out their application online. For information purposes, guidelines can be downloaded online here. The deadline for the applications is December 3, 2007 for projects taking place between April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009.

Rhythm & Roots - the title of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation 2008-2009 American Masterpieces Tour celebrates the region's rich musical heritage and four venerable legends of uniquely American music forms, including jazz, gospel, and bluegrass. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy.

Artists on the Rhythm & Roots Tour roster include:

Jimmy Heath - NEA Jazz Master and 2002 Mellon Living Legacy Jazz Award recipient

McCoy Tyner - Four-time Grammy Award winner and NEA Jazz Master

The Dixie Hummingbirds - Grammy Award- winning traditional gospel legends and NEA National Heritage Award Winners

Ralph Stanley - Grammy Award-winning bluegrass musician, NEA National Heritage Award Winner and National Medial of the Arts honoree

Presenters in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia are eligible to receive fee support grants for engagements with these artists.

Presenters interested in booking any of the 2008- 2009 American Masterpieces: Rhythm & Roots Tour artists and receiving fee support should contact the groups' agents directly to negotiate terms of the engagement. While there is no application process involved for American Masterpieces Tour funding, funds are limited and will be available "while supplies last." Presenters are encouraged to pursue this opportunity and secure artist engagements as soon as possible. The deadline for confirming any engagements proposed for Mid Atlantic Tour funding is March 1, 2008, providing funds are still available.

For questions about the tour and funding information, contact Krista Bradley, Program Officer of Performing Arts at krista@midatlanticarts.org.

The next Jazz Touring Network bi-annual meeting will take place November 6-7, 2007 at Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts in Camden, NJ. Current and alumni JTN members will convene for professional development and peer networking opportunities, including artist review and selection for 2008-09 regional jazz tours.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is pleased to announce its Mid Atlantic Tours Roster for the 2008-2009 season. Mid Atlantic Tours supports engagements of performing artists to celebrate, promote, and support the richness and diversity of the area's resources and increase audience access to the arts and cultures from within the region and abroad.

The Foundation offers support to presenters from the nine states and jurisdictions it serves who book artists included on the Mid Atlantic Tour roster, with a priority on engagements in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia. Presenters are eligible to receive support toward artist fees for their engagements. Not all artists on the roster are eligible for fee support in all states.

Artists on the 2008-2009 Roster include:

Dance: Inbal Pinto Dance Company - Celebrated Israeli contemporary dance company

Blues: Cephas & Wiggins - Leading exponents of the Piedmont blues

World: Simon Shaheen - Palestinian oud/violin maestro and master educator with world- class ensemble

Jazz: Christian McBride Band - Jazz's premier acoustic/electric bassist and band

Theater: The Acting Company - Acclaimed touring theater company joins forces with the Tony- winning Guthrie Theater to tour a co-production of Shakespeare's Henry V and a new adaptation of The Spy by James Fenimore Cooper

Presenters interested in booking any of the 2008- 2009 Mid Atlantic Tour artists and receiving fee support should contact the groups' agents directly to negotiate terms of the engagement. While there is no application process involved for Mid Atlantic Tour funding, fee support grants are limited and will be available "while supplies last." Presenters are encouraged to pursue this opportunity and secure artist engagements as soon as possible. The deadline for confirming any engagements proposed for Mid Atlantic Tour funding is March 1, 2008, providing funds are still available.

For questions about the tour and funding information, contact Krista Bradley, Program Officer of Performing Arts at krista@midatlanticarts.org.

PennPAT Roster Artist Showcases

at the Performing Arts Exchange
Louisville, KY - September 26-29, 2007

David Parker was selected to perform a residency showcase on Friday, September 28, at 9:40 a.m., at the Kentucky International Convention Center - Room #216-217

Dubbed by The New York Times as the "Pied Piper of Sign," David Parker combines his magnetic energy with music, humor, movement and sign language to win the hearts of his audiences. His dynamic performances offer many messages, including self- esteem, creativity and leadership. "The only way to explain David is to send him out and let the whole world fall in love with him," exclaimed one presenter.

at Ohio Arts Presenters Network Showcase Conference
Newark, OH - October 21-23, 2007

Archedream for Humankind was selected to perform in the juried showcases on Tuesday, October 23 at 10 a.m. at the Midland Theatre.

Combining intricate hand-painted masks, costumes and movement in the glow of ultra-violet light, their performances are visually stunning and truly unique. ArcheDream is the culmination of South African artist Alan Bell and his collaboration with multi-media artist Glenn Weikert - addressing contemporary issues with accessible yet astonishing theater.

PennPAT Fee-Support and New Directions Grants

Upcoming Deadlines:

October 15, 2007: For projects scheduled between February 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009. Application form is currently available online.
February 15, 2008: For projects scheduled between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010. Applications must be submitted on the 2008 application form, available in late October 2007.

For more info and to apply, click here .

North Carolina:
A limited amount of support is available to North Carolina presenting organizations at the February 15, 2008 deadline. This funding is made possible through a partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council.

2008 PennPAT Artist Roster

Following a rigorous panel review, 15 artists have been added to the roster for 2008. For a list of the new artists, click here.

The 2008 roster book including all 155 artists as well as the guidelines and application forms for presenters will be published and mailed in early December 2007. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact PennPAT at info@pennpat.org and request to be added to the presenter mailing list.

Position Opening

PennPAT Program Associate - Marketing and Artist Services. Click here for a copy of the job description.