Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is pleased to announce its American Masterpieces Tour Roster for the 2008- 2009 season. American Masterpieces is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts ("NEA") designed to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural heritage. Repertoire and artists featured on the Foundation's tours represent iconic figures and works that are artistically, historically, and culturally significant. For the 2008-2009 season, the Foundation's American Masterpieces Tour will highlight the mid-Atlantic region's rich legacy of jazz, folk, and traditional music. Artists on this tour include:

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

McCoy Tyner - Grammy Award winning pianist and NEA Jazz Master

The Dixie Hummingbirds - Traditional gospel legends, Grammy Award winners, and NEA National Heritage Award Winners

Ralph Stanley - Bluegrass music icon, Grammy Award winner, NEA National Heritage Award Winner, and recipient of the National Medal of Arts

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

For more information about available tour subsidies contact Krista Bradley, Program Officer of Performing Arts at krista@midatlanticarts.org. Fee support grants are available on a first come, first-served basis.

As the Jazz Touring Network (JTN) approaches its eighth year in existence, the Foundation is expanding the program to include the participation of former JTN members to further its goal of increasing jazz presentation across the mid- Atlantic region. Alumni members have recently been invited to attend bi-annual network convenings; contribute to program-related information exchange and selection of touring artists; and participate in block-booked tours. While not sharing the same level of financial support through the program as current JTN members, alumni will benefit through access to professional development opportunities, peer networking, and potential savings on collaborative jazz touring projects. The Foundation is eager to welcome back alumni to a network of over 20 presenters building a stronger jazz touring infrastructure across the region. Click on the link below for more information on the program, including updated lists of current and alumni JTN members and tours.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation provides administrative services for the individual artist fellowship programs of the state arts agencies of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. For the coming year the Foundation has received over 2000 fellowship applications for consideration. During fall 2007, the Foundation will convene over 20 juried panels of experts in the visual, performing, and literary arts to review applicants' work. Categories being considered for this year among the four states include: painting, works on paper, new genres, media arts, choreography, dance and music performance, music composition, scriptworks, poetry, and fiction. Award winners will be announced by late March, 2008. Please check the Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania art council sites for award winners, past and present.

PennPAT Showcase at the Midwest Arts Conference

PennPAT Performs! Leon Bates and the Dixie Hummingbirds
Thursday, September 6, 2007 5:30- 6:15pm, with complimentary dinner buffet and open bar
9:45 - 11:00pm, with complimentary dessert and open bar
Franklin D Room of the Hyatt Regency Columbus, Columbus, Ohio

One of America's leading pianists, Leon Bates has been described as "a poet at the piano," by The New York Times. He has performed on major concert stages around the world, and is also known for his insightful residencies and work with young people.

Legendary performers of gospel music, the Dixie Hummingbirds have a history that spans 79 years and numerous awards, including a Grammy Award for Loves Me Like A Rock, written by Paul Simon.
(Photo of the Dixie Hummingbirds)

Position Opening

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

PennPAT Fee-Support and New Directions Grants deadlines

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

February 15, 2008: For projects scheduled between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010.

For more info and to apply, click here .

PennPAT Roster Artist Retreat

The PennPAT Roster Artist Retreat, held on August 5- 7, 2007 at Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse, was a huge success. It brought touring roster artists from various disciplines and regions together to get to know each other in a stimulating environment and to receive professional development. Consultants Neil Barclay, Denise Flynn Buczko, Ira Feldman, Ellis Finger, Mark Gisi, Derek E. Gordon, Jeanette Guinn, Jennifer Morris and Barbara Thompson met with artists one-on-one and gave presentations on booking, residency and outreach, website design, grant writing and creativity as well as special sessions focused on specific areas of touring. There were also many opportunities for artists to share their work. Comments from participants included: "It was my first year attending and it was a very valuable experience." "Each and every participant (artist or otherwise) was so helpful, friendly and willing to share what they found useful and successful for them. The retreat succeeded in creating a non-competitive platform for artists to come together!"

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation's Senior Program Officer/ PennPAT Director Katie West and Program Officer for the Performing Arts, Krista Bradley will be attending Southern Arts Federation's Performing Arts Exchange ("PAE") in Louisville, KY September 26 - 29 and serving as NALI®/National Arts Leadership Institute Professional Development workshop faculty while there. The Foundation will also have a booth in the Resource Room. Come to one of the NALI sessions presented by Foundation staff, stop by the Mid Atlantic booth #265 or PennPAT booth # 403, or schedule a curbside consultation to learn more about new programs and resources, provide feedback on programs and services or discuss funding opportunities and projects eligible for support. Visit the PAE website to register and schedule a consultation.