Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the roster for its 2009-2010 American Masterpieces Tour: Cultural Currents. The tour celebrates the rich musical legacies that have emerged from diverse communities of the mid-Atlantic region. From salsa and roadhouse blues to Klezmer and bluegrass, the tour features artists who have cultivated their musical traditions, incorporated dashes of innovation, or mashed diverse and disparate forms to create something altogether new. Artists on this tour include:

• Cherish the Ladies - One of today's most successful and sought after Celtic music ensembles
• The Holmes Brothers - Blues and gospel legends
• The Klezmatics - Grammy Award-winning stars of the Klezmer world
• Music from the Crooked Road Tour: Mountain Music of Virginia - Bluegrass, mountain gospel and flat-foot dance
• Paquito D'Rivera and the Funk Tango Quintet - Grammy Award-winning Latin Jazz master and ensemble
• Tirtha - Jazz pianist Vijay Ijer with South Asian virtuosos performing on traditional and contemporary instruments

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. Interested presenters 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, 2009, 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.

Photo: The Holmes Brothers. Credit: Mary Ellen Mark

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation's Jazz Touring Network will convene its fall 2008 meeting on November 12-13, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. Current and alumni Network participants will receive Foundation support to attend the session, including a full-day seminar by noted arts consultant Ann Daly of Austin, Texas. Dr. Daly will present a framework for exploring brand identity, marketing and audience development specific to the Network members in attendance. To encourage participation in this special professional development opportunity, the Foundation is offering alumni members financial support for the first-time to attend a Network session. The meeting, which fosters dialogue between participating regional jazz presenters, will also include a presentation on utilizing new technology tools, and planning for block- book tours in 2009-2010. Please contact Sara Donnelly, Program Officer, Jazz at sara@midatlanticarts.org for further information.

Photo: Ann Daly

The 2009 ArtsCONNECT guidelines will soon be available for projects taking place between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. ArtsCONNECT supports tours of U.S.-based and international performing artists through presenter consortia. The program provides access to live performing arts engagements of excellence to audiences across the mid-Atlantic region and a deeper understanding of artists' work through support of public performances and activities that enhance the concert experience. Presenters eligible for support 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.

Consortia must include at least three presenting organizations from a minimum of two mid-Atlantic states collaborating to bring the same artist to their communities. Applications that include presenting organizations from three or more states within the region served by the Foundation will be given priority consideration.

Photo: A tour of The Ahn Trio was supported through the 2008-2009 ArtsCONNECT program. Credit: Arthur Elgort

If you're interested in submitting an ArtsCONNECT application next spring or joining a consortium of presenters considering an ArtsCONNECT project, please send an email to Krista Bradley, Program Officer, Performing Arts at krista@midatlanticarts.org.

As consortia projects develop, the Foundation will work to facilitate information exchange about such projects to others who might be interested in being part of an ArtsCONNECT application in 2009. Notice about projects in development will be made available throughout the fall and winter to those expressing interest, so they can pursue opportunities and connect with colleagues in the field, if desired.

OAPN showcases
PennPAT staff will be exhibiting at the Ohio Arts Presenters Network conference in Elyria, OH on October 26-28, 2008. Roster artists Kenia and Bradley Litwin will be showcasing during the conference. Visit our website for more information.

New Roster Artists and Roster Book
PennPAT has added 12 artists to the roster in the genres of dance, music and theater. The new artists will be included in the 2009 roster book which will be mailed later this fall. If you would like a copy of the book, please sign up for our mailing list by emailing info@pennpat.org. Additionally, audio and video samples of the new artists will be online at www.pennpat.org later this fall.

Summer Presenter Grants
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation awarded $28,141 in PennPAT grants for 22 engagements with 16 PennPAT roster artists. Click here to read the press release and view the grant list.

Presenter Travel Grants
Experience performances by PennPAT roster artists with travel support. Click here for details.

Photo: PennPAT Roster Artist Brad Litwin. Credit: Judy Kolodzey.

PA Presenters will be holding their annual Block Booking Meeting on November 10 -11, 2008 at the Atherton Hotel in State College, Pennsylvania. Presenters from across the mid-Atlantic region are welcomed to attend. The meeting is an inclusive, participatory and useful one for presenters inside and outside of Pennsylvania whether large or small, mid- sized, summer, independent, university or municipal presenters. Plus, it's fun.

The focus of the meeting is on building networks between presenters based on projects of mutual interest, including potential ArtsCONNECT applications to Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Registration will begin at 2:30 pm on November 10, 2008 with a pitch session scheduled from 4 - 6pm. The session is an opportunity to learn about major projects brewing that you might want to join and a forum to pitch projects that you are considering presenting.

Registration is $95 which includes the meeting, a nice dinner to get folks talking, Continental Breakfast and a box lunch. Rates for the Atherton Hotel are $75 a night and the room block is being held until October 15. For more information, contact Catherine Little at cathy@papresenters.org.

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation will celebrate the contributions of jazz musician and educator Kenny Barron at the BNY Mellon Jazz 2008 Living Legacy Award at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Kicking off at 7:30 pm, guests will enjoy Benny Golson at 80 honoring 2007 Legacy awardee Benny Golson in the Eisenhower Theatre. Taking the stage on the eve of his 80th birthday, Benny Golson will be joined by an all-star lineup, ready to trace his incredible musical journey through live performance, photo montages, video greetings, and personal reminiscences. The concert features three other Kennedy Center Living Jazz Legends: bassist Ron Carter and saxophonist Curtis Fuller--also both NEA Jazz Masters--as well as five-time Grammy-winning vocalist Al Jarreau. The program also includes the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, led by musical director John Clayton.

Following the concert, guests will adjourn to the newly refurbished Kennedy Center Atrium for the BNY Mellon Jazz 2008 Living Legacy Award presentation to jazz master Kenny Barron and a gala reception. In honor of Mid Atlantic's 30th Anniversary and the 15th Anniversary of the Living Legacy Award, previous Legacy winners will join us as our guests for the evening. Past awardees include: Oliver Lake, Rufus Reid, Randy Weston, Jimmy Heath, Reggie Workman, Dr. Donald Byrd, Larry Ridley, Barry Harris, Clark Terry, and Dr. Billy Taylor. Additionally, performers from the Benny Golson at 80 show will be joining us for our celebration.

This will truly be an evening to remember and we want you to be a part of it. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation currently has tables of 10 and single tickets available - what a great way to to spend an evening while supporting Mid Atlantic as we kick off our 30th Anniversary! For more information, please contact Karen Newell at karen@midatlanticarts.org or via telephone at 410.539.6656 x104 with your ticket needs. But hurry, these tickets will go fast!

email: karen@midatlanticarts.org

web: http://www.midatlanticarts.org