Press Releases

USArtists International Announces 2008 Second Round Grants
Program Supports U.S. Performing Artists at International Festivals

Baltimore, MD –July 9, 2008 - Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the second round grantees for the 2008/2009 cycle of USArtists International ("USAI"), a program designed to support performing artists from the United States at international festivals.

The grants will support 19 music and dance ensembles at 23 festival engagements in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Grantees range from The Rose Ensemble in Minnesota to Bang on a Can in New York and from Deborah Hay Dance Company in Texas to Oberlin Dance Collective in California. A complete list of funded ensembles can be found here.

The latest round of USAI will provide support for American dance and music ensembles that have been invited to participate in international festivals in the 50 nations of Europe.  Applicants must be designated by the I.R.S. as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, or have fiscal agents that are designated as such.

USAI is committed to ensuring that the impressive range of expression and creativity of American dance and music is represented internationally. The program works to strengthen the creative and professional development of American artists by providing support for their performances at significant festivals abroad. Through the participation of exemplary artists in international festivals, USAI helps develop audiences for, and appreciation of, the excellence, diversity, and vitality of the performing arts in the United States.

USArtists International is made possible through support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding for engagements in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe.

About Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation supports the richness and diversity of the region's arts resources and promotes wider access to the art and artists of the region, nation and world. The region includes nine states and jurisdictions that are closely related by geography or culture: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the U.S.Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Website: http://www.midatlanticarts.org

About the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.
Website: http://arts.endow.gov