Introduction

The Special Presenter Initiatives provide additional opportunities for the support of small to mid-sized performing arts presenters in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Native nations that share this geography.

Fee support is available for engagements of performing artists based anywhere worldwide. Engagements include performances as well as community activities that offer meaningful exchanges between touring artists and a presenter’s community.

Presenters based in partner states/jurisdictions listed above can receive up to 50% subsidy for the presentation of an artist/company plus support for other eligible project expenses.

Grant support range: Engagement support of up to 50% of artists fees. Minimum of $750. Maximum of $2,000 in DC, DE, and WV. Maximum of $5,000 in PR and USVI. Additionally, presenters may request eligible expenses of up to $2,000 to support direct project expenses.

The Special Presenter Initiatives are offered in partnership with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA), The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP), the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA), and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History (WVDCH).

Eligibility and Schedule

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Special Presenter Initiatives grant award, presenters must:

  • be based in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and the Native nations that share this geography;
  • be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or be a unit of state or local government or Federally recognized Indian tribal government;
  • demonstrate organizational administrative capacity to complete all required project components;
  • be in good standing with Mid Atlantic Arts at the time of application, with no overdue or outstanding required reports and/or grant documents;
  • not be a State/Jurisdictional Arts Agency, considering the adjudication role Agencies play in the selection process for this program

Review full program guidelines for more details on program structure and eligibility.

Schedule

  • November 13, 2023: Application opens
  • December 5, 2023; 1:00-2:00pm ET: Special Presenter Initiatives Webinar | Click here to view recording
  • March 14, 2024: Application deadline
  • July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025: Project period for projects awarded Special Presenter Initiatives funding

Guidelines and Application

The guidelines below are for information purposes only.  The deadline to apply to the Special Presenter Initiatives program was Thursday, March, 14, 2024.

Note: The preview Special Presenter Initiatives narrative questions below are for reference only. Applicants must apply for Special Presenter Initiatives through Mid Atlantic Arts’ SmartSimple platform.

Guidelines, Application, and Webinar Recording

Display caption

Image: Lankum. Credit: Courtesy of the artist.

Current Grantees

See the full list of 2023-2024 Special Presenter Initiatives grantees and engagements.

Panelists

For this program, Mid Atlantic Arts works with a panel of independent reviewers to recommend applications for funding. To be considered as a panelist for this and other programs, complete our Panelist Interest Form. You only need to complete the form once to be considered for multiple programs. Click here to access the Panelist Interest Form.

Opportunity & Support Type
Grant
Target Candidate
Performing Arts Presenter, Units of government, Federally-recognized Indian tribal government
Discipline
Folklife & Traditional Arts
Performing Arts
Regional Requirement
DC
DE
PR
USVI
WV
Questions or need guidance?
Sarah Lewitus
Program Director, Performing Arts and Accessibility Coordinator
Funding support provided by:
  • National Endowment for the Arts Logo. Black copy with a red and blue stacked line running underneath.