ArtsCONNECT

About

Shot from behind the audience, a group of six artists in street clothes sit across the front of a stage, their legs hanging down from the edge. Behind them, two large panels show maps of the world. We can see the backs of the audience member heads as they face the stage.
Photo: The University of Richmond’s Modlin Center for the Arts (Richmond, VA) hosted an audience Q&A with Kaneza Schall & Christopher Myers CARTOGRAPHY with support from ArtsCONNECT. Credit: Shannon Hooker.

ArtsCONNECT supports touring projects collaboratively developed by presenters working together in the mid-Atlantic region. The tours include performances as well as complementary engagement activities designed to create greater understanding or connections between artists, audiences, and communities. 

The 2024-2025 ArtsCONNECT guidelines and application will be available in Fall 2023.  

Presenters located in the mid-Atlantic region who partner to present the same artist/company during the project period can each receive up to 50% subsidy for that artist/company’s compensation (including artistic compensation, housing, per diem and travel) plus support for other eligible project expenses. 

Mid Atlantic Arts is committed to supporting diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible programming in our region. Projects that demonstrate clear mission impact, strong artistry, well-rounded community and artist engagements, and thoughtful and inclusive efforts to engage audiences systemically underserved by the arts are encouraged to apply. 

ArtsCONNECT program timeline:

  • Fall 2023: Application opens; Projects in Development listing available 
  • November 16, 2023, 11:00am-12:00pm : ArtsCONNECT webinar | Click here to register 
  • January 25, 2024, 1:00-3:00pm ET: ArtsCONNECT Presenter Pitch Session | Registration available in Fall 2023 
  • February 15, 2024: Projects in Development listing closes 
  • March 7, 2024: Application deadline 
  • July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025: Project period for projects awarded ArtsCONNECT funding 

Questions? Contact Sarah Lewitus, Program Director, Performing Arts and Accessibility, at slewitus@midatlanticarts.org.

ArtsCONNECT is made possible through support from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.

Guidelines and Application

The deadline for the 2023-2024 ArtsCONNECT program was March 2, 2023. The guidelines and documents below are for information purposes only.

GUIDELINES 

Download ArtsCONNECT Guidelines as a PDF (link opens in a new window) 
Download ArtsCONNECT Guidelines as an accessible Word document (click link to download) 

APPLICATION NARRATIVE PREVIEW QUESTIONS  

Download a preview copy of ArtsCONNECT narrative questions as a PDF (link opens in a new window) 
Download a preview copy of ArtsCONNECT narrative questions as an accessible Word document (click link to download) 

WEBINAR
View a recording of the December 6, 2022 ArtsCONNECT program overview webinar.
View a transcript of the December 6, 2022 ArtsCONNECT webinar.

Projects in Development

The Projects in Development listing is a user-generated information hub that includes consortia projects currently in development for ArtsCONNECT. Presenter participation in the Projects in Development listing is required: one presenter in a consortium must submit the project to the listing. 

The Projects in Development listing and submission page will be available when the 2024-2025 ArtsCONNECT guidelines are released in Fall 2023. 

Current Grantees & Tours

Color rectangular collage of 14 performing artists.

2023-2024

Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, NY 

Cécile McLorin Salvant, NY

Edisa Weeks/DELIRIOUS Dances, NY

Hamid Rahmanian, NY

Hub New Music, MI

Mariachi Herencia de México, IL

Matana Roberts Coin Coin Chapter 4: Memphis, NY

Rennie Harris Puremovement, PA

San Jose Taiko, CA

slowdanger, PA

Small Island Big Song, Australia

Sphinx Virtuosi, MI

Yamandu Costa, Portugal

Ying Quartet and Xavier Foley, NY

Please check with the performance venue to confirm dates and times, and for ticket information.

Photo Collage: (top row, l-r) Edisa Weeks. Credit: Mary Weeks; Mariachi Herencia de México. Credit: Courtesy of the Artist; Sphinx Virtuosi. Credit: Scott Jackson; (top) Hamid Rahmanian. Credit: Courtesy of Richard Termine; (bottom) Hub New Music. Credit: Clay Larson; (middle row, l-r) Arturo O’Farrill. Credit: Laura Mariet; Matana Roberts Coin Coin Chapter 4: Memphis. Credit: Anna Niedermeier; slowdanger. Credit: Mariah Miranda; Small Island Big Song. Credit: Gelée Lai; Cécile McLorin Salvant. Credit: Shawn Michael Jones; (bottom row, l-r) Ying Quartet and Xavier Foley. Credit: Todd Maturazzo; Rennie Harris Puremovement. Credit: Brian Mengini; San Jose Taiko. Credit: Mark Shigenaga, courtesy of San Jose Taiko; Yamandu Costa. Credit: Courtesy of the Artist.

Panelists

If you are interested in serving as a panelist for ArtsCONNECT, please email Program Director Sarah Lewitus at slewitus@midatlanticarts.org with your name and a short bio for consideration. 

2023-2024 Program Panelists 

2022-2023 Program Panelists 

2021-2022 Program Panelists

Manage Your Grant

Virtual Engagement Guidelines 

Acknowledging the performing arts’ ongoing reality of utilizing virtual platforms for performance and other engagement, Mid Atlantic Arts will continue to take a flexible approach to our program policies for grantees through June 30, 2024 (timeline may be extended). While we believe that live, in-person performances are hard to replace, we also acknowledge that adaptive virtual approaches will ensure continued access to arts experiences. In some cases, engaging virtually may be preferential over in-person—for example, to increase access for audiences and/or artists across geographies and for people with disabilities.  

Please read the Virtual Engagement Guide linked below to understand the requirements of presenting your funded engagement as a virtual presentation: 

Mid Atlantic Arts Virtual Engagement Guide as a PDF (link opens in a new window)
Mid Atlantic Arts Virtual Engagement Guide as an accessible Word document (Click link to download)

Changes in Project Proposal 

Changes in the content, schedule, or budget set forth in the Application must be submitted in writing to Mid Atlantic Arts before being implemented with the exception of those listed below.  

Changes that do not require approval: 

  1. The change of switching to a virtual presentation if this change meets the requirements included in the Virtual Engagement Guidance available on our website in the Manage Your Grant tab on our website. 
  1. Changes in project venues or touring locations, as long as: all project locations are fully accessible in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, or specific accommodations will be made appropriately (see Section 8; Compliance with Statutes and Regulations); and, the constituency to be reached is the same as originally approved. 
  1. Addition or removal of auxiliary programming that was not included in the Application as long as it does not impact the overall project scope 
  1. Revisions to the budget of non-artist fee line item expenses as long as a 1:1 match is maintained. 
  1. Revisions to the budget of income sources as long as a 1:1 match is maintained. 

Payment 

Please see your Grant Award Agreement for terms of payment. 

Grantee may elect to receive all grant payments by ACH electronic funds transfer. If you wish to sign up for ACH payments, download the ACH Authorization Form and follow the instructions on the form. 

Funding Acknowledgement and Crediting

Acknowledgement and Crediting requirements were included as Exhibit A of the Grant Award Agreement.

Grantees must clearly acknowledge support from Mid Atlantic Arts through use of both the credit language and logo as outlined below. Use of the Mid Atlantic Arts logo does not replace the credit language. Copies of the required crediting materials must be submitted as part of the final report.

Credit and Logo Usage Details

The following statement and the Mid Atlantic Arts logo MUST appear in all programs, websites and press releases produced by the funded organization or its agents in relation to the funded project. In addition, the following statement and the Mid Atlantic Arts logo should be included whenever possible, either jointly or separately as necessary, in all flyers and postcards, email communications, season brochures, social media posts and calendars, and any other print or electronic promotional and publicity materials produced by the funded organization or its agents in relation to the funded project.

This statement must be used in its entirety and cannot be altered in any way.

This engagement of [ARTIST] is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Website Link

Grantees are required to include a link to the Mid Atlantic Arts website at www.midatlanticarts.org when crediting Mid Atlantic Arts on their website. This link MUST remain active during the entire length of your grant period with Mid Atlantic Arts. You are requested, but not required, to embed the link in Mid Atlantic Arts’ logo. 

Final Reports

Grantees are required to submit a final report which is due thirty (30) days after the end of the grant period on record as listed in the Grant Award Agreement. 

For questions about your grant and the crediting or final reporting requirements, contact Delise White, Support Specialist at delise@midatlanticarts.org or 410.539.6656 x112. 

For grants awarded for program year 2022 and earlier (5 digit grant number starting with a 3): 

Final report requirements and instructions were included as Exhibit B of the Grant Award Agreement. 

Final reports are to be completed online using the Mid Atlantic Arts’ eGRANT portal at https://midatlanticarts.egrant.net.  

The eGRANT account used to submit the application for the grant must be used to complete the final report. If you do not remember your login and/or password, please use the “Forgot Password?” link on the login page just above the log in fields. 

For grants awarded for program year 2023 and later (8 digit grant numbers starting with “2023-”): 

Final reports are to be completed online using the Mid Atlantic Arts’ grant portal at https://midatlanticarts.smartsimple.com.  

The SmartSimple account used to submit the application for the grant must be used to complete the final report. If you do not remember your login and/or password, please use the “Forgot Password?” link on the SmartSimple portal page, below the purple “Log In” button, to reset your password.