Introduction

Iber Exchange is designed to increase availability of international music programming throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and to promote a greater understanding of other cultures through the performing arts.

Iber Exchange provides fee support grants to nonprofit presenters located in the mid-Atlantic region that contract artists as part of the Iber Exchange program in collaboration with the Ibermúsicas organization. All funded engagements are required to include a public performance and a community engagement activity that creates interaction between audiences and visiting artists.

Eligibility and Schedule

Eligibility

  • Be based in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Native nations that share this geography.
  • Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a unit of state or local government or Federally recognized Indian tribal government. Units of state or local government must provide a document on official letterhead to confirm status as a government entity. Fiscal sponsorship is not permitted for this program.
  • Be in good standing with Mid Atlantic Arts at the time of application, with no overdue or outstanding required reports and/or grant documents.

Schedule

This is an annual opportunity.

  • Booking Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2024
  • Grant Notifications: July 1, 2024
  • Touring Period: July 1, 2024-June 20, 2025

Guidelines and Application

HOW TO RECEIVE A GRANT AWARD

  • Review the program guidelines below and the artist roster.
  • Contact the artist’s tour agent and negotiate the performance and artist-involved community engagement activities.
  • Send a signed offer letter to the agent by April 15, 2024 that includes the presenter’s name and contact information, public performance and community engagement date(s), negotiated inclusive fee, and recommended grant support amount as negotiated with the artist’s agent.
  • Be tentatively recommended for a grant (up to 50% of negotiated fee) and complete a brief online form including details about your organization and the engagement, including planned artist-involved community engagement.
  • Mid Atlantic Arts will contact you in June to verify details and confirm your grant.

ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

In order to receive fee support grants a presenting organization must:

  • Enter into a contract with an Ibermúsicas-selected artist for at least one public performance and at least one community engagement activity that builds appreciation for the performance or art form and provides the public with opportunities for direct interaction with the visiting artists. Presenters will be selected on the strength of their proposed activity engagement as well as compelling outreach to their community. Community engagement activities may include, but are not limited to, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, workshops, and pre- or post-performance discussions. The activity offered must involve the featured artist(s). Presenters must discuss the community engagement activity and the artist’s involvement and include these activities in their negotiations. Presenters must provide details on community engagement plans before being confirmed for a grant award.

Guidelines and Webinar Recording

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Image: Caña Dulce y Caña Brava. Credit: Courtesy of the artist.

See the 2023-2024 Iber Exchange Tours grantees.

2024-2025 Artist Roster

Heloísa Fernandes Quartet (Brazil) 

Group shot of four musicians shot from above. The musicians hold their instruments and are shot from above around a large grand piano.

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Image: Heloisa Fernandes Quartet. Credit: Paulo Rapoport.

Brazilian pianist and composer Heloísa Fernandes encapsulates the essence of freedom in her music, a harmonious blend of literature, poetry, nature, classical music, jazz, and Brazilian rhythms that mold her distinct identity, seamlessly flowing into her compositions. Her creations, described as both strong and original, effortlessly bridge ancient and modern influences, blossoming with rhythmic vitality and melodic delicacy. She is a Visa Brazilian Music Award recipient and a celebrated finalist, known for critically acclaimed albums like “Fruto,” “Candeias,” and “Inzu.” With a rich repertoire, collaborations, and contributions to award-winning projects like the Ms Mozart initiative, recognized at D&AD in London in 2021, Fernandes continues to make a profound impact on the world stage.   

Watch: https://www.heloisafernandes.com/video-1 

Web: Website | Instagram | Spotify  

Click here for Tech Rider

To book, contact: Michael Grofsorean | mgrofsorean@gmail.com 

 

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna (Chile) 

Color photo of a woman joyously playing an accordion on a large outdoor stage. To her left, a figure in a skeleton costume sits.

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Image: Pascuala Ilabaca. Credit: Courtesy of the artist.

With an accordion in hand and her band Fauna in tow, Chilean singer-songwriter Pascuala Ilabaca brings an anthemic power and an air of socially conscious solidarity to every stage she graces. Recently signed to Warner Music, Ilabaca’s music is representative of a unique and contemporary take on the Chilean musical tradition.   

Chile’s and Latin America’s folkloric sounds are the foundation of Pascuala Ilabaca & Fauna’s music, but the wide breath of their musical talent is explored through fusion with rock, jazz, pop, funk, and even Indian classical music, which Pascuala has studied for years in India. With a repertoire that is moving, joyous and oh-so-danceable and an electric stage presence, the band embodies the spirit of current Latin American and global music. The excitement for this powerhouse band has been felt at festivals and venues across the world, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Womad, Lollapalooza Chile and the Berliner Philharmoniker. 

Watch: El Baile del Kkoyaruna 

Web: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify 

Click here for Tech Rider

To book, contact: Justine Bayod Espoz | Justine@ToritoArtists.com 

 

Rancho Aparte (Colombia) 

Color photo of a large group of musicians in brighly colored clothers perform . Lights are visible along the stage and a bright backdrop is behind them.

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Image: Rancho Aparte. Credit: Courtesy of the artist.

Rancho Aparte  hailing from Quibdo, the capitol city of Colombia’s Chocó Department Pacific region – is considered to be Colombia’s foremost Chirimía brass band. The ensemble’s rousing stage show is a favorite throughout Colombia and the world-over and has excited audiences at the recent Petronio Alvarez Festival in Cali, Colombia and as far away as Japan’s FujiRock Festival and the WOMEX Festival in Budapest, Hungary. Rancho Aparte’s 2024-2025 tour will bring their abozaos, polkas, danzas, rebulú, Contradanzas, Jugas, and other indigenous rhythms to the USA and Canada, and will mark a rare opportunity to present Colombia’s chirimía brass band music to North American audiences.

Watch: Poniéndote a Gozar  

Web: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify 

Click here for Tech Rider 

To book, contact: David Gaar | david@freshenuparts.com 

Opportunity & Support Type
Grant
Target Candidate
Federally-recognized Indian tribal government, Units of government, Members of Art Agencies, Performing Arts Presenter
Discipline
Performing Arts
Regional Requirement
DC
DE
MD
NJ
NY
PA
PR
USVI
VA
WV
Questions or need guidance?
Andrew Alness Olson
Program Director, International
Stephanie Reyes
Program Associate, Fellowships and International
Funding support provided by:
  • National Endowment for the Arts Logo. Black copy with a red and blue stacked line running underneath.
  • Ibermuscias logo