2026-2027 Regional Grants and Touring Artist Engagements Announced

Over $478,000 Awarded to Mid Atlantic Region Organizations
in Support of 109 Engagements and Projects

Collage of five artists and community members participating in grant programs.

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Baltimore – August 18, 2026 – Mid Atlantic region organizations are bringing an exciting mix of artists, projects, and community engagements to the region in 2026-2027 through Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grants, the Jazz Touring Network, Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives, and Mid Atlantic Tours. Grants totaling $478,945 will support 109 engagements from 2026-2027. All ten states and jurisdictions served by Mid Atlantic Arts – Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia – are represented in the grantee pool.

Funding for all four programs is made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Engagement Program.

Find out more about the grantees in your state here.

More information on the four programs, grantees, and engagements can be found at the links below.

Folk and Traditional Community Project Grants

Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects grants fund projects that support the vitality of traditional arts and cultures in the mid-Atlantic region. Eligible activities may include performances, public art collaborations, workshops/trainings, exhibits, fieldwork/documentation, and creation of new work.

In total, $197,980 will help support projects at 42 organizations. Some projects recommended for funding include: a series of panels and workshops exploring Go-Go music, a Haudenosaunee craft workshop series, a residency and apprenticeship with a Pakistani qawwali troupe, and more.

View all Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects on our website.

Jazz Touring Network

Jazz Touring Network (JTN) is a presenter-based membership program, comprising 19 organizations, designed to expand jazz presentation throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Mid Atlantic Arts pursues this objective through supporting professional development, building a robust network infrastructure, and providing performance fee subsidies for member-developed block-booked tours.

At the 2026 JTN Annual Meeting in New York, network members selected a group of artists for touring. This year’s artists are:

In total, $48,060 is recommended for engagement subsidies and an additional $3,000 for lead presenters for 2026-2027 tour support.

View a full list of JTN-supported engagements on our website.

Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives

Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives (MAPI) opens the former Special Presenter Initiatives program, which was limited to specific states and jurisdictions, to the entire mid-Atlantic region. Organizations applied for support to present a performing artist or company of their choice for a public performance and at least one additional community engagement activity. The recommendations include organizations from all ten Mid Atlantic Arts states and jurisdictions. A total of $199,905 has been awarded to 40 grantees. The projects recommended for funding include eight dance projects, 27 music projects, and five theater projects.

View a full list of grantees here.

Mid Atlantic Tours

Mid Atlantic Tours (MAT) is a curated roster program of performing artists and ensembles from countries in the Iberian peninsula and Latin America through Mid Atlantic Arts’ partnership with Ibermúsicas. Presenters located in the mid-Atlantic region who engage a roster artist during the project period for a public performance and community engagement activity receive up to 50% subsidy for the Roster Artist’s compensation.

This year, the roster artists are:

Fabiana Cozza | Brazil | Samba Singer
Las Áñez | Colombia | Colombian traditional and folk fused with pop and electronic music

The 2026-2027 Mid Atlantic Tours program will provide a total of $33,000 in support for 11 engagements in six of Mid Atlantic Arts’ states and jurisdictions.

Find a MAT engagement in your state on our website.

Header Image (l-r): Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna performing at the Park Theater Summer Concert Series in Glen Falls, NY. Credit: Jarron Childs; Credit: Joe Del Tufo – Moonloop Photography; Mid Atlantic Tours Roster Artist Fabiana Cozza. Credit: Marcos Hermes; Mid Atlantic Tours Roster Artist Las Añez. Credit: A.ndrés Garzón00; The CMCArts Children’s Parade Troupe performing in the St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival 2026 at a Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grants engagement. Credit: Team FaKtornize; Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis performs at Solar Myth for a JTN engagement. Credit: Ryan Collerd.

About Mid Atlantic Arts
Mid Atlantic Arts supports artists, presenters, and organizations through unique programming, grant support, partnerships, and information sharing. Created in 1979, Mid Atlantic Arts is aligned with the region’s state arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. We combine state and federal funding with private support from corporations, foundations, and individuals to nurture diverse artistic expression while connecting people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond. To learn more about Mid Atlantic Arts visit www.midatlanticarts.org.

Contact:
Mackenzie Kwok
Communications and Social Media Manager
Mid Atlantic Arts
mkwok@midatlanticarts.org
410.539.6656 x123