USArtists International
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About
USArtists International supports in-person and virtual performances by American artists at engagements at international festivals and global presenting arts marketplaces outside of the United States. The program funds individuals and ensembles across all performing arts practices and disciplines.
USArtists International is designed to encourage the presence of U.S. performing artists on international stages and in the global arts community; to support engagements that develop and expand both the careers and artistic goals of U.S. performers by providing connections with presenters, curators, and fellow artists; and to promote justice in the arts community by elevating the diverse voices contributing to the vibrant array of creative expression in the United States.
USAI provides grants of up to $18,000 toward eligible expenses; please reference the guidelines for further detail.
USArtists International is a program of Mid Atlantic Arts through the generous funding of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and The Trust for Mutual Understanding.
Guidelines
The guidelines below are for information purposes only. Information on the 2024 USAI deadline cycle will be available in summer 2023.
USArtists International Guidelines 2022 – 2023 (PDF – opens in a new tab)
USArtists International Guidelines 2022 – 2023 (Word – opens in a new tab)
Work Sample Preparation Guide 2022 – 2023 (PDF – opens in a new tab)
Work Sample Preparation Guide 2022 – 2023 (Word – opens in a new tab)
USAI Budget Instructions
USArtists International FAQ
Other International Resources and Opportunities
Deadlines
The application deadlines for USArtists International (USAI) 2022 – 2023 are:
CLOSED: September 6, 2022 by 11:59 PM Eastern
For projects taking place between December 15, 2022 and December 14, 2023.
Certification sheets and letters of invitation are due by September 8, 2022.
CLOSED: November 30, 2022 by 11:59 PM Eastern
For projects taking place between March 15, 2023 and March 14, 2024.
Certification sheets and letters of invitation are due by December 7, 2022.
CLOSED: March 29, 2023 by 11:59 PM Eastern
For projects taking place between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Certification sheets and letters of invitation are due by April 5, 2023.
To receive deadline reminders and program updates, please sign up for our newsletter.
COVID-19
Mid Atlantic Arts seeks to serve artists and arts organizations with flexibility as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact countries globally.
Travel Track
Mid Atlantic Arts will accept applications to the USArtists International program that seek travel funding to perform internationally and otherwise meet the eligibility requirements outlined in these guidelines. Panel scoring will continue to only include the reviewable criteria detailed in the program guidelines, and will not incorporate the likelihood of a performance due to circumstances beyond the applicant’s control. Applicants should communicate with Mid Atlantic Arts staff about any changes to an engagement after an application is submitted. Due to the involvement of federal funds, any news about festival postponement, cancellation, or live performances becoming virtual should be discussed with staff.
Virtual Track
Artists and ensembles whose otherwise-eligible international festival engagements have already determined that an in-person festival is impossible and have decided to offer the festival virtually are also permitted to apply for funding. Grantees that are awarded grants for travel and are later unable to travel may shift to the virtual track with staff approval. Revisions to the submitted budget will be required in this case. Please contact staff if you have any questions about virtual track eligibility.
USArtists International and Mid Atlantic Arts prioritize artist health and safety. Grantees will not be penalized by Mid Atlantic Arts if they cannot or choose not to perform at a festival for which they have received a grant. Should a grantee be unable to travel for any reason, options regarding grant funds are subject to federal guidance from the National Endowment for the Arts. Grantees that choose to travel do so at their own risk. Whether the engagement for which you are seeking funding is planned for an international destination or virtually, please check and abide by all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and official health sources in the country of destination.
Iber Exchange
New this year, Mid Atlantic Arts has partnered with Ibermúsicas to increase artistic exchange between the Americas and beyond. As part of this initiative, significant non-festival performance engagements will be eligible for support through USArtists International in Ibermúsicas’ 2022 member countries as listed in the USAI program guidelines. Eligible performance engagements will need to meet all guideline and application requirements for USArtists International, except for being an international festival. Applications will be reviewed as part of the standard USAI panel process and competitive applications will strongly meet program criteria. Applicants seeking support for non-festival engagements in these countries must review the program guidelines and contact staff at least 72 hours before the application deadline to confirm eligibility before applying.
Fiscal Sponsorship
USArtists International guidelines require applicants without 501(c)3 nonprofit status to apply using a US-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Nonprofit organizations serving as fiscal sponsors must provide this service as part of their regular operations, and this service must be available to any artist that meets the respective organizations’ published criteria for fiscal sponsorship. Fiscal sponsors do not have to be located in your state of residence. The links provided below are resources for potential applicants and the organizations are not affiliated or endorsed by Mid Atlantic Arts. Fiscal sponsors do not have to be found through these resources in order to meet USArtists International guidelines. To learn more about fiscal sponsorship and securing a fiscal sponsor, visit:
Fiscal Sponsorship 101: Fiscal Sponsorship Resources by Grantspace / en Español
Information on seeking and providing fiscal sponsorship: National Network of Fiscal Sponsors
A non-comprehensive directory of fiscal sponsors nationwide: San Francisco Study Center’s Fiscal Sponsor Directory
Want to learn more?
USArtists International Webinar: Am I eligible?
View a Recording (hyperlink opens new tab to YouTube video).
Are you a solo artist or performing arts ensemble considering an application to the USArtists International grant program? This webinar is for you, whether you’ve applied before or this is your first-time hearing about USAI. You’ll leave this webinar with a clear understanding of the program guidelines, timeline, and what is needed to be eligible for funding.
USArtists International Webinar: Application Tips and Pointers
View a Recording (hyperlink opens new tab to YouTube video).
Attend this webinar and learn some tips on how to use the Mid Atlantic Arts grant portal to submit your USAI application.
Learn more about presenting international artists or performing abroad by visiting our international resources page.
Current Grantees
FY23 Round Two
Amirtha Kidambi/Elder Ones, NY
Ciclo Nova, Colombia
Festival Ecuador Jazz, Ecuador
Strange Music Festival, Brazil
Aszure Barton, WA
International Summer Festival Kampnagel, Germany
Company | E, DC
Choreographic Days of Carthage Festival, Tunisia
Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival, Palestine
Dallas Black Dance Theatre, TX
Dance Fest Skopje, Macedonia
Dorrance Dance, NY
Kuopio Dance Festival, Finland
Elevator Repair Service Theater, NY
Avignon Festival, France
Gao Hong, MN
International Meeting of Folklore, Spain
Geoff Sobelle, NY
Rising Melbourne, Australia
Gibney Company, NY
Fall for Dance Festival North, Canada
icarus Quartet, MD
São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival, Brazil
Jamaaladeen Tacuma, PA
Tanja Fraja, Morocco
Kizuna Dance, NY
Let’s Dance International Frontiers Festival, United Kingdom
Kronos Quartet, CA
Paris Philharmonic String Quartet Biennial, France
Live the Spirit Residency Band, IL
Poetry Africa, South Africa
Los Hacheros, NY
Primavera Sound, Spain
Michael Winograd and the Honorable Mentshn, NY
Jewish Culture Festival, Poland
Nick Photinos, IL
International New Music Week, Romania
Oyu Oro Afro Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble, NY
World Music and Dance Festival, Japan
Rebellion(s), IL
Double Bill Belges, Belgium
Jazzdor Festival Berlin-Strasbourg-Dresden, Germany
Sarah Hennies, NY
Archipel, Switzerland
Siudy Flamenco Dance Theater, Inc., FL
Sanchez Aguilar Theater, Ecuador
TAK ensemble, NY
Int-Act Festival, Thailand
Teatro Círculo, NY
Classics in Alcala, Spain
Tempesta di Mare, PA
International Fasch Festival Zerbst, Germany
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, LA
Bern Jazz Festival, Switzerland
The Dancing Wheels Company, OH
Ready to Dance, Costa Rica
Third Coast Percussion, IL
Toolbox International Creative Academy Festival, Hong Kong
Panelists
Mid Atlantic Arts panelists serve as individuals and their professional affiliations are listed solely for context. Affiliations and locations were correct at the time of panel service.
Festival Database
Interested in connecting with an international festival? Visit our festival database. Please note that being listed in the festival database does not guarantee eligibility for USArtists International. Festivals not listed in the database may still be eligible for the program. Carefully review program guidelines to ensure eligibility.
Manage Your Grant
Changes in Project Proposal
Any changes in the content, schedule, or budget of your project as proposed must be submitted in writing for approval prior to being implemented. Requested changes must be submitted to Phillip Harmon, Grants and Operations Officer, at phillip@midatlanticarts.org.
Funding Acknowledgement and Crediting
Acknowledgement and Crediting requirements were included as Exhibit A of the Grant Award Agreement.
Artists/ensembles 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 materials must be submitted as part of the final report.
Credit and Logo Usage
The following statement and the Mid Atlantic Arts logo MUST appear on artist/ensemble websites and any print and electronic publicity or promotional materials created by the artist/ensemble.
The following statement and the Mid Atlantic Arts logo should be included in Festival programs, calendars and promotional materials, whenever possible, either jointly or separately as necessary.
- This statement must be used in its entirety and cannot be altered in any way.
This engagement is supported by Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mellon Foundation.
Website Link
Artists/ensembles are required to include a link to the Mid Atlantic Arts website at https://www.midatlanticarts.org when crediting Mid Atlantic Arts on their website. This link MUST remain active during the entire length of your grant. You are requested, but not required, to embed the link in Mid Atlantic Arts’ logo.
Final Reports
Final report requirements and instructions were included as Exhibit B of the Grant Award Agreement.
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.
Final reports are to be completed online using the Mid Atlantic Arts Arts’ eGRANT system at https://midatlanticarts.egrant.net. Please read the instructions in the eGRANT system carefully.
The 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 link on the eGRANT login page to retrieve the information.
For questions about your grant and the crediting or final reporting requirements, contact Phillip Harmon, Director of Operations, at phillip@midatlanticarts.org or 410.539.6656 x109.