Mid Atlantic Tours Roster Announced!

Mid Atlantic Tours brings performing arts ensembles to communities across the mid-Atlantic region, in partnership with Ibermúsicas. Non-profit presenters in our region can book an artist from our annually-curated roster and receive grant support of up to 50% of the artist fee. This year’s roster artists are: Las Áñez from Colombia and Fabiana Cozza from Brazil.

Las Áñez is a duo who blend folklore and the avant-garde. Both sisters sing on all their songs, half of which are composed and arranged by each of them, and they are the producers of their first three albums. Juanita plays the cuatro and percussion, and Valentina is a pianist and percussionist. 

Fabiana Cozza is a singer and samba artist. She brings the ancient samba in her hands and in her voice, an echo from the terreiros where the old Afro traditions meet, the colors of Bahia and rhythm from the samba circles in Rio de Janeiro.

Bring Las Áñez and Fabiana Cozza to your communities!

Images (left to right): Las Áñez. Credit: Andrés Garzón; Fabiana Cozza. Credit: Sofia Colucci.

Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives Program Launch

Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives (MAPI) opens the former Special Presenter Initiatives program, which was limited to specific states and jurisdictions, to the larger mid-Atlantic region. Now, eligible engagements can take place all across our region in states including 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.

The program supports performing arts engagements including public performance and community engagement at small and mid-size arts and community organizations.

For the program guidelines and timeline, visit our website.

Image: Saxophonist Brian LeNair performs "For God So Loved The World" with the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale under the direction of Dr. J. Donald Dumpson at a Special Presenters Initiative. Credit: Garrett Thomas.

CALT Experiences Application Opens Soon!

Applications are almost open for our Central Appalachian Living Traditions (CALT) Experiences Grants! CALT Experiences supports public-facing projects and events in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)-designated counties of Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia that bring community members together around traditional arts and cultural knowledge.

Activities can include:

• hands-on learning experiences/workshops 
• public art projects 
• exhibitions 
• performances or performance series 
• film/video 
• radio broadcasts or podcasts 
• archival collections or fieldwork with a significant public-facing component  

Applications will open on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Keep up with program webinars and guidelines here.

Image: DOA Crew leads hip-hop movement workshops at The Wade Center after-school program in Bluefield, WV. Credit: Eric Proffitt.

International Program Webinar Videos Available

In case you missed it, we have launched a USArtists International Professional Development Series for emerging and mid-career, U.S.-based artists who are looking to expand their international touring experience. Previous webinars include:

• U.S. Taxes on Income Earned Abroad
• Stories and Strategies for International Dance Touring
• Introduction to International Contracts

Recordings of these webinars are all available on our YouTube channel. Watch them online here on our USAI Professional Development playlist!

Other National Opportunities

NEA Creative Forces

Applications are now open for the Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants. This national program engages military-connected individuals through experiences of art or art-making. 

These grants of $10,000 to $25,000 support community arts programs that create opportunities for creative expression, resilience, social connectedness, and successful adaptation to civilian life. 

Creative Forces is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA). 

Applications are due Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Learn more and apply here.

Shakespeare in Communities

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of Shakespeare in American Communities, a national program that offers support to nonprofit theater companies bringing performances and educational activities to their communities.

What is it?

Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program that provides grants to nonprofit theater organizations in the U.S. to present high-quality productions and educational activities based on Shakespeare’s works. There are three grant opportunities available: the Schools program, Juvenile Justice program, and Apprenticeships program.

Who can apply?

Nonprofit theater organizations with at least two years of relevant experience for their chosen grant opportunity. Take a short eligibility quiz to find out which opportunity is the best fit for your organization.

Where?

Your organization must be located and operate within the United States or the Native Nations that share this geography. 

When to apply?

A mandatory Intent to Apply is due Thursday, January 29, 2026, with final applications due Thursday, February 12, 2026. 

Learn more here.

NEA Big Read

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of the NEA Big Read! This national program offers organizations grants of up to $20,000 to run community-wide reading programs.

This year’s Big Read centers around the theme America250. The 24 books available for programming celebrate America’s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its people.

The mandatory Intent to Apply is due Thursday, January 15, 2026. 

Learn more here.

Opportunity Quick Links

• Saratoga Arts invites letters of intent for its Community Arts Grants. This program will provide grants of up to $7,500 to support projects that are open to the community they serve and allow the citizens of that community to interact directly with art. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) or New York State nonprofit organizations with an active board of trustees either incorporated in New York State or registered to do business in New York State; government or quasi-governmental entities, or tribal organizations; and individual artists, groups or collectives, and unincorporated entities that are working with an eligible fiscal sponsor or community-based partner. Applicants must be located in Fulton, Montgomery, or Saratoga county. Deadline, November 21, 2025. Learn more here.

• The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation invites entries for children’s book awards. These awards are given to picture books created in the tradition of Ezra Jack Keats, which reflect the multicultural nature of our world; avoid stereotypes; highlight the universal qualities of childhood and the strength of family and community; are respectful of the child’s intelligence, sensitivity, curiosity, and love of learning; have an original text and original story (no folktales or retelling of folktales); unify illustrations and text; and display freshness and originality of language and literary expression. Deadline: December 1, 2025. 
  Learn more here.

• The Shubert Foundation invites applications from nonprofit theaters for unrestricted general operating support. Theaters are evaluated individually and with appropriate allowance for size and resources. The standard for awarding the grants is based on an assessment of each organization’s operation and its contribution to the field. Artistic activity, service to community, and fiscal responsibility are factored into each evaluation, as is the company’s development of new work. U.S.-based organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status are eligible to apply. Deadline: December 4, 2025. Learn more here.

• The Philip L. Graham Fund invites applications from D.C.-area organizations for focus areas in: health and human services, education, arts and humanities, and community endeavors. Grantees include large, regional organizations as well as small, community-based groups; all share a commitment to the community. Organizations must serve one or more of the following jurisdictions: Washington, D.C.; Maryland’s Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties; and Virginia’s Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Deadline: December 5, 2025. Learn more here.

• The France-Merrick Foundation invites applications from Baltimore organizations for its traditional grantmaking cycle, and its new Meet the Moment Fund. The traditional grantmaking process provides one-time investments in capital projects, equipment, and technology. Given the context of rapid public change, the Foundation will prioritize shovel-ready projects, rather than supporting pre-development or providing early capital. The Meet the Moment Fund provides gap support for nonprofits with a plan for operational sustainability and strategic response support for nonprofits or groups of nonprofits collaboratively working to address dramatic organizational or sector changes. Deadline: December 5, 2025. Learn more here.

• The Fine Arts Work Center invites applications for its 2026-2027 Writing Fellowships. Open to emerging writers, the seven-month fellowship includes private accommodations, a monthly stipend of $1,250, plus an exit stipend of $1,000. The duration of the residency is entirely self-directed, intended to serve as unrestricted time for writers in the crucial, early stages of their careers. In addition, the center has established the Rona Jaffe Foundation Fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center through support from the Rona Jaffe Foundation. The fellowship will fully fund the seven-month residency, including a $2,500 prize to help defray the cost of travel and living expenses. The Fine Arts Work Center will automatically consider all eligible candidates for this fellowship. Deadline: December 15, 2025. Learn more here.

• The Folger Shakespeare Library is accepting application for its Artistic Research Fellowships. These fellowships are open to all artists whose work would benefit from significant primary research related to the histories, concepts, art, and objects of the early modern world (ca. 1400-1800) and its legacies. Artistic applicants are not required to hold a formal degree, but should describe their training and level of industry-specific experience in their CV. Virtual and hybrid fellowships are also available to those who cannot travel or commit to an extended residential research period. Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2025. Learn more here. 

Image: Cyrus Chestnut appears on stage at Dumbarton Concerts at an ArtsCONNECT engagement. Credit: David Dowling.