Mid Atlantic Tours - Mid Atlantic Arts

Overview

Mid Atlantic Tours brings exemplary performing arts ensembles to communities across the mid Atlantic region. Non-profit presenters located in the Mid Atlantic Arts grantmaking region can book an artist from the roster and receive grant support of up to 50% of the artist fee. Presenters work directly with the Roster Artist's Tour Agent to negotiate terms, including public performance dates and community engagement activity plans. Once terms are confirmed between Presenter and Tour Agent, the Presenter completes a short application to Mid Atlantic Arts.

Key Dates

• November 19 at 1:00 PM ET: Presenter Information Webinar and Roster Artist Share (recording available)
• March 30, 2026: Booking deadline for Mid Atlantic region presenters to contract or provide an offer letter to a Mid Atlantic Tours artist
• September 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027: Project period for Mid Atlantic Tours subsidy awards

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Mid Atlantic Tours grant award, presenters must 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 be a unit of state or local government or Federally-recognized Indian tribal government; demonstrate organizational administrative capacity to complete all required project components; and be in good standing with Mid Atlantic Arts at the time of application, with no overdue or outstanding required reports and/or grant documents. Fiscal sponsorship is not permitted for this program.

Grant Awards

• Engagement support of up to 50% of artists fees (minimum $1,000)
• Other eligible expenses of up to $2,000 to support direct project expenses may be available in FY26
• Funding is limited and awarded on a non-competitive, first-come basis

Required Engagement Activities

Mid Atlantic Tours-supported engagements must include two distinct engagement activities. Both engagement activities must include the Mid Atlantic Tours roster artist and should be planned in dialogue with the presenter, the roster artist, and their tour manager. At least one of the two engagement activities must include a performance or performative component of at least 30 minutes that is open to the public (may be ticketed or free; performance may be repeated multiple times during the engagement or performed one time). If both engagement activities are performances, they must be different from one another. Other ideas for engagement activities include master classes, lecture-demonstrations, workshops, pre- or post-performance discussions, and attendance at community festivals or meetings.

2027-2028 Artist Roster

The 2027-2028 international artist roster is currently under development and will feature music ensembles from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, or Portugal. International artists must apply to Ibermúsicas to be considered for this program. The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 1, 2026, and the roster of selected artists will be announced in November.

Contact

Sarah Lewitus, Program Director, Performing Arts: [email protected]; Sarah Theune, Program Associate, Performing Arts and Creativity in Community: [email protected]; Andrew Alness Olson, Program Director, International: [email protected]