USArtists International Grant Program

Deadline: 27-Mar-24

USArtists International Grant Program is supporting in-person performances by American artists at engagements at international festivals and global presenting arts marketplaces outside of the United States.

Support for the presentation and touring of performing artists is central to the work of Mid Atlantic Arts. The program funds individuals and ensembles across all performing arts practices and disciplines.

Program Objectives

• 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.
• Although grant funds from the USArtists International program are restricted to the specific costs of eligible engagements as defined below, they strongly encourage artists that receive USAI funding to add on additional non-festival engagements to their tour while they are abroad. Given the high cost of international flights, both financial and environmental, it is important to expand your impact beyond a single festival appearance when possible.

Funding Information

• The percentage awarded is determined by the results of the application review. Given the unpredictable nature of international travel costs, they encourage applicants to not plan to rely on a USArtists International grant solely to support their project. Grants generally range from $1,000 to $12,000. Applicants can request $1,000 to $15,000. Eligible expenses are travel, housing, per diem, shipping, visa fees, performance fees, agents’ fees related to participation in the international engagement, registration/application fees up to $250, and fiscal sponsor administration fees, if applicable.
• Airfare and the Fly America Act: USAI will only support airfare equivalent to economy class rates, purchased no less than 14 days prior to departure date. Any foreign air travel funded through USAI must be done on an approved U.S. flag air carrier as part of the Fly America Act, or a foreign air carrier under an air transport agreement with the United States, when these services are available.

Program Eligibility

• Artist Eligibility
  • To be eligible applicants must:
    • be an ensemble or individual artist that work at a professional level in dance, music, or theater; festivals and/or curators cannot apply on behalf of U.S. artists;
    • be designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, OR apply using a U.S.-based fiscal sponsor that is designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization;
    • currently reside in the United States or its territories;
    • be invited to perform at an international festival, performing arts market, or non-festival engagement;
    • not have received a USAI grant within the past 12 months, regardless of when the festival(s) or market(s) take place. After receiving notice of grant approval, grantees cannot reapply until 12 months have passed from that date of notification;
    • not be involved in the curation/programming, administration, or management of the festival or performing arts market for which they seek funding;
    • be in good standing with Mid Atlantic Arts, with no overdue or outstanding required reports and/or grant documents;
    • and meet residency requirements: USAI funding is only available to performances in which at least half of the performers are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For all projects with international collaborators or accompaniment, at least half of the performers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and the lead creative artist must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Festival/Performing Arts Market/Non-Festival Eligibility
  • Engagements must meet eligibility requirements for the corresponding guidelines below depending on the type of engagement with which you are applying.
    • To be eligible, festivals must:
      • be curated;
      • be organized primarily by a non-U.S.-based organization that is both financially and curatorially responsible for the festival;
      • not take place in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria
      • not require a registration, application, performance, venue rental or any other type of fee or amount paid by performers exceeding USD $250;
      • be international in scope with ensembles or solo performing artists representing at least two countries outside the host country, or have a U.S. theme with representation from at least three U.S. ensembles and/or solo performers;
      • be open and marketed to the general public;
    • To be eligible, Performing Arts Market engagements must:
      • meet all festival eligibility requirements listed above with the exception that they do not need to be open and marketed to the general public and that they may charge artists for showcase participation.
      • meet the USAI program’s definition of Performing Arts Markets
    • To be eligible, Non-Festival engagements must:
      • take place in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay. Non-festival engagements in any other country are NOT eligible;
      • meet all festival eligibility requirements listed above with the exception that they do not need to be international in scope or meet the definition of a festival;
      • not be an artist residency;
      • be at a venue with capacity for an audience of at least 400, or have multiple confirmed
• Engagement Eligibility
  • To be eligible, engagements must:
    • pay artists or provide artists with in-kind contributions
    • and be at least 20 minutes in duration, which may be comprised of single or multiple works or excerpts from longer pieces.
• Multiple Engagements: Artists/ensembles are limited to one application per program deadline. Each application allows an artist/ensemble to seek support for up to three eligible festival or performing arts market engagements as long as the artists/ensemble will not travel back to the U.S. between engagements.

For more information, visit Mid Atlantic Arts.