The Cultural Exchange Fund

Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

“The Cultural Exchange Fund has allowed me to meet artists and see projects I never would have had the opportunity to connect with. It has allowed me meaningful time within a community to understand their issues, and how the artists meet those needs and how they might interface with those of my own community. It also provided my with the luxury to be able to view a project multiple times, so that I could be certain that it was an appropriate selection for our series. Finally by allowing me the opportunity to attend a festival, it enriched my knowledge of the field and gave me first-hand experience of the work of not just one, but three dozen artists, some I will program right away, and others I am now aware of for opportunities that may arise in future series.” – Jordan Peimer, Director Public Programs, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA (Traveled to Scotland for the Edinburgh Festival in August 2009)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Cultural Exchange Fund (CEF) is a travel subsidy program supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to assist U.S. based presenters in building partnerships and collaborations with international touring artists, companies and their collaborators and in seeing the work of artists from around the world in its cultural context. The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (Arts Presenters) recognizes that promoting global cultural exchange is essential for audience and community engagement in the performing arts and provides an opportunity for presenting professionals to expand and deepen their knowledge of artists, traditions and cultures from around the world. In promoting cross-cultural arts programming, Arts Presenters strongly encourages travel to the following locations, including but not limited to: the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Arts Presenters will award travel subsidies to individual presenters, presenting organizations and to groups of presenters traveling to see the work of artists, companies and/or to develop and advance projects with international artists and their collaborators.  All applicants must be active members of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. 

A presenter who is unable to make the proposed trip has the option to apply to send a manager, agent or producer, who is working with them to make the trip, on the presenting organization's behalf. In those instances, the presenting organization that is unable to make the trip must include a letter specifying the scope and timeline for the project by the presenting organization (for individual travel) or a letter specifying the manager, agent or producer's role in conjunction with the goals and activities of the group(for group travel).

For-profit organizations are not eligible for Cultural Exchange funds.  The Cultural Exchange Fund does not fund artists that are performing or traveling to meet with international presenters about performance opportunities, nor does it fund managers, agents or producers working to expand business rosters.

FUNDING ELIGIBILITY

All applicants must be members of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters and be one of the following:

• Individuals from presenting organizations who are part of the decision-making process for programming and presentations
• Independent presenters
• Managers, agents or producers who are traveling on behalf of a presenting organization/presenter (please note: the applicant must include a letter specifying the scope and time line for the project by the presenting organization.)
• Groups of presenters from different presenting organizations who may be collaborating to develop or advance a project or program initiative
• A manager, agent or producer working with a group of presenters or presenting organizations is eligible to travel as part of the group (please note: the applicant must include a letter specifying their role in conjunction with the goals and activities of the group.)

FUNDING CRITERIA

Applicants should describe with as much detail as possible the purpose of their travel in conjunction with future programs or projects that are based upon building relationships or partnerships with international artists and/or presenters.  Successful applications must demonstrate that anticipated travel will meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Build the presenter's schedule and programming season as informed by attendance at live performances by international artists based outside the U.S.
• Increase the presenter's knowledge and understanding of international performing artists based outside the U.S., the cultural context for the artist's work and for the performing arts in places outside of the U.S.
• Create relationships with artists, producers and presenters from around the world to advance the work of the U.S. based presenter(s) and presenting organization(s).

In order to achieve the above, it is anticipated that applications will focus on one of the following:

• Travel to see the work of several different artists (for example, by attending a festival or showcase, or by traveling to a city or region where multiple cultural performances are occurring);
• Group travel where group members will collectively see performances, conduct research to develop a project and/or presenting series. 

FUNDING AMOUNTS

Arts Presenters will fund individual travel subsidies and group travel subsidies. The maximum amount awarded per individual organization, inclusive of travel costs and per diem, is $2,000. Group travel subsidies will be awarded only to groups of three or more presenters from different member presenting organizations.  The maximum award for a group is $10,000, with no more than $2,000 awarded per organization.  All applicants applying for group travel must designate a lead partner organization.  The lead partner organization must be a presenter or presenting organization. They will be responsible for submitting an application on behalf of the group and serving as the point of contact for related inquiries.

There will be four rounds of funding between June 2009 and December 2010.  The award for travel is handled on a reimbursement basis. For group travel, award money will be made payable to the lead partner organization and that organization will be responsible for distributing award money to travelers in the group. Funds are issued once original copies of all travel and per diem receipts are submitted with a final report within 30 to 90 days of travel. If the awardee does not use the funds to travel within four months of the announcement, the awardee must notify Arts Presenters in writing and may forfeit the full amount of the travel subsidy.

GRANT FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters will not award travel subsidies to:

• Artists  (please note: Artists seeking funding should visit the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation)
  
• Managers, agents or producers who are not formally working on behalf of a presenter or a group of presenters (i.e., without a letter from the presenter(s) establishing the relationship and project)
• Managers, agents or producers seeking to build their company roster
• For-profit organizations
• Applicants that cannot provide a three-year history of presenting artists and companies
• Applicants that are not  members of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters
• Incomplete applications
• Presenters, managers, agents, producers or artists based outside of the U.S.
• Board members of applicant organizations

Please note:

• Applicants may not apply for multiple trips within the same round. You may, however, submit one application per round.
• Arts Presenters welcomes new applications from previous CEF grantees.

FUNDING CYCLE

Application Deadlines and Award Announcement Dates are as follows:

How to Apply

1. Review the project guidelines and application.
2. Complete the electronic application. Click here to access the application for individual applicants. Click here to access the application for group applicants.
3. Submit the online application by 5:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time) on the day of the deadline listed in the table above.

Need assistance with this grant application? Contact Alison McNeil, toll free at 1-888.820.ARTS or amcneil@artspresenters.org.