Grants to Support Black Artists

Grants to Support Black Artists is sponsored by The Grant Portal (Administering funder not specified by search results, but described as supporting Black artists in music heritage). This grant supports projects celebrating Black music heritage, honoring its artists, styles, venues, and traditions. It encourages authentic connections to Black music history.

USArtists International - Mid Atlantic Arts International Touring Impact Stories Grant Matching Requirement USArtists International® supports in-person performances by artists from any state or territory in the U.S. at engagements at international festivals, global presenting arts markets, and other eligible engagements outside of the United States.

The program funds individuals and ensembles across all performing arts practices and disciplines. Mid Atlantic Arts is committed to the development and expansion of both the careers and artistic goals of U.S. performers by providing connections to audiences, presenters, curators, and their peers through the USAI program.

By elevating the voices that reflect a vibrant array of creative expression, we are able to celebrate and share the diversity and imagination of the United States. Grant support range: Grants of up to $11,000 toward eligible expenses. Grants require a one-to-one cost share (or match).

Applications to USAI must meet eligibility criteria in each of the following three areas to be eligible for the program: International Tour Eligibility Please see the Guidelines below for the full list of eligibility requirements. Deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern For projects taking place between June 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. Letters of invitation are due by Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Funding decisions shared by Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Guidelines and Application Program Guidelines have been refreshed. There is one deadline for USAI this program year.

Be sure to review artist eligibility as Fiscal Sponsorship is no longer allowed. To learn more, read the guidelines below. USArtists International Guidelines 2025 – 2026 (PDF) USArtists International Guidelines 2025 – 2026 (Word) Work Sample Recommendations (PDF) Work Sample Recommendations (Word) Image: USAI funded artist Molly Joyce at the Blaues Rauschen Festival, Germany, in June 2026.

Credit: Courtesy of the Artist. See the full list of 2026 USAI grantees. For this program, Mid Atlantic Arts works with a panel of independent reviewers to recommend applications for funding.

To be considered as a panelist for this and other programs, complete our Panelist Interest Form. You only need to complete the form once to be considered for multiple programs. Click here to access the Panelist Interest Form.

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. International Touring Impact Stories Listen below as past grantees share about the impact touring internationally has had on their relationships, work, and career.

Interested in sharing your own story? Contact Andrew Alness Olson . Grant Matching Requirement Grants must be matched on a 1:1 basis.

This means that your share of project costs is 50% of eligible project expenses up to the maximum grant limit, plus all remaining costs not met by the grant. As an example, if you were only requesting support for $1,000 in flight expenses, you could request grant support of $500 and then would need to show how you would match those funds with $500 of your own funds to cover the rest of the expense.

The required match can include: Confirmed artist fees from festivals/engagements Additional funds from festivals/engagements being paid to you that you will use for flights, per diems, or lodging Personal or organizational funds to be used toward eligible project expenses Funds from other funders or non-federal grants to be spent on eligible project expenses The match may not include Federal funds or in-kind (non-financial) contributions , and the required match may not be used to match other Federal funds, whether they are received directly from a Federal agency or indirectly, such as through a state agency or other entity.

See the guidelines for additional information , and a template will be made available here to help confirm the match before filling out the full application. Due to a change in federal grant requirements, fiscal sponsorship is no longer allowed as part of this program. Artists without 501(c)(3) status in previous years applied with the help of a fiscal sponsor.

Moving forward, these artists will need to apply as an individual (or as an individual on behalf of their ensemble), and will also be liable for any tax burden of receiving the grant. Review guidelines for additional info, consult a tax professional, and attend this webinar to learn more. All webinars include captioning and will be recorded and released after the fact on YouTube.

USAI Eligibility and Program Overview | Watch the Video Here Are you an artist or performing arts ensemble considering applying for the USArtists International grant program? In this webinar, we discuss the program guidelines, changes to the guidelines for this year, the timeline, and what it takes to be eligible for the grant.

USAI Application Tips and Pointers | Watch the Video Here Watch this webinar to discover tips on using the Mid Atlantic Arts grant portal to submit your USAI application.

Taxes for Individual Artists When Receiving Grant Funds | Register Here Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 4:00 -5:30 PM ET This session, led by Dr. Elaine Grogan Luttrull, will provide helpful information for artists that will be applying for the USAI program as an individual, and will also be broadly applicable to artists that receive grant funds.

Learn about how receiving a grant as an individual could impact your taxes or disability benefits, and hear about possible strategies to minimize your tax burden. Do you have questions about the USArtists International application process? Our staff is available to answer your questions by email.

Or, drop in during our Virtual Office Hours on Zoom. Register in advance and join anytime during the meeting. Multiple people will likely be in the room, all asking questions about USAI.

Please note that this is not a webinar. Thursday, December 18, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern | CLOSED Wednesday, January 7, from 11:30 am – 12:00 pm Eastern | REGISTER Tuesday, February 3, from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern | REGISTER Wednesday, February 18th, from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern | REGISTER Other International Resources Learn more about managing your USArtists International grant.

Opportunity & Support Type Folklife & Traditional Arts All U.S. States and Territories Questions or need guidance? Program Director, International andrew@midatlanticarts. org Funding support provided by: Get our latest news and announcements.

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