PROJECTS & INITIATIVES: NEA Touring Program

The Program
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) regional touring program helps bring high-quality performing, literary and visual arts activities to communities across the country with the help of federal, state, and private funds. Offered in partnership with the six regional arts organizations, the program provides assistance for interstate touring and gives priority to underserved communities.

Program Purpose
To give all Americans access to excellence and diversity in performing, literary and visual arts. The program also:

• Gives artists the opportunity to enrich their work through contact with a variety of communities.
• Expands arts education opportunities by making artists available in underserved communities.
• Assists artists and companies in building audiences and thereby increasing demand for their work.
• Attracts support from the private sector through the use of public dollars as seed money.

Special Program Characteristics
The NEA Regional Touring Program reflects both national priorities and the unique opportunities and needs of each region. Common characteristics include:

• A high proportion of engagements are in underserved communities. These communities may be underserved due to geographic location, economic conditions, or other factors.
• Engagements include school or community educational activities. Virtually all grants awarded supplement touring performances with other community activities. For example, touring artists commonly work in schools and make presentations to civic organizations in addition to performing for the public.
• The touring artists reflect high quality and diversity.

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