International Performing Arts Resources

Are you an American artist who is interested in touring internationally, an international artists looking to tour in the United States, or a presenter who wants to present international artistsbut unsure of where to begin?

A great place to start if you fall into any of these categories is over at Artists from Abroad. This site lays out all the immigration and tax requirements for foreign guest artists, their managers, and performing arts organizations. You can get even more information on visas here.

The International Society for Performing Arts is another great resource – their Useful Links page lists worldwide national arts councils, cultural agencies, and performing arts networks.

The Theatre Communications Group also has an extensive list of resources on the International section of their website including Theater Without Borders, which aims to builds connections between individuals and institutions interested in international theater exchange.

For Artists:

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offers a wide array of opportunities for both American and international artists of all kinds including the Fulbright Program, OneBeat, and the NEFA-produced program Center StageSM. To learn about what programs you may be eligible for, check their Find a Program page. 

The National Performance Network offers The International Program, which provides touring and residency opportunities for U.S. artists. Their website also has a list of Resources for International Touring that includes other grant opportunities.

American Dance Abroad provides services and resources to U.S.- based dance artists engaged in international exchange by facilitating relationship building with international colleagues.

The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has the USArtists International program which offers grants to American dance, music, and theater ensembles and solo performers that have been invited to perform outside of the United States. In addition, they offer the French-American Jazz Exchange (FAJE), a program that supports projects jointly conceived by French and American professional jazz artists.

For Presenters:

Are you interested in bringing contemporary Latin American artists to your community? The Southern Exposure program supports tours that are collaboratively developed by presenting organizations across the United States. 

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) has a Cultural Exchange Fund, a travel subsidy program supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to assist U.S. based presenting professionals and their organizations and companies in building partnerships and collaborations with international touring artists.

APAP also has the International Cultural Exchange Search – a database that allows APAP members and the field to explore information to gain insight into successful international exchanges, festivals, and other key performing arts events.

And finally, NEFA supports international artists touring the U.S. through several different grant programs.  Check out the International Engagement page of our website for more info.

We hope this information helps as you begin to look into international opportunities that will work for you. Bon Voyage!