Virginia Commission for the Arts

Touring Artist Roster

Touring Artist Roster

Touring Artist Roster

Virginia performing artists and performing arts ensembles. Individual students or organizations whose members are primarily Pre-K-12 or undergraduate college students are not eligible for inclusion in the Touring Artist Roster. 

Purpose

To increase opportunities for Virginians to experience high-quality performing arts events and promote professional Virginia artists.

Description

Virginia Touring Assistance supports in-state touring for performing artists/ensembles. Presenters seeking support for performances select and book artists from the VCA Touring Artist Roster, which features vetted Virginia artists/ensembles that are provided a set dollar amount reserved for each touring season. Presenters apply for Virginia Touring Grants which provide up to 50 percent of the performance fee for touring programs listed on the Roster. Virginia Touring Grant awards are made to the presenter (not to the artist/ensemble), who is responsible for compensating the touring artist/ensemble in full. Fostering diverse performances across the state, this program provides Virginians with enriching arts experiences that extend beyond their immediate communities.

FOR PERFORMERS AND ENSEMBLES SEEKING TO BE LISTED ON THE TOURING ARTIST ROSTER 

Eligible Applicants

Virginia-based performing artists and performing arts ensembles.

NOTE

Individual students or organizations whose members are primarily Pre-K-12 or undergraduate college students are not eligible for inclusion in the Touring Artist Roster.

Eligible Activities

  • Programs must be open to the public, and the presenter must provide community-wide publicity. Elementary and secondary schools, senior living facilities, correctional facilities, and hospitals may be exempt from this requirement.
  • All bookings for Virginia Touring grants must take place 30 miles outside of the home area of the touring artist(s)/ensemble.

Deadline for Artists to Apply for Inclusion on the Touring Artist Roster 

July 15, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. EST, for the FY26 touring season of July 1, 2025 – June 15, 2026.

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is interested in high-quality artists and ensembles that exhibit the following:

  • Artistic excellence
  • Effective management
  • Cost-effectiveness of the proposed tour
  • Evidence of presenter interest in the proposed tour
  • Unique contribution to the VCA Touring Roster

Required Attachments

Applicants must generate and upload the following documents:

  • Three audio/visual work samples
  • Artist/management bios
  • Three documents reflecting artistic quality and presenter interest
  • Touring history (2023 – 2025)
  • Marketing/promotional sample

Application/Review Procedures for Touring Artists and Ensembles Applying for Inclusion on the Touring Artist Roster 

  1. Applicants must complete and submit the online application to the Commission by the deadline.
  2. The Commission staff reviews each application for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be reviewed, will be returned to the applicant with an explanation, and will not be funded.
  3. Commission staff forwards the application to members of a statewide, multidisciplinary Advisory Panel prior to the Advisory Panel screening session.
  4. The Advisory Panel meets with two members of the Commission staff. Commissioners attend Advisory Panel screening sessions as silent observers. The Advisory Panel makes its recommendations after group discussion.
  5. The Commission Board then reviews the recommendations of the Advisory Panel and staff and takes final action on the applications.
  6. Applicants are notified of Commission action by email following vote at the Commission Board meeting.
  7. The funding reserved by the Commission for each touring artist/ensemble will be held for potential presenters from March 1, 2025, until December 1, 2025.
  8. In December, the Commission will post the 2025-2026 Touring Artist Roster on its website with information about artists and ensembles eligible for touring support and descriptions of their touring programs.
  9. The Commission will begin accepting Virginia Touring Grant applications from presenters on March 1 of each year.
  10. Presenters apply online via Foundant for Virginia Touring Grants, including copies of signed contracts with touring artists/ensembles, to the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Applications must be received at least two weeks prior to the event and no later than December 1.
  11. The Commission awards Virginia Touring Grants to presenters of a particular artist/ensemble on a first-come, first-served basis from that artist’s/ensemble’s allocation. Grant award letters are generally emailed two weeks after receipt of each presenter’s application.
  12. If an artist/ensemble listed on the 2025-2026 Touring Artist Roster has used all of its original touring allocation prior to December 1, they may book additional performances and encourage presenters to apply to the Commission’s “wait list” on a first-come, first-served basis for funds which have gone unused by other artists/ensembles. It is the responsibility of the artist/ensemble to explain that there is no guarantee of funding in this situation.
  13. After December 1, the Commission will pool any uncommitted touring funds and award them to presenters on the “waitlist”. Waitlist performances must take place between December 2 and June 15 of each touring season. Touring ensembles that receive an allocation of $25,000 or more may not apply for waitlist

FOR PRESENTERS APPLYING FOR VIRGINIA TOURING GRANTS

Eligible Applicants

  • Virginia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Virginia units of local and tribal governments (including libraries, departments of parks and recreation, correctional facilities, etc.)
  • Virginia federally tax-exempt schools (public, public charter, private, alternative, special education schools, homeschools, career and technical centers, colleges, and universities)

Eligible Activities

  • Programs taking place in Virginia between July 1, 2024 – June 15, 2025
  • Programs listed in the Touring Artist Roster which take place at least 30 miles from home base of the artist/ensemble
  • Programs must be open to the public, and the presenter must provide community-wide publicity. Elementary and secondary schools, senior living facilities, correctional facilities, and hospitals may be exempt from this requirement.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Meets the basic eligibility requirements as listed on page 9 of the Guidelines for Funding
  • All programming must take place in Virginia ADA-compliant facilities
  • Must not be under current debarment or suspension from federal funding
  • Must have no past due Final Reports to the VCA at the time of application

Application Deadline

Virginia Touring Grant applications are available online beginning March 1.  Presenters must apply for touring support, including copies of signed contracts with touring artists/ensembles, at least two weeks prior to the event, and before December 1.

Amount of Assistance

The Commission will fund up to 50 percent of the performance fee only for touring programs listed on the Touring Artist Roster, subject to the overall limit for each touring artist/ensemble. Grant awards are a minimum of $100 and maximum of $7,500 per performance.

Required Attachments

The following forms are provided by the Commission via upload in the online grant application:

  • Signed Certification of Assurances
  • Virginia W-9 Form

Applicants must generate and upload the following documents:

  • Signed contract between the Touring Artist and Presenter
  • IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter

Application/Review/Payment Procedures for Presenters

  1. In December, the Commission posts an online Touring Artist Roster, listing artists and ensembles eligible for tour support and descriptions of their touring programs for the following July 1 through June 15 time period.
  2. Touring artists/ensembles and presenters begin scheduling and signing performance contracts. All negotiations regarding type and schedule of activities, fees, technical needs, and promotional efforts are the responsibility of each touring artist/ensemble and the presenter, and the resulting arrangements must be included in the contract. A Virginia Touring Grant request may not exceed 50 percent of the contracted performance fee. Travel, lodging, and all other local fees are the responsibility of the A presenter’s total costs will depend on the touring artist’s/ensemble’s fee, facility costs, promotion costs, and other local factors. Each contract must contain the VCA contingency clause referring to the requested amount of presenter touring assistance: “This contract is contingent upon receipt of a Virginia Touring Grant award in the amount of $____ from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.”
  3. Applications are made available online March 1. Presenters apply online for Virginia Touring Grants, including copies of signed contracts with touring artists/ensembles, to the Commission at least two weeks before an event and no later than December 1.
  4. The Commission staff reviews each application for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be reviewed, will be returned to the applicant with an explanation, and will not be funded.
  5. Virginia Touring Grants are not automatic and confirmation/grant award letters are generally emailed two weeks after receipt of a completed and approved application.
  6. Payment will be made in full upon approximately 30 days after the receipt of the Final Report.
  7. Presenters must submit a Final Report in Foundant within 30 days after each Final Report forms can be found on the applicant’s dashboard. Failure to submit a Final Report by the deadline will impact future funding.
  8. If any presenter receiving subsidy for a touring artist/ensemble has actual income in excess of expenses, the presenter must use these additional funds for other arts activities, and the Commission must approve the use of any of these excess funds up to the amount of the grant.
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