NEST/Overview
New England States Touring (NEST) provides support to noprofits for performances, readings, and related community activities by artists that have met the eligibility criteria for the NEST program.
Performing and literary artists eligible for NEST represent a wide range of disciplines, such as music, dance, opera, musical theater, poetry, writing, interdisciplinary work, and folk arts. Nonprofit presenters* may apply for NEST funding to help support an engagement by a NEST-eligible artist, as long as that artist is based outside of the presenter’s home state.
*A "presenter" may be any nonprofit organization that is interested in bringing cultural arts programming to its community. Libraries, schools, theaters, service agencies, and arts organizations are all examples of eligible nonprofits that can apply for NEST funding.
Program Goals
The NEST program:
- Gives the communities of New England direct access to the artistic excellence and diversity available in this region
- Provides New England artists with the opportunity to enrich their work and build audiences through touring to a variety of communities, thereby increasing demand for their work
- Encourages thorough planning of projects that provide meaningful interaction between New England artists and communities
- Extends the arts to populations whose opportunities for arts experiences are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability
Grant Guidelines
NEST grants are available in amounts of up to 50% of the artists' fees inclusive of honoraria, travel, and per diem. Minimum grants are $200 and applications with requests below that amount will not be accepted. Grant awards are typically between $200 and $3,000.
Note: In-kind contributions, while always encouraged, cannot be used as match for the payment of artist fees.
 Deadline
The quarterly receipt deadlines for NEST applications are:
The first business day of March (for projects beginning on or after June 1).
The first business day of June (for projects beginning on or after September 1).
The first business day of September (for projects beginning on or after December 1).
The first business day of December (for projects beginning on or after March 1).
NEST decisions are made on a quarterly basis. Organizations are required to submit their application a minimum of three months in advance of their project, but are encouraged to submit their applications early within NEFA's fiscal year (which runs from June 1 through May 31).
How to Apply
NEFA is phasing in a system of accepting grant applications and related forms online.
To be a part of a beta test,
Click here to apply using NEFA's online grant forms.
To apply using NEFA's interactive PDF forms, visit the NEST Grant Instructions page.
 NEST-eligible Artists on MatchBook.org
The MatchBook.org website serves as a searchable directory of New England artists and contains a sub-directory of those artists eligible for funding through NEST.
To view artists who are eligible for NEST:
- Go to www.matchbook.org
- Click "Find an Artist”
- Click the 'NEST Eligible' arrow on the 'Enhanced Search' side of the page
- Check the box labeled 'Artist is NEST Eligible'
- Select any other desired search criteria
- Click the 'Search All' button at the bottom of the form
NOTE: Artists are not juried, but instead must complete a detailed artist profile on MatchBook.org. We recommend that presenters thoroughly review artists' profiles on MatchBook.org, and consider factors such as experience, professionalism, and artistic accomplishment when deciding if an artist is appropriate for their programming needs.
To learn more about the process of hiring artists, click here.
To view the full criteria for NEST eligibility please see the section below entitled “To become a NEST-eligible Artist.”
To become a NEST-eligible artist:
Only performing and literary artists that provide public performances and are permanent residents in New England are eligible for NEST. All artist who wish to be considered for eligibility must read the guidelines below and complete all required fields in their MatchBook.org artist profile.
NEST Artist Eligibility Guidelines (pdf)
After your profile has been reviewed by the MatchBook.org team, an icon will appear on your profile indicating that you are eligible for NEST funding. Artist profiles must be updated at least once a year to maintain NEST status. Otherwise, the profile will be deactivated and the artist will no longer be eligible for NEST funding.
Once an artist becomes eligible for NEST, their professionalism and quality will be evaluated by presenters that receive NEST funding. If comments from presenting organizations are continually marginal or unsatisfactory, the artist will be contacted and interviewed.
It is beneficial for artists to let presenters know that they are eligible for NEST funding and mention it in promotional materials, as potential presenters may be more likely to book an artist knowing that funding assistance for the artist's fee is available from the NEST program.
For questions regarding the NEST program, email regionaltouring@nefa.org or call [617] 951-0010 ext. 533.
For assistance with your MatchBook.org artist profile, email info@MatchBook.org or call [617] 951-0010 ext. 529.
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