Collaborative Touring Grant Supports the Performing Arts in New England

Crossroads: New England to Support Tours of 11 Artists/Ensembles

Sasha Velour | courtesy of Portland Ovations in Portland, ME

(Boston, MA) The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) announces 41 grants totaling $257,000 to support artistic engagements of 11 artists/ensembles at 33 cultural organizations across the six New England states through NEFA’s Crossroads: Touring New England program.

Crossroads: Touring New England (previously known as NEST 3 or Expeditions) funds tours of regional, national, or international performing artists presented by New England nonprofit organizations. Each tour includes a minimum of three New England presenting organizations in at least two New England states. The goals of Crossroads are to:

  • Expand access to artistic excellence for New England communities performed by artists from across the globe.
  • Strengthen collaboration and partnerships among artists and New England presenting organizations to amplify their impact and support a thriving arts and culture ecosystem.
  • Encourage meaningful connections between artists and communities.

“The Crossroad grant enables New England organizations to collaborate on projects that may otherwise not be feasible while also leveraging each organization’s resources and knowledge to deepen community impact. We are proud to continue this core New England programming, especially as we celebrate NEFA’s 50th anniversary,” said NEFA’s deputy director, regional program strategy, Adrienne Petrillo.

On a dark stage, a group of folks lean back and look up at the overhead spotlight.
Limón Dance Company's "Missa Brevis" | photo by Scott Groller

Click on each artist below to learn who received support to present them:

American Patchwork Quartet, New York, NY

Cimafunk, Los Angeles, CA

Etienne Charles, Okemos, MI

Gravity & Other Myths, Mile End, Australia

Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets, Weaverville, NC

Jesse Factor, Pittsburgh, PA

Limón Dance Company, New York, NY

Maria Mazzotta, Marseille, France

Nehprii Amenii, Brooklyn, NY

Sasha Velour, New York, NY

Sophie Krøg Teater, Ry, Denmark

 

Crossroads: Touring New England’s annual grant deadline is the first business day of March.

New England cultural nonprofits interested in the Crossroads grant are highly encouraged to attend the Idea Swap, an annual event for the region’s cultural organizations to network and share ideas for touring projects and potential for NEFA grant support. The 2026 Idea Swap will take place on October 29 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA. Registration opens in September. 

The Crossroads: Touring New England program is made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

About NEFA

The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in artists and communities, fostering equitable access to the arts and enriching the cultural landscape in New England and across the United States. Founded in 1976, NEFA has grown into a vital national and international leader, advancing opportunities for artists and strengthening the arts infrastructure through grantmaking, partnerships, convenings, and knowledge sharing. 

NEFA’s work is made possible through generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the six New England state arts agencies, private foundations, corporations, and individual donors. As NEFA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, it continues to lead with creativity, resilience, and vision, affirming the vital role of the arts in civic life and advancing a cultural landscape where all people have equitable access to artistic expression. www.nefa.org.

CONTACT: Ann Wicks | 617-423-1390

 

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