Performing Artists Cultural Visitors Program

Program Overview

The US Department of State and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are offering professional development opportunities to 44 emerging performing artists between the ages 19-30 from selected countries. Programs will be two weeks and will include visits to at least two U.S. cities.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to offer professional development opportunities to emerging performing artists. The visitors will participate in classes and workshops in their genre, attend meetings with influential U.S. artists and companies, and watch performances in their genre and other genres.

The goal of this Cultural Visitors program is to energize the work of emerging international artists in their own countries by bringing them to the United States and providing them with;

1. Instructive and informative experiences in their arts discipline,
2. Exposure to the creation and performance of world-class art,
3. Opportunities to begin to develop relationships with U.S. arts professionals.

Participant Profile

The Kennedy Center is looking for emerging performing artists between the ages of 19 and 30.

Countries and Genres that have participated

Previous participants have been:

1. Venezuela – Hip-hop dancers
2. Turkey – Modern and hip-hop dancers
3. Bolivia – String Musicians
4. Indonesia – Actors and Dancers
5. Palestinian Territory and Morocco – Jazz Musicians and Percussionists
6. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Pakistan – Actors and Directors
7. Egypt, Jordan and Malaysia – Theatre Technicians
8. South Africa, Morocco and Malaysia – Arts Presenters

Quotes from Participants

• “ [My visit] renewed my passion as a break dancer to see so many professionals, who make a living and found a way of life. I have no formal dance education, so it was very important for me to have this chance. I would never be able to do this on my own. Now I have better tools to be a teacher and a lot of work has come out of this for me. ” – Raynier Rodriguez, Venezuela
• “ The experiences during my visit made me realize that performing artists in South Africa need a platform to network, workshop and collaborate without any cost to them. ANASA (Artists Network Association SA) was born out of this realization. Since my return the group has had four events. The artists are very enthusiastic about the group and expressed that the support the association and its events provide is of great value to them. ” – Pieter Jacobs, South Africa
• “ I can say that the visit was so successful because we could combine our music and music from the states so it was so easy for us to communicate in music because somehow we played jazz and they also played our music in their way. ” – Joseph Duqmaq, Palestinian Territory

Types of Programs

Pre-planned – We have found that certain programs work best at certain times. The following genres will have programs on these dates:

1. Modern Dance (February 2009 and September 2009)
2. Theatre – Technical Theatre (March 2009)
3. Hip-hop Dance (July 2009)
4. Theatre – Actors (Spring 2009)
5. Classical Music Performance (Summer 2009)
6. Theatre – Directors and Playwrights (July 2009)

Custom Programs - are willing to provide a program based on or around another performing arts genre provided the post can provide five or more artists of that genre who have comparable skills.

Application Deadlines

1. Programs in February 2009 have an application deadline of October 15, 2008.
2. Programs in March 2009 have an application deadline of November 1, 2008.
3. Programs in Spring/Summer and September 2009 have an application deadline of January 5, 2009. This includes:
   • Theatre – Actors,
   • Classical Music Performance,
   • Hip-hop Dance,
   • Theatre – Directors and Playwrights, and
   • Modern Dance.