Alliance of Artists’ Communities 

artistcommunities.org
The Alliance is an interdisciplinary North-American network including professionally run artist communities, other nonprofit organizations that support artists in the development of their work. Includes a link to worldwide residency opportunities. 

Asian Cultural Council 

asianculturalcouncil.org
The Asian Cultural Council offers grants to projects of particular significance to Asian-American cultural exchange in dance, film, video, music or photography. It also provides fellowship grants to artists, scholars, students and specialists from Asia to study, research, and travel. Offices in New York, Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, and Tokyo.  

APAP Association of Performing Arts Professionals 

apap365.org
An organization based in Washington, DC whose members primarily include U.S. and Canadian venues and presenters, artist-managers, agents, and service organizations. APAP produces a large performing arts conference annually in New York City in January with a big marketplace, around which thousands of showcases, independent festivals, and performances revolve. APAP provides other services to the performing arts field. A list of members is available only to members, but there are other resources on the website.  

CEC ArtsLink

cecartslink.org
CEC ArtsLink is an international arts service organization based in the USA. Its programs fund and support home country and exchange of artists and cultural managers in the United States, in 37 countries in Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia.

Contemporary Performance Network

contemporaryperformance.com
A social media/community organizing network of over 6,600 members and over 71,000 members on Facebook. Based in the USA, the network provides artists, presenters, scholars and festivals around the world a platform to meet, share work, and collaborate.

DANCE/USA

danceusa.org
This membership service organization promotes American dance and serves nearly 500 aerial, ballet, modern, culturally specific, jazz, and tap companies, dance service and presenting organizations, individuals, and related organizations.

FACE Foundation

face-foundation.org
“Supporting French-American Cultural Exchange in Education and the Arts,” many of the Foundation’s service and grant programs have expanded to include projects by artists from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East performing in the United States, as long as their work is co-produced by French cultural institutions. Each project is intended to reach a wide audience and to engage communities as well as act as a launching pad for the featured artists.

Folk Alliance International

folk.org
Folk Alliance International's mission is to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion. It hosts an annual conference in a different U.S. city, generally in January or February.

globalFEST

globalfest.org
Known best for its one-day music festival in New York City held in January, globalFEST is an advocate and tastemaker dedicated to activating the global music ecosystem in the U.S. Among other programs, globalFEST co-hosts a two-day WAVELENGTHS conference (free to all) in advance of the APAP conference (see above), and funds a modest grant program to support U.S. tours by bands that have previously participated in the festival.

The Hemispheric Institute

hemisphericinstitute.org/en
The Hemispheric Institute at New York University connects artists, scholars, and activists from across the Americas and creates avenues for collaboration and action. “Focusing on social justice, we research politically engaged performance and amplify it through gatherings, courses, publications, archives, and events.”

IPAY International Association of Performing Arts for Youth

ipayweb.org
A membership organization established “to create professional and education opportunities for key stakeholders in North America (artists, agents, and presenters) to engage around support of meaningful performing arts experiences for young audiences.” IPAY hosts an annual conference in January in a different U.S. city which includes a marketplace, information sessions and round tables, and fully produced performances of scripted and non-verbal theater pieces; circus, puppetry, and multi-media productions are also featured.

ISPA International Society of Performing Arts

www.ispa.org
New York City-based international membership organization whose mission is to “strengthen the performing arts globally through the advancement of leadership, exchange of ideas, and by fostering a diverse and engaged membership.” ISPA hosts an annual performing arts conference in January in NYC (with a program for young, international arts administrators), and another conference (generally in June) in a city abroad. Searchable database of organizational members and websites IS available to non-members (without detailed contact information).

Indie on the Move

indieonthemove.com
A music industry resource for independent bands focused on show and tour booking in the U.S. with a blog, touring tips, forum, etc. Especially good resource for clubs, and other commercial gigs. Join for free; and sign up for their email newsletter.

LAMC Latin Alternative Music Festival

latinalternative.com
Held in New York City each July, this conference intends to highlight emerging artists from Central and South America in the North American market and has a commercial focus; it features industry panels, an exhibit hall, and showcases and performances throughout the city.

Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation – international festival database

midatlanticarts.org/grants-programs/international-festivals
Based in the USA, this regional arts organization supports U.S. artists and arts organizations, but maintains a searchable database of international festivals accessible to anyone.

National Performance Network

npnweb.org
Based in the USA, NPN is focused on community engagement, creating and touring new work, and sharing ideas and knowledge in all performing arts disciplines. NPN’s network of generally smaller U.S.-based presenters and artist led spaces are among the most adventurous in the country.

Network of Ensemble Theaters

ensembletheaters.net
NET links a diverse array of (generally smaller) theater ensembles and practitioners to one another and the performing arts field, encouraging collaborations and knowledge building and dissemination.

SXSW South by Southwest

sxsw.com
Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its now 10-day conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Thousands of showcases, sessions, discussions, and networking events take place.

Theatre Communications Group

tcg.org
TCG is a membership organization that is primarily focused on the U.S. live theater scene, especially on resident theaters, and theater makers, but it is active internationally.

Trust for Mutual Understanding

tmuny.org
Based in New York City, the Trust for Mutual Understanding awards grants to American nonprofit organizations to support direct exchange in the arts and the environment between professionals from the United States and TMU’s geographic region: the Baltic States; Central Asia; Central, East, Southeast Europe; Mongolia; and Russia.

U.S. Regional Arts Organizations

usregionalarts.org
Six independent non-profit organizations partner with the National Endowment for the Arts and their constituent State Arts Agencies to realize local, national and international programs. Center Stage is a program of one of these organizations -- New England Foundation for the Arts. 

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs

eca.state.gov
Located in Washington, D.C., the State Department is the U.S. government’s agency charged with overseeing foreign affairs and state to state relationships. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes mutual understanding through exchange programs for students, professionals and citizens of all countries. Programs, eligibility, and criteria vary. ECA initiated and is the primary funder of Center Stage. Other current ECA performing arts exchange programs include OneBeat and American Music Abroad.