PERFORMING ARTS DISCOVERY
Breaking down barriers for U.S. artists overseas.
OVERVIEW
The Performing Arts Discovery (PAD) program promotes U.S. performing artists to international programmers, festival directors, and venue managers.
PAD aims to expand international markets and generate overseas touring opportunities for U.S. performing artists.
The PAD program is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP).
Current PAD opportunities:
PADX England — deadline closed, April 12. Learn more.
PAD INITIATIVES
PAD SHOWCASE
PAD Showcase is an international virtual showcase opportunity for U.S.-based performing artists.
ABOUT PAD
Degenerate Art Ensemble — a 2021 PAD ensemble; image credit: Bruce Clayton Tom
PAD is made up of two initiatives: PAD Showcase, and PADX.
PAD Showcase provides virtual international showcase opportunities for U.S.-based performing artists who are ready to tour internationally. Artists/ensembles — who are selected for PAD Showcase via an open call for applications and subsequent panel review process — receive support from an expert video production team to create professionally produced live performance videos which are promoted and showcased to international markets via a virtual platform.
PADX focuses on expanding those international markets by identifying and forging new international partnerships. Funded by an International Trade Administration (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) grant, PADX aims to develop export opportunities for U.S. performing artists, focusing on identifying production and touring opportunities in target markets of Australia, Colombia, and Germany — and beyond.
PAD is managed by WAA on behalf of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs).
PAD HISTORY
The Performing Arts Discovery (PAD) program was launched in 2015 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to promote U.S. performing artists to international programmers, festival directors, and venue managers, thereby creating opportunities for American artists to perform overseas.
While the purpose of the program — introducing international presenters to U.S. performing artists and companies — has not changed, previous cycles of the PAD program were structured differently.
In pre-pandemic years, 2015 - 2019, PAD brought international programmers, festival directors, and venue managers to the Arts Midwest, Performing Arts Exchange, and Western Arts Alliance conferences to see the work of U.S. artists.
In 2021, to ensure the program’s continuation during COVID-19 and the limits on international travel, the structure of the program shifted to its current format, which invites artists/ensembles to apply to PAD and provides those selected with international virtual showcase opportunities.
In 2022, WAA received a $300,000 grant award from the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) to expand PAD’s reach into new target markets, focusing on Australia, Germany, and Colombia — countries with a demand for international work. As part of the ITA’s MDCP, PAD will once again seek to strengthen relationships and connections through in-person participation in market events.
PAD FUNDAMENTALS
What is PAD?
Performing Arts Discovery (PAD) is a program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP.)
The NEA launched PAD in 2015 to promote US artists to international programmers, festival directors, and venue managers, thereby reducing barriers and creating opportunities for American artists to perform overseas. As a response to COVID-19, the PAD program evolved into a virtual showcase opportunity that it is today.
PAD is comprised of two initiatives: PAD Showcase — a virtual international showcase and promotional platform, which artists/ensembles apply to participate in; and PADX — an initiative to expand opportunities for U.S. performing artists into new target international markets.
Who manages the PAD program?
PAD is managed by WAA on behalf of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) — Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts, and WESTAF. Lucero Cortez is WAA’s PAD Program Manager.
What’s the purpose of the PAD program?
The purpose of the PAD program is to introduce international presenters to U.S. performing artists and companies, thereby reducing barriers for American artists overseas, and to create new opportunities for U.S. performing artists internationally.
Who can participate in PAD?
U.S.-based performing artists with readiness to tour internationally can apply to participate in PAD Showcase. Opportunities to participate in our PADX Trade Missions are open to all performing arts professionals, these trade mission cohorts prioritize the inclusion of agents, managers, and artists.
If your question is not addressed within our FAQs below, please reach out to PAD Program Manager, Ed Bourgeois at ebourgeois@westarts.org
PAD NEWS
