NEST (New England States Touring)
NEST (New England States Touring) supports New England presenters hosting regional artists’ public presentations and community activities to expand arts access and strengthen artist-community connections.
Funder: New England Foundation for the Arts
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (NEST 1 & 2) | April 1, 2027 (NEST 1 & 2) | August 2, 2027 (NEST 1 & 2)
Funding Amounts: $500–$5,000 per application, generally covering up to 60% of the artist fee
Summary: NEST supports New England presenters hosting public performances, readings, screenings, and community engagement activities by New England artists.
Key Information: The artist must be listed as NEST-eligible on CreativeGround and be a separate entity from the presenter.
Description
New England States Touring (NEST), administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), supports public presentations and community engagement activities by regional artists. Its active categories, NEST 1 and NEST 2, connect New England presenters with New England artists across disciplines including dance, folk art, interdisciplinary work, media, music, musical theater, opera, poetry, storytelling, and theater.
The program aims to expand access to artistic excellence, provide appropriate compensation for artists, foster reciprocal artist-presenter relationships, and strengthen the region’s presenting and touring infrastructure. Organizations engaging rural communities and/or Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities are encouraged to apply. NEST 3, formerly supporting regional, national, and international tours, is now the separate Crossroads: Touring New England program.
