ABOUT PAD
THE INITIATIVES: PAD Showcase & PADX
PAD Showcase is an international online showcase for US-based performing artists who are ready to tour. Awarded artists/ensembles receive support to create professionally produced live performance videos which are promoted and showcased to international markets via an online platform.
PADX focuses on expanding those 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 touring opportunities for U.S. performing artists in target markets of Australia, Colombia, and Germany — and beyond.
PAD is managed by WAA on behalf of the US 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 US 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 US 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.
The structure of the program shifted to its current format in 2021 as a result of limitations in travel during COVID-19. The program now provides PAD artists international online showcase opportunities and PADX trade missions to markets overseas.
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.
Degenerate Art Ensemble — a 2021 PAD ensemble; image credit: Bruce Clayton Tom
PAD FAQs
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 the online showcase opportunity that it is today.
PAD is comprised of two initiatives: PAD Showcase — a online 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 through trade missions to industry market events.
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 Creative West (formerly WESTAF). Ed Bourgeois 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 US performing artists and ensembles, thereby reducing barriers for American artists overseas, and to create new opportunities for US performing artists internationally.
Who can participate in PAD?
US-based performing artists with demonstrated readiness to tour internationally can apply to participate in PAD Showcase. All performing arts professionals are eligible to participate in PADX trade missions, whose cohorts prioritize the inclusion of agents, managers, and artists.
How are artists selected?
Artist/ensembles are selected via an open call for applications, which then are scored and ranked by a national review panel of performing arts professionals.
If your question is not addressed within our FAQs below, please reach out to PAD Program Manager, Ed Bourgeois at ebourgeois@westarts.org
