World & NH Culture Programs The Arts Alliance’s “Experiencing the World” and “Mountain Links” programs bring outstanding performers, artists and presenters to your school or community site to introduce people of all ages to world cultures. We can work with you to present European, Asian, Latin American and African programs – as well as New Hampshire Heritage music and traditional arts. Several of our offerings are supported in part by grant funding, which means special rates for participating schools, historical societies and other community groups. All of them can be block-booked with other schools and community organizations to reduce rates and travel expenses. Visit www.aannh.org, call us at 323-7302 or email info@aannh.org for more details.

Upcoming programs include the Orchid Ensemble Choir Collaboration (see Arts Alliance & Partner Programs); workshops, performances and community dances with Alia Thabit, a dancer/choreographer of Lebanese and Palestinian descent, who incorporates traditional and contemporary influences, colorful costumes, and dynamic music to present a wide range of Middle Eastern dance styles (special funding support through the New England States Touring program, available through December 21); school programs with Shamou, an Iranian singer and percussionist who links cultures through the global language of music (available November 5-8 as a block-booking opportunity); programs with artist/scholar Rachel Lehr, including “Afghan Culture Trunks” filled with objects – from burqas to rugs – she has collected in Afghanistan; and school and community performances and workshops with local fiddler Patrick Ross.

Auditions for “Crosscut: Life, Logging & the Mills of the Androscoggin Valley”: “Crosscut,” a performance piece to be read by four actors – two men and two women of any age – is based on oral histories gathered during the “Telling Our Stories” project by storyteller-in-residence Rebecca Rule. The piece will be cast in auditions held by Theatre North later this month. If you are interested in participating, please call Theatre North chair Sue Ann Sidell at 752-2820 for audition dates and times. The play will speak to the heart of community on themes such as pride in work well done, a rich and diverse ethnic heritage, self-sufficiency, adjusting to change, love of the land, as well as the importance of church, family and North Country identity.

Northern New Hampshire Visual Arts & Crafts Map & Guide Project - Help Us Identify North Country Artists! We’ve launched a project to celebrate and support our region's arts and crafts. We are currently gathering and updating information about North Country galleries, working studios and artists/craftspeople (arts businesses and individual artists) with the goal of supporting these businesses and individuals and the region's cultural tourism industry by producing and distributing a regional map and developing a comprehensive web presence highlighting White Mountain Art history and today's arts enterprises. Visit our website for more details, and for an inventory form to fill out or send to artists and arts businesses in your town, and call us with questions or ideas.

NEFA Offers Matchbook.Org Live November 11 and Annual Idea Swap November 12 at Radisson Hotel, Manchester The New England Foundation for the Arts is offering two programs: MatchBook.org LIVE is a daylong event for New England's small to mid-sized presenters - including schools, libraries & coffee houses - and performing artists that will feature professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and 'Connections Room' followed by an evening 'In the Spotlight,' featuring short performances by MatchBook.org artists. Presenters are invited to find out about grant opportunities and how to work with artists. The Idea Swap is the annual preparation and networking conference of the Expeditions program. It brings together artists and non-profit organizations that provide arts activities, and is an opportunity to gather and share ideas for touring projects for the New England region. The conference is also a venue for exploring partnership opportunities that will result in Touring or Planning Grant applications to NEFA's Expeditions program. For additional details, visit www.nefa.org.