Support Us

The Next Festival of Emerging Artists and Next Fest Connects are projects of Next Edge Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to supporting artists at the beginning of their careers, advancing the music of living composers and creating community for our audiences, artists and students.

Next Fest Connects is developed in response to the Coronavirus situation to provide resources, information and a community to our audiences, artists and students. This innovative program supplies information, career guidance, community, support for artists and connection between artists and audiences in uncertain times, so that we all emerge stronger from the pandemic. These activities are provided for free to our community and supported by generous donors like you. We invite you to contribute to this valuable program.

The Next Festival offers generous scholarships to enable students to attend regardless of financial circumstances. Deeply committed to helping the artists of tomorrow, the festival maintains a unique pay-what-you-can model to ensure that participants can attend for a price they can afford. We are very proud to have met 100% of student need each season. For the 2020 and 2021 Seasons, we have made the Festival tuition-free to support young artists through challenging times. 

Because the festival is small (only 20 Fellows), your gift today will have a huge impact. Your tax-deductible gift will help support our wonderful artists and help us continue to create innovative programming.

Read Festival testimonials here

Giving Levels

In a typical year, our giving levels include those below. In this unique time, we want to work with you to find the best use of your generous donation.

Festival Friend – $50-$99
Help support our mission and become a part of the Next Festival family!

Festival Sponsor – $100-$249
Your gift will be invaluable in helping us to accomplish our programs and mission, and is much appreciated!

Festival Patron – $250-$999
Your gift will help support the valuable work the festival is doing with young performers, composers and choreographers at the beginning of their careers. Help us to help them thrive!

Composer Sponsor – $1,000-$1,499
Your gift will sponsor one of our talented composers for our innovative Composer/Choreographer Workshop. The participants are hand-picked for their extraordinary artistic abilities by our workshop faculty.

Concert Sponsor – $1,500-$2,499
Your gift will help underwrite one of the Festival concerts and help our mission of supporting young artists and promoting the music of our time.

Fellow Sponsor – $2,500-$9,999
Your gift will give support to one or more of our talented young performers to attend the Next Festival. Student Sponsors will underwrite the tuition, room and board expenses for an individual student or students. These young artists come from around the country and are chosen for their artistry, passion and promise. They are some of the best string players of their generation and represent the future of their art form.

Season Sponsor – $10,000 or more
Our Season Sponsors help The Next Festival of Emerging Artists to continue our innovative work at the highest level and support the next generation of performers, composers and choreographers. Become one of the elite donors who are key to our mission: providing young artists with extraordinary training and experiences that they will carry with them throughout their careers.

Please be in touch with us at info@next-fest.org  if you would prefer to pay by check. We value your support and will we work with you to find the best way to receive and process your donation.

IMPORTANT: Make checks payable to “Next Edge Arts, Inc”

Compliance information: Licensed by the State of North Carolina, Department of the Secretary of State. Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the State.