FIRST OFF . . .

The National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. Information Agency and the Rockefeller Foundation have formed the Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and Exhibitions. The joint effort is designed to provide more exposure for artists abroad, according to Wednesday’s New York Times, and has a start-up budget of $625,000. Of that, $325,000 will be given in grants to support performing arts and $300,000 for the visual arts. Next year organizers hope to expand the fund to $1 million.