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Grants for Musicians: Everything You Need to Know

You don’t have ³Ù´ÇÌýbeÌýaÌýglobal superstar ³Ù´ÇÌýmake money asÌýaÌýmusician. One ofÌýtheÌýoptions available ³Ù´ÇÌýmusicians seeking financial support isÌýapplying forÌýgrants. There are many grants forÌýmusicians available through both private ²¹²Ô»åÌýpublic organizations. Despite being widely available, many musicians might beÌýunaware ofÌýall ofÌýtheÌýresources available ³Ù´ÇÌýthem. ToÌýhelp bring awareness ³Ù´ÇÌýtheÌýfinancial support system available, here isÌýsome information onÌýhow ³Ù´ÇÌýapply forÌýgrants forÌýmusicians.

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What Kind ofÌýGrants forÌýMusicians Are Available?

Grants forÌýmusicians come inÌýaÌývariety ofÌýstyles. Some grants offer general support forÌýmusicians ofÌýall ages ²¹²Ô»åÌýstyles. Other grants cater ³Ù´ÇÌýmusicians performing aÌýcertain genre orÌýmusicians fitting specific demographics. There are even musician grants specific ³Ù´ÇÌýtouring, recording, ²¹²Ô»åÌýpurchasing instruments.

Are there government grants forÌýmusicians?

Yes, there are government grants forÌýmusicians available. The isÌýanÌýagency ofÌýtheÌýfederal government that offers aÌýrange ofÌýprograms ²¹²Ô»åÌýgrants forÌýmusicians. Some local government agencies may also provide grants forÌýmusicians.

Government grants are not theÌýonly grant options available ³Ù´ÇÌýmusicians, however. Many private organizations ²¹²Ô»åÌýfoundations offer financial aid ²¹²Ô»åÌýother forms ofÌýsupport ³Ù´ÇÌýmusicians ofÌýall types.

Below isÌýaÌýnon-exhaustive list ofÌýgrants available ³Ù´ÇÌýmusicians from both government ²¹²Ô»åÌýprivate institutions. Some musicians may beÌýeligible forÌýseveral grants atÌýonce, while some grants are more exclusive.

Government Grants forÌýMusicians

National Endowment forÌýtheÌýArts

AsÌýmentioned above, theÌýNational Endowment forÌýtheÌýArts isÌýaÌýfederal agency that supplies grants forÌýall types ofÌýartists. That includes , among several other categories.

NEA musician grants are geared more toward ensembles, groups, ²¹²Ô»åÌýorganizations rather than individuals. However, NEA grants are fairly broad inÌýtheir scope. Performing musicians ofÌýall genres are encouraged ³Ù´ÇÌýapply, asÌýare all types ofÌýmusical organizations. The NEA specifically lists “professional artist development programs, artist residencies, community engagement projects that involve diverse communities; education activities forÌýpeople ofÌýall ages; ²¹²Ô»åÌýservice organizations” asÌýeligible grant recipients.

NEA grants are awarded onÌýaÌýproject basis. This means grant applicants must list aÌýspecific project inÌýneed ofÌýfunding when submitting their grant application. However, theÌýbroad criteria means that many different musicians can apply. The NEA offers grants forÌýmusicians ³Ù´ÇÌýrecord music, grants forÌýmusicians ³Ù´ÇÌýbuy instruments, orÌýeven touring grants forÌýmusicians inÌýsome cases.

The NEA accepts music grant applications twice annually: once inÌýtheÌýwinter, ²¹²Ô»åÌýonce inÌýtheÌýsummer. NEA grants can range anywhere from $10,000Ìý³Ù´ÇÌý$100,000, depending onÌýeach project’s needs.

See theÌý forÌýfull details onÌýeligibility ²¹²Ô»åÌýapplication requirements.

Grants For Young Musicians

ASCAP Foundation

The (American Society ofÌýComposers, Authors, ²¹²Ô»åÌýPublishers) isÌýaÌýcharity organization that offers aÌýrange ofÌýgrants ²¹²Ô»åÌýawards ³Ù´ÇÌýyoung artists. The ASCAP Foundation isÌýaÌýbranch ofÌý, aÌýnot-for-profit performance rights organization responsible forÌýpublic performance ²¹²Ô»åÌýlicensing agreements.

The ASCAP Foundation isÌýcommitted ³Ù´ÇÌýsupporting musicians, music fans, ²¹²Ô»åÌýtheÌýfuture ofÌýmusic inÌýmany different ways. The organization runs several programs, grants, ²¹²Ô»åÌýscholarships aimed atÌýyoung musicians inÌýparticular. This includes programs ²¹²Ô»åÌýgrants forÌýmusical theater, jazz musicians, ²¹²Ô»åÌýaÌývariety ofÌýother performance types. InÌýaddition, theÌýASCAP Foundation hosts aÌýrange ofÌý ³Ù´ÇÌýprovide support forÌýaspiring musicians.

You can read more about theÌýASCAP Foundation’s grants forÌýyoung musicians online through their . The organization’s awards are expansive, meaning there are plenty ofÌýgreat opportunities forÌýyoung musicians.

National Assembly ofÌýState Arts Agencies

The (NASAA) isÌýaÌýnationwide non-profit that advocates forÌýtheÌýarts ²¹²Ô»åÌýsupports local art agencies. NASAA supports all types ofÌýarts, including all forms ofÌýmusic. The organization previously sponsored theÌýannual , which celebrated ²¹²Ô»åÌýrewarded young artists nationwide. While theÌýYouth Program Awards have been discontinued, NASAA still provides workshops ²¹²Ô»åÌýresources ³Ù´ÇÌýsupport young musicians. This includes aÌýbroad range ofÌýCultural Youth Development programs nationwide, asÌýwell asÌýwebinars ²¹²Ô»åÌý.

Guitar Center Music Foundation

Guitar Center isÌýknown forÌýbeing one ofÌýtheÌýleading musical instrument retailers nationwide. But theÌý also offers grants forÌýmusicians ³Ù´ÇÌýbuy instruments forÌýupÌý³Ù´ÇÌý$5000. These grants are intended forÌýschools ²¹²Ô»åÌýmusic education programs, with theÌýaim ofÌýimproving music education across theÌýcountry.

Grants For Black Musicians

Black Artists Fund

The isÌýanÌýinitiative sponsored byÌý. Fund forÌýtheÌýArts isÌýaÌýLouisville-based organization dedicated ³Ù´ÇÌýsupporting ²¹²Ô»åÌýpromoting local artists. Fund forÌýtheÌýArts hosts aÌýbroad range ofÌýevents ²¹²Ô»åÌýprograms intended ³Ù´ÇÌýpromote community engagement ²¹²Ô»åÌýprovide support ³Ù´ÇÌýartists. That includes several grants ²¹²Ô»åÌýmicro-grant initiatives forÌýartists inÌýtheÌýregion.

The Black Artists Fund isÌýone such grant, specifically intended forÌýblack artists inÌýtheÌýgreater Louisville area. The grant isÌýintended ³Ù´ÇÌýcelebrate ²¹²Ô»åÌý“amplify theÌýcreations” ofÌýlocal black artists, including musicians.

Black Artist Foundry

The isÌýanÌýorganization that isÌýcommitted ³Ù´ÇÌýoffering “unrestricted funds, studio ²¹²Ô»åÌýexhibition spaces, ²¹²Ô»åÌýcommunity ³Ù´ÇÌýBlack artists”. The organization’s support forÌýblack artists isÌýmanifested inÌýseveral different ways. The isÌýtheÌýorganization’s annual grant, awarded ³Ù´ÇÌýblack artists inÌýall mediums. Past winners include dancers, fashion designers, painters, ²¹²Ô»åÌývisual artists, asÌýwell asÌýmusicians.

InÌýaddition ³Ù´ÇÌýoffering grants forÌýblack musicians, theÌýBlack Artists Foundry also provides aÌýrange ofÌýother resources. This includes connecting black artists with outside grant opportunities, community events, ²¹²Ô»åÌýeducational opportunities.

Artist Project Fund

The isÌýaÌý$Ìý2,000Ìýgrant awarded byÌýtheÌý ³Ù´ÇÌý²õ±ð±¹±ð°ù²¹±ô Atlanta-area artists each year. The NBAF isÌýaÌýnational non-profit organization dedicated ³Ù´ÇÌýpromoting ²¹²Ô»åÌýsupporting black artists inÌýall mediums. InÌýaddition ³Ù´ÇÌýtheÌýAPF, theÌýNBAF hands out theÌý each year. Horizon Award winners inÌýseveral categories, including music, receive aÌý$10,000Ìýcash reward. However, this award isÌýinvite-only, meaning aspiring artists cannot apply forÌýit.

Grants For Female Musicians

New York Foundation forÌýtheÌýArts

The Women’s Fund isÌýaÌýgrant program forÌýfemale artists across aÌývariety ofÌýdisciplines. All female artists inÌýtheÌýNYC area, including musicians, are encouraged ³Ù´ÇÌýapply ²¹²Ô»åÌýare eligible ³Ù´ÇÌýreceive aÌýgrant.

The NYFA offers grants ofÌýdiffering sizes based onÌýtheÌýartist’s discipline ²¹²Ô»åÌýproject size. Recipients ofÌýtheÌýmusic grant will receive $20,000. Applicants must beÌýworking onÌýaÌýproject ³Ù´ÇÌýreceive funding orÌýhave aÌýproject planned. Funded projects are expected ³Ù´ÇÌýbeÌýfinished within 12Ìýmonths ofÌýreceiving theÌýgrant.

Applications forÌýtheÌýNYFA Women’s Fund close inÌýlate fall (the 2023Ìýdeadline isÌýNovember 1). Recipients should beÌýnotified ofÌýtheir funding byÌýearly spring ofÌýtheÌýfollowing year.

Grants For Jazz Musicians

BMI Foundation

The isÌýaÌýnonprofit organization that supports, “the creation, performance, ²¹²Ô»åÌýstudy ofÌýmusic through awards, scholarships, grants, ²¹²Ô»åÌýcommissions.” The foundation offers aÌýrange ofÌýgrants forÌýdifferent genres ofÌýmusic, including grants forÌýjazz musicians.

The isÌýawarded each year ³Ù´ÇÌýone jazz performer between theÌýages ofÌý17Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý24. The winner receives aÌý$Ìý5,000Ìýcash prize, inÌýaddition ³Ù´ÇÌýtheÌýrecognition ²¹²Ô»åÌýprestige that comes with winning theÌýaward. The Future Jazz Master Award has anÌýopen application process, although there are application criteria that must beÌýfollowed.

The BMI Foundation also distributes invitation-only rewards forÌýjazz musicians, ²¹²Ô»åÌýperformers inÌýother genres. The isÌýawarded annually ³Ù´ÇÌýaÌýnominated jazz performer, who receives aÌý$Ìý3,000Ìýcash prize.

Grants For Classical Musicians

BMI Foundation

The BMI Foundation also awards grants forÌýclassical musicians, inÌýaddition ³Ù´ÇÌýjazz ²¹²Ô»åÌýseveral other categories. The are open ³Ù´ÇÌýanyÌýcomposer under theÌýage ofÌý28. The BMI Foundation welcomes submissions “for anyÌýinstrumentation ²¹²Ô»åÌýinÌýanyÌýclassical genre”.

Multiple recipients are awarded aÌýcash reward, with prizes totaling upÌý³Ù´ÇÌý$20,000Ìýannually. The Composer Awards have anÌýopen application process. Applicants must submit anÌýoriginal composition ofÌýtheir choice inÌýorder ³Ù´ÇÌýbeÌýeligible ³Ù´ÇÌýreceive theÌýaward.

Other Ways ³Ù´ÇÌýMake Money asÌýaÌýMusician

Applying forÌýgrants forÌýmusicians can beÌýboth effective ²¹²Ô»åÌýrewarding forÌýanyone trying ³Ù´ÇÌýmake aÌýliving through music. But there are other creative options available asÌýwell. From utilizing social media ³Ù´ÇÌýselling digital downloads ²¹²Ô»åÌýonline music courses, there are tons ofÌýcreative ways ³Ù´ÇÌýmonetize your passion. And getting started can beÌýasÌýeasy asÌýsigning upÌýwith ºÚÁÏÃÅ. ºÚÁÏÃÅ can help you build aÌýcustom, professional website ³Ù´ÇÌýsell your products ²¹²Ô»åÌýservices ²¹²Ô»åÌýgrow your online brand.

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About The Author
Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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