Overview

The Musical Grant Program is an annual funding opportunity open to Bay Area-based individuals, artistic entities, and arts and culture organizations seeking funding for presenting or producing small ensemble music projects.

Please see the eligibility requirements below for more details.

annual grant awards

Annual grant awards are made in the range of $2,000-$4,000.

  • Maximum grant awards for projects involving one artistic entity or organization, $3,000
  • Maximum grant awards for collaborative projects, $4,000


The MGP aims to promote musical activities through the support of small ensembles, instrumental and vocal performers, composers, concert presenters, arts and culture organizations, and artistic collaborations. The grant is open to projects that involve the participation of at least one *small ensemble.

*InterMusic SF defines a small ensemble as one or more musical performers, instrumentalists and/or vocalists. Ensembles should not exceed 25 members.

are you eligible?

Eligible Applicants

  • Small Ensembles
  • Guest Artist(s) + Small Ensemble Collaborations
  • Composer + Small Ensemble Collaborations
  • Concert and/or Festival Presenters
  • Arts & Culture Organizations

Collaborations: Lead Applicants + Project Partners

Collaborations require both a lead applicant and a project partner. While the lead applicant will prepare and submit the project proposal and grant application, the project partner is considered to be an active applicant and all specified eligibility requirements apply.

Is your project partner on board?

Project Partner Requirements

The project partner is REQUIRED to submit an eligibility form by the application deadline to complete the MGP application.

NEW Application & Eligibility Form Deadline: Sunday, April 21, 2024 11:59 PDT

Project partners can submit for eligibility at any time during the application cycle.

InterMusic SF defines a project partner as an eligible artistic entity or organization (as listed above) that collaborates with the lead applicant on a project. The project partner is considered to be an active applicant and all specified eligibility requirements apply.

Please note: Collaborative applications require main contacts to be listed for both the lead applicant and the project partner. See Applicant Exclusions for more details on eligibility.

Eligible Applicant Details

Small Ensembles

  • Ensemble of 1-25 instrumental and/or vocal members 
  • Ensemble with consistent membership and collective history of public performance
  • Ensemble created for a specific performance project and each individual member demonstrates a history of public performance
  •  

Guest Artist(s)

  • Instrumentalists, vocalists, multimedia artists, and artists from other disciplines in collaboration with an eligible small ensemble

 

Composers

  • Composer in collaboration with an eligible small ensemble
  • Composer AND performing member of collaborating eligible small ensemble

 

Concert and/or Festival Presenters

  • Presenter of an ongoing concert series with a history of presenting music performances to the public in collaboration with an eligible small ensemble
  • Presenter of a short-duration festival, with a history of presenting music performances to the public in collaboration with an eligible small ensemble

 

Arts & Culture Organizations

  • Organization with or without nonprofit tax-exempt status
  • Organization that promotes the creation and presentation of small ensemble music through program initiatives

 

Applicant Exclusions

  • 2023 MGP awardees are NOT eligible to apply in the 2024 MGP application cycle. This restriction also applies to past project partners.
  • Awardees of MGP cycles prior to 2023 (2022 and earlier) are eligible to apply in the 2024 grant cycle ONLY if all final grant reports for MGP awards have been submitted by January 31, 2024. This restriction also applies to past project partners.
  • Individuals serving as the main contact for either a lead applicant or project partner CANNOT be included in more than one MGP application per cycle.

Geographical Requirements

Eligible lead applicants and project partners must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years of age

  • Be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident

  • Reside and present the project in one of the following San Francisco Bay Area counties:

    • Alameda

    • Contra Costa

    • Marin

    • Napa

    • San Francisco

    • San Mateo

    • Santa Clara 

    • Solano

    • Sonoma

  • Annual operational budget of under $150,000

what do we fund?

Eligibile Projects

  • Live performances and concerts
  • Commissions of new work
  • Professional studio recordings 
  • Presentation of short-duration festivals

 

Project Requirements

  • All projects must include the involvement of at least one eligible small ensemble
  • All collaborations must include two applicants (a lead applicant and a project partner)
  • All applicants must list a main contact

what we don't fund?

  • Entire seasons of concerts
  • Events and activities closed to the general public (e.g., educational outreach at schools, etc.)
  • General operating expenses
  • Fundraising activities
  • Purchasing of equipment 
  • Debt reduction

 

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