New Music Creator Fund: Overview and Guidelines
About
The New Music Creator Fund offers grants to individual music creators working in any genre who need support to reach the next stage of their creative practice. The program supports costs related to the creation of new work and new projects developed in collaboration with other artists and practitioners. Individual performers may also apply if their collaborator is a music creator.
New for 2026: Applicants are invited to indicate their interest in being considered for the Thea Musgrave Performer-Composer Collaboration Grant, an annual award of $10,000 that is awarded through the Creator Fund. Made possible through the generosity of the esteemed composer Thea Musgrave and her husband, Peter Mark, the grant provides funding to a composer and performer(s) for the creation of new work and the collaboration required to bring it to fruition. This is an endowed grant that will be offered every year. For more information about the Musgrave grant, please read the guidelines here.
All applicants for the Musgrave grant must adhere to the guidelines for the New Music Creator Fund program, including all eligibility criteria as outlined below.
Applicants who apply for the Musgrave grant and are not selected will automatically be added to the regular Creator Fund application pool. Please note that the average Creator Fund grant is $3,000, with awards made up to $5,000. If awarded a regular Creator Fund grant, the composer and performer(s) are not required to fulfill the parameters specific to the Musgrave grant.
Our Definition of Music Creator
For us, the term ‘music creator’ refers to any individual composer or artist who creates original music. Some music creators may also be performers; some may only create music for other people to perform. All these individuals are eligible to submit applications to this fund.
Our Definition of New Music
At New Music USA we support and champion new music in all its forms; every sound is welcome. Anyone who is influencing the future of music creation and sound is creating new music!
Timeline
Our application portal will open on November 6, 2025, at 10 am ET/7am PT and will remain open for two weeks, closing on November 21, 2025, at 11:59pm ET/8:59pm PT.
Decisions and internal notifications will be made early April 2026, and the public announcement will be made in June 2026.
Registration Links for the Application Webinar and Q&A Sessions:
- Application Webinar – October 22, 2025 at 2pm ET, Register HERE
- Q&A: November 12, 2025, 2pm ET, Register HERE
Program Approach
In 2024, we made major changes to the New Music Creator Fund guidelines to:
- Increase the percentage of applicants per US region receiving support.
- Streamline the application evaluation process.
- Reduce wait times from application submission to decision notification and award.
These changes encompass three areas of the program:
1. Application Cycles based on Geographic Regions
The program’s application cycles are based on the 4 main geographic regions outlined by the US Census Bureau: The West, Midwest, South, and Northeast/Mid-Atlantic.
Each cycle of the program serves two alternating regions plus New York.
This year’s cycle (November 2025 deadline) is open to applicants based in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and New York.
Next year’s cycle (November 2026 deadline) will be open to applicants based in the West, South, and New York.
Applications from New York are accepted every year in respect of our endowment allocation for New York-based artists. In line with our regional cycles, New York applicants may not apply more than once every two years. If you are based in New York and applied for the Creator Fund in November 2024, you are not eligible to apply again until November 2026, regardless of whether or not you were awarded a grant.
Geographic Regions: State/Territory Breakdown
Midwest – eligible to apply in November 2025 (application open November 6-21, 2025)
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
New York – offered every year, but applicants may not apply more than once every two years.
In other words, if you applied to the Creator Fund in November 2024, you cannot apply again until November 2026, regardless of whether you received a grant or not. If you are a New York applicant and apply this year, you will be eligible to apply again in November 2027.
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic – eligible to apply in November 2025 (application open November 6-21, 2025)
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
South - eligible to apply in November 2026
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia
West - eligible to apply in November 2026
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Mariana Islands, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
2. Eligibility
We have made changes to our eligibility criteria to improve our assessment process. Applicants must complete an eligibility quiz before accessing the application. We ask that you pay close attention to the following changes before reading the complete criteria below:
- All applicants will now be required to watch (live or by viewing on demand) the Creator Fund Application Webinar which will take place on Wednesday, October 22, from 2-3pm ET - Register HERE. The webinar will be available on the program page for those who cannot attend in real time. Reporting your attendance/viewing will be based on the honor system – thank you in advance for your cooperation!
- All applicants must read the Creator Fund FAQs
- As stated above, to maintain alignment with the new regional cycles and to ensure equitable access for applicants from different geographic regions, all Creator Fund applicants (including those in New York) can only apply to the program every 2 years.
Other Eligibility Criteria
Age/Career Stage
- Students are not eligible for the New Music Creator Fund, with the exception of PhD/DMA candidates who have completed coursework and are considered ABD (All But Dissertation). ABD candidates are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a professional musician. We define professional musicians as those who have received public performances of their work or who regularly perform music publicly. In both cases we would expect you to have received financial compensation for at least some of your work.
Geography
- For this year’s cycle, the applicant must be a music creator based in New York State or one of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic or Midwest states listed above.
Collaboration
- The New Music Creator Fund encourages new collaborations. Each applicant must list between 1-5 collaborators on their application.
- A collaborator may be another musician, ensemble, an artist from a different discipline, a venue/presenter, or a producer; someone who you work with to bring your project to fruition.
- Collaboration could focus on e.g. the creation of new work, a live or virtual performance, a recording, or the research and development (R&D) time you need with your artistic collaborators. See the "What the Creator Fund Supports” section below for a complete list of what the program supports.
Applicant/Collaborators
- The New Music Creator Fund is for individuals only; organizations cannot apply.
- Each applicant may only submit one application.
- If an applicant appears on another application as a collaborator, only one project containing the applicant may be selected for an award.
- If a collaborator appears on more than one application, only one project containing the collaborator may be selected for an award.
- Applicants may not have received an award from any of New Music USA’s programs that fund individuals in 2024 or 2025 (i.e. Next Jazz Legacy, Reel Change, or Amplifying Voices).
Applicant Projects
- The Fund only supports new work; projects involving revisions or arrangements are not eligible.
- Projects that have already been publicly presented, either in part or whole, are not eligible.
- Performance, presentation, or completion of project should not take place before the grant is awarded, in June 2026.
- Requests solely for promotion/marketing/PR are not eligible.
Other Essential Requirements
- Applicants must have audio/video samples of their work.
- Applicants must include a resume/CV with their application materials.
3. Our Application Review Process
Our review process will be shortened to reduce waiting times from application to award.
New Music USA staff will first screen applications for completeness and to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, the applications will enter a peer review process: 40-50 independent panelists from around the country will evaluate the applications and determine the awardees. Every application will be assessed by at least 3 panelists.
Applications will be evaluated based on artistry, impact, and feasibility, outlined below.
Review Criteria (in order of importance)
Artistry: Artistic merit of the project and artist(s) involved based on submitted work samples and/or existing body of work. This includes projects that display originality and artistry that will shape the future of music creation and sound and/or projects that involve artistic growth and innovation. Please be sure to submit the very best examples of your music.
Impact: The difference this project will make to the next steps of your and your collaborators’ careers as professional artists. We are interested in projects with the most potential to have a significant impact on creative practice; how this project will help provide a breakthrough or lead to artistic and professional growth for you and your collaborator(s).
Feasibility: Feasibility of the proposed project, including budget appropriateness, project timeline, plans for public dissemination, and strength of collaboration.
PLEASE SEE THE CREATOR FUND FAQs FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE REVIEW PROCESS AND CRITERIA.
What the Creator Fund Supports
We are open to hearing from you about the support you need to initiate or sustain collaboration with other artists and to help you keep creating.
We envision that costs incurred through your collaborative work may include:
- Support for the time you need to create new material and initiate new collaborations with your proposed artist(s)
- Creation fees for a new idea or work in progress that does not have additional support
- Performer or other collaborator fees
- Project specific equipment
- Recording costs
- PR/marketing
- Technical assistance/skills building
- Support for digital presentation/creation of music videos
- Workshopping
- Joint R&D (research and development) into new project ideas
- Other costs you consider to be essential e.g., childcare for yourself or a collaborating artist
The Creator Fund Does Not Support:
- Benefits or fundraisers
- Competition fees
- Projects that are already 100% funded
- Projects that have already been completed
- Funds for international collaborators
- Individuals who are enrolled in a degree-granting program. Applicants who are PhD/DMA candidates and have completed coursework and considered ABD (All But Dissertation) are eligible to apply.
Applications must be led by music creators and can involve creative collaborators from any discipline.
Number of Awards We Can Make
We plan to make a total of 50 to 60 awards of up to $5,000 each with funding from New Music USA’s endowment and annual funders. The average grant is $3,000. In addition, there will be one $10,000 award granted to the recipients of the Thea Musgrave Composer-Performer Collaboration Grant. This award, which is part of the Creator Fund, is funded by an endowed gift from Thea Musgrave and Peter Mark. To learn more, please read the Musgrave grant guidelines here.
New York
This strand is open to artists who live in New York state only. Approximately 40 to 45% of our funding for individual creators will be allotted and we anticipate awarding roughly 24 to 25 artists in this strand.
This Cycle’s Regions: Midwest and Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Approximately 55 to 60% of our total funding for individual creators will be allotted to artists from the Midwest and Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. We anticipate awarding roughly 33 to 36 artists in this strand.
Funding Transparency
The New Music Creator Fund and the New Music Organization Fund are endowed programs that are made possible by the generous funders who either donated to our endowment or generously donate to New Music USA annually. Some of these funders had or have specific requests regarding the kinds of work we support because of their geographical location or specific area of interest. We are providing the facts and figures below so that all applicants have a better insight into these allocations, which influence the applications our advisors select. Please note that applications may cover a number of the categories listed below; others may not fit with any.
- Roughly 25% of the Creator and Organization Fund applications we award must include the creation of new work (e.g. commissions and facilitation of brand-new pieces of music)
- Roughly 25% of the Organization Fund applications we award must include creation or programming of live music for dance (creation, performance, choreographer, and dancer fees)
- Geographical restrictions are as follows:
- 54% of our grants budget is available without geographical restriction
- 37% is restricted to New York City based artists/organizations
- 7% is restricted to New York State based artists/organizations
- 2% is restricted to California Bay Area based artists/organizations
Inclusion and Belonging
New Music USA is committed to inclusive and equitable treatment across all our activities. We welcome the unique contributions that all artists bring in terms of their education, opinions, religion, culture, music style, ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, dis/ability, sexual orientation, languages spoken, religious beliefs, and geography. We encourage applications from all people including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with dis/abilities.
Application Questions/Requirements
Work Samples
Project Samples demonstrating artistic quality for music creator/key collaborator(s)
- 2 to 3 work samples demonstrating recent work by you and your collaborating artists.
- You may provide links to YouTube, Vimeo, or upload mp3/mp4 files.
Narrative
You can complete this section by submitting a written response OR by uploading a video or audio file (maximum 5 minutes). Please choose only one of these approaches as our review panel won't have time to assess both. To move forward in the review process, you MUST answer the following four questions in your narrative:
- Question 1: Please tell us about your proposed project and collaboration (250 words or less).
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- Tell us about your project.
- Who you’re proposing to collaborate with and why?
- Is this a new collaboration? If an existing one how is this moving in a new direction or contributing to artistic growth?
- Would this collaboration happen without support from New Music USA?
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- Question 2: Tell us about the impact this project will have and the difference this project will make in advancing your and other participants’ careers. (100 words or less)
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- How will this project advance or help you move forward to the next stage of your creative practice?
- What will happen once the project is completed?
- How will this work impact or contribute to your community, if applicable (e.g., your community of artists, the community you are in, your audience, etc.)
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- Question 3: Please outline how you would use the money if awarded. (100 words or less)
- Question 4: When will you do this work? (100 words or less)
- Please provide a timeline for the project including any relevant dates and plans for public performance or dissemination.
Budget Breakdown
- Please outline how you plan to use the funds, as well as any funding received or projected to date for the proposed project. Please share short descriptions with each budget line.
- Your budget can include:
- Support for the time you need to create new material and initiate new collaborations with your proposed artist(s)
- Creation fees for a new idea or work in progress that does not have additional support.
- Performer or other collaborator fees
- Project specific equipment
- Recording costs
- PR/marketing
- Technical assistance/skills building.
- Support for digital presentation/creation of music videos
- Workshopping
- Joint R&D (research and development) into new project ideas
- Other costs you consider to be essential e.g., childcare for yourself or a collaborating artist.
Support from New Music USA’s Team
- Due to the high volume of applications, New Music USA is only able to provide email assistance for technical issues with the application site. For help with your application the following services will be available:
- Creator Fund FAQs provide answers to most questions.
- If you have a technical issue with the application site, email grants@newmusicusa.org with “Technical Issue” in the subject line.
- Due to the high volume of applications, New Music USA is not able to:
- Accept applications after the stated deadline of November 21, 2025, at 11:59pm ET.
- Consider or inform applicants of incomplete or improperly submitted applications.
- Provide feedback.
- Notifications and any communications about your application will be made via email from our application site in April 2026. Please add noreply@mail.smapply.net to your address book to ensure you receive these communications.
- If awarded:
- You will be required to document grant-funded activities, keep records of expenses, and submit documentation and receipts.
- You will be required to submit a final report or update on funded activities by June 2027.
For further questions and information, please read the FAQs HERE.
New Music Creator Fund
New Music Creator Fund: Overview and Guidelines
About
The New Music Creator Fund offers grants to individual music creators working in any genre who need support to reach the next stage of their creative practice. The program supports costs related to the creation of new work and new projects developed in collaboration with other artists and practitioners. Individual performers may also apply if their collaborator is a music creator.
New for 2026: Applicants are invited to indicate their interest in being considered for the Thea Musgrave Performer-Composer Collaboration Grant, an annual award of $10,000 that is awarded through the Creator Fund. Made possible through the generosity of the esteemed composer Thea Musgrave and her husband, Peter Mark, the grant provides funding to a composer and performer(s) for the creation of new work and the collaboration required to bring it to fruition. This is an endowed grant that will be offered every year. For more information about the Musgrave grant, please read the guidelines here.
All applicants for the Musgrave grant must adhere to the guidelines for the New Music Creator Fund program, including all eligibility criteria as outlined below.
Applicants who apply for the Musgrave grant and are not selected will automatically be added to the regular Creator Fund application pool. Please note that the average Creator Fund grant is $3,000, with awards made up to $5,000. If awarded a regular Creator Fund grant, the composer and performer(s) are not required to fulfill the parameters specific to the Musgrave grant.
Our Definition of Music Creator
For us, the term ‘music creator’ refers to any individual composer or artist who creates original music. Some music creators may also be performers; some may only create music for other people to perform. All these individuals are eligible to submit applications to this fund.
Our Definition of New Music
At New Music USA we support and champion new music in all its forms; every sound is welcome. Anyone who is influencing the future of music creation and sound is creating new music!
Timeline
Our application portal will open on November 6, 2025, at 10 am ET/7am PT and will remain open for two weeks, closing on November 21, 2025, at 11:59pm ET/8:59pm PT.
Decisions and internal notifications will be made early April 2026, and the public announcement will be made in June 2026.
Registration Links for the Application Webinar and Q&A Sessions:
- Application Webinar – October 22, 2025 at 2pm ET, Register HERE
- Q&A: November 12, 2025, 2pm ET, Register HERE
Program Approach
In 2024, we made major changes to the New Music Creator Fund guidelines to:
- Increase the percentage of applicants per US region receiving support.
- Streamline the application evaluation process.
- Reduce wait times from application submission to decision notification and award.
These changes encompass three areas of the program:
1. Application Cycles based on Geographic Regions
The program’s application cycles are based on the 4 main geographic regions outlined by the US Census Bureau: The West, Midwest, South, and Northeast/Mid-Atlantic.
Each cycle of the program serves two alternating regions plus New York.
This year’s cycle (November 2025 deadline) is open to applicants based in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and New York.
Next year’s cycle (November 2026 deadline) will be open to applicants based in the West, South, and New York.
Applications from New York are accepted every year in respect of our endowment allocation for New York-based artists. In line with our regional cycles, New York applicants may not apply more than once every two years. If you are based in New York and applied for the Creator Fund in November 2024, you are not eligible to apply again until November 2026, regardless of whether or not you were awarded a grant.
Geographic Regions: State/Territory Breakdown
Midwest – eligible to apply in November 2025 (application open November 6-21, 2025)
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
New York – offered every year, but applicants may not apply more than once every two years.
In other words, if you applied to the Creator Fund in November 2024, you cannot apply again until November 2026, regardless of whether you received a grant or not. If you are a New York applicant and apply this year, you will be eligible to apply again in November 2027.
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic – eligible to apply in November 2025 (application open November 6-21, 2025)
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
South - eligible to apply in November 2026
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia
West - eligible to apply in November 2026
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Mariana Islands, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
2. Eligibility
We have made changes to our eligibility criteria to improve our assessment process. Applicants must complete an eligibility quiz before accessing the application. We ask that you pay close attention to the following changes before reading the complete criteria below:
- All applicants will now be required to watch (live or by viewing on demand) the Creator Fund Application Webinar which will take place on Wednesday, October 22, from 2-3pm ET - Register HERE. The webinar will be available on the program page for those who cannot attend in real time. Reporting your attendance/viewing will be based on the honor system – thank you in advance for your cooperation!
- All applicants must read the Creator Fund FAQs
- As stated above, to maintain alignment with the new regional cycles and to ensure equitable access for applicants from different geographic regions, all Creator Fund applicants (including those in New York) can only apply to the program every 2 years.
Other Eligibility Criteria
Age/Career Stage
- Students are not eligible for the New Music Creator Fund, with the exception of PhD/DMA candidates who have completed coursework and are considered ABD (All But Dissertation). ABD candidates are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a professional musician. We define professional musicians as those who have received public performances of their work or who regularly perform music publicly. In both cases we would expect you to have received financial compensation for at least some of your work.
Geography
- For this year’s cycle, the applicant must be a music creator based in New York State or one of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic or Midwest states listed above.
Collaboration
- The New Music Creator Fund encourages new collaborations. Each applicant must list between 1-5 collaborators on their application.
- A collaborator may be another musician, ensemble, an artist from a different discipline, a venue/presenter, or a producer; someone who you work with to bring your project to fruition.
- Collaboration could focus on e.g. the creation of new work, a live or virtual performance, a recording, or the research and development (R&D) time you need with your artistic collaborators. See the "What the Creator Fund Supports” section below for a complete list of what the program supports.
Applicant/Collaborators
- The New Music Creator Fund is for individuals only; organizations cannot apply.
- Each applicant may only submit one application.
- If an applicant appears on another application as a collaborator, only one project containing the applicant may be selected for an award.
- If a collaborator appears on more than one application, only one project containing the collaborator may be selected for an award.
- Applicants may not have received an award from any of New Music USA’s programs that fund individuals in 2024 or 2025 (i.e. Next Jazz Legacy, Reel Change, or Amplifying Voices).
Applicant Projects
- The Fund only supports new work; projects involving revisions or arrangements are not eligible.
- Projects that have already been publicly presented, either in part or whole, are not eligible.
- Performance, presentation, or completion of project should not take place before the grant is awarded, in June 2026.
- Requests solely for promotion/marketing/PR are not eligible.
Other Essential Requirements
- Applicants must have audio/video samples of their work.
- Applicants must include a resume/CV with their application materials.
3. Our Application Review Process
Our review process will be shortened to reduce waiting times from application to award.
New Music USA staff will first screen applications for completeness and to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, the applications will enter a peer review process: 40-50 independent panelists from around the country will evaluate the applications and determine the awardees. Every application will be assessed by at least 3 panelists.
Applications will be evaluated based on artistry, impact, and feasibility, outlined below.
Review Criteria (in order of importance)
Artistry: Artistic merit of the project and artist(s) involved based on submitted work samples and/or existing body of work. This includes projects that display originality and artistry that will shape the future of music creation and sound and/or projects that involve artistic growth and innovation. Please be sure to submit the very best examples of your music.
Impact: The difference this project will make to the next steps of your and your collaborators’ careers as professional artists. We are interested in projects with the most potential to have a significant impact on creative practice; how this project will help provide a breakthrough or lead to artistic and professional growth for you and your collaborator(s).
Feasibility: Feasibility of the proposed project, including budget appropriateness, project timeline, plans for public dissemination, and strength of collaboration.
PLEASE SEE THE CREATOR FUND FAQs FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE REVIEW PROCESS AND CRITERIA.
What the Creator Fund Supports
We are open to hearing from you about the support you need to initiate or sustain collaboration with other artists and to help you keep creating.
We envision that costs incurred through your collaborative work may include:
- Support for the time you need to create new material and initiate new collaborations with your proposed artist(s)
- Creation fees for a new idea or work in progress that does not have additional support
- Performer or other collaborator fees
- Project specific equipment
- Recording costs
- PR/marketing
- Technical assistance/skills building
- Support for digital presentation/creation of music videos
- Workshopping
- Joint R&D (research and development) into new project ideas
- Other costs you consider to be essential e.g., childcare for yourself or a collaborating artist
The Creator Fund Does Not Support:
- Benefits or fundraisers
- Competition fees
- Projects that are already 100% funded
- Projects that have already been completed
- Funds for international collaborators
- Individuals who are enrolled in a degree-granting program. Applicants who are PhD/DMA candidates and have completed coursework and considered ABD (All But Dissertation) are eligible to apply.
Applications must be led by music creators and can involve creative collaborators from any discipline.
Number of Awards We Can Make
We plan to make a total of 50 to 60 awards of up to $5,000 each with funding from New Music USA’s endowment and annual funders. The average grant is $3,000. In addition, there will be one $10,000 award granted to the recipients of the Thea Musgrave Composer-Performer Collaboration Grant. This award, which is part of the Creator Fund, is funded by an endowed gift from Thea Musgrave and Peter Mark. To learn more, please read the Musgrave grant guidelines here.
New York
This strand is open to artists who live in New York state only. Approximately 40 to 45% of our funding for individual creators will be allotted and we anticipate awarding roughly 24 to 25 artists in this strand.
This Cycle’s Regions: Midwest and Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Approximately 55 to 60% of our total funding for individual creators will be allotted to artists from the Midwest and Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. We anticipate awarding roughly 33 to 36 artists in this strand.
Funding Transparency
The New Music Creator Fund and the New Music Organization Fund are endowed programs that are made possible by the generous funders who either donated to our endowment or generously donate to New Music USA annually. Some of these funders had or have specific requests regarding the kinds of work we support because of their geographical location or specific area of interest. We are providing the facts and figures below so that all applicants have a better insight into these allocations, which influence the applications our advisors select. Please note that applications may cover a number of the categories listed below; others may not fit with any.
- Roughly 25% of the Creator and Organization Fund applications we award must include the creation of new work (e.g. commissions and facilitation of brand-new pieces of music)
- Roughly 25% of the Organization Fund applications we award must include creation or programming of live music for dance (creation, performance, choreographer, and dancer fees)
- Geographical restrictions are as follows:
- 54% of our grants budget is available without geographical restriction
- 37% is restricted to New York City based artists/organizations
- 7% is restricted to New York State based artists/organizations
- 2% is restricted to California Bay Area based artists/organizations
Inclusion and Belonging
New Music USA is committed to inclusive and equitable treatment across all our activities. We welcome the unique contributions that all artists bring in terms of their education, opinions, religion, culture, music style, ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, dis/ability, sexual orientation, languages spoken, religious beliefs, and geography. We encourage applications from all people including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with dis/abilities.
Application Questions/Requirements
Work Samples
Project Samples demonstrating artistic quality for music creator/key collaborator(s)
- 2 to 3 work samples demonstrating recent work by you and your collaborating artists.
- You may provide links to YouTube, Vimeo, or upload mp3/mp4 files.
Narrative
You can complete this section by submitting a written response OR by uploading a video or audio file (maximum 5 minutes). Please choose only one of these approaches as our review panel won't have time to assess both. To move forward in the review process, you MUST answer the following four questions in your narrative:
- Question 1: Please tell us about your proposed project and collaboration (250 words or less).
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- Tell us about your project.
- Who you’re proposing to collaborate with and why?
- Is this a new collaboration? If an existing one how is this moving in a new direction or contributing to artistic growth?
- Would this collaboration happen without support from New Music USA?
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- Question 2: Tell us about the impact this project will have and the difference this project will make in advancing your and other participants’ careers. (100 words or less)
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- How will this project advance or help you move forward to the next stage of your creative practice?
- What will happen once the project is completed?
- How will this work impact or contribute to your community, if applicable (e.g., your community of artists, the community you are in, your audience, etc.)
- Some questions you might consider in your response:
- Question 3: Please outline how you would use the money if awarded. (100 words or less)
- Question 4: When will you do this work? (100 words or less)
- Please provide a timeline for the project including any relevant dates and plans for public performance or dissemination.
Budget Breakdown
- Please outline how you plan to use the funds, as well as any funding received or projected to date for the proposed project. Please share short descriptions with each budget line.
- Your budget can include:
- Support for the time you need to create new material and initiate new collaborations with your proposed artist(s)
- Creation fees for a new idea or work in progress that does not have additional support.
- Performer or other collaborator fees
- Project specific equipment
- Recording costs
- PR/marketing
- Technical assistance/skills building.
- Support for digital presentation/creation of music videos
- Workshopping
- Joint R&D (research and development) into new project ideas
- Other costs you consider to be essential e.g., childcare for yourself or a collaborating artist.
Support from New Music USA’s Team
- Due to the high volume of applications, New Music USA is only able to provide email assistance for technical issues with the application site. For help with your application the following services will be available:
- Creator Fund FAQs provide answers to most questions.
- If you have a technical issue with the application site, email grants@newmusicusa.org with “Technical Issue” in the subject line.
- Due to the high volume of applications, New Music USA is not able to:
- Accept applications after the stated deadline of November 21, 2025, at 11:59pm ET.
- Consider or inform applicants of incomplete or improperly submitted applications.
- Provide feedback.
- Notifications and any communications about your application will be made via email from our application site in April 2026. Please add noreply@mail.smapply.net to your address book to ensure you receive these communications.
- If awarded:
- You will be required to document grant-funded activities, keep records of expenses, and submit documentation and receipts.
- You will be required to submit a final report or update on funded activities by June 2027.
For further questions and information, please read the FAQs HERE.