New Music Inc Program
New York City, Chicago, or Baltimore
Funding, mentorship, and cohort learning for small-budget, artist-led music groups and organizations.
About the Program
New Music Inc is an incubator program that helps small-budget, artist-led new music groups and organizations in New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore to generate new ideas, strategies and collaborations at pivotal stages in the group or collective’s development. The program provides each participating organization with financial support coupled with 12 to 18 months of hands-on skill-building in a cohort environment intended to foster collective learning and collaboration. In each city, a locally based Program Coordinator will facilitate the program, working closely with participants in helping them reach their goals.
New Music Inc is open to organizations, collectives, or groups working in any music style. Each cohort will consist of 50% BIPOC-led organizations to reflect the diversity of creators and artists who are contributing to each location’s music community. A 501(c)3 status tax status is not required.
The program will explore themes and challenges identified by participating organizations in collaboration with our Program Coordinators and New Music USA staff. We anticipate that this may include audience development, fundraising, marketing, equity and diversity, board development and other areas of strategic planning. Our overarching goal is to create a supportive space through which a cohort of artist-led organizations can learn together, sharing the unique challenges and opportunities they face.
Our New Music Inc program is based on the New Music Capacity Building Program that we launched in 2020 with support from The New York Community Trust. It includes core elements of our capacity building program model with new opportunities for inter-city exchange generated by the program’s delivery concurrently in three cities – Chicago, Baltimore and New York City.
Regional New Music Inc programs are funded and made possible by The New York Community Trust (New York City) and the Walder Foundation (Chicago). The Baltimore program is supported in part by grants from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation.
Who can apply?
We welcome applications from small-budget music organizations - including performance groups, ensembles, collectives, recording labels, festivals, presenters, venues, and more – with an operating budget of less than $250k. Applicant organizations can be based in any borough or neighborhood of New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore. All applicants must confirm their ability to fully commit to program activities, during the proposed timeframe of each program (see below).
Summary of program activity
Our flexible program will be shaped to meet the needs of the selected groups or organizations; each will receive unrestricted financial support in order to implement organizational plans that they will design in consultation with New Music USA staff, the Program Coordinator and industry experts. We will provide recommendations for resources, peer mentors or advisors, and consultants to help them implement their plans. The content of our cohort learning sessions will also be dictated by the participating organizations. In these learning sessions, participants will have an opportunity to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Program details for each city are as follows:
Baltimore
Supported in part by grants from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation, this first Baltimore-based program will combine flexible financial support with professional development opportunities made available to eight Baltimore-based organizations, who are committed to the program’s activities (12 months). Selected groups will receive:
$6,000 of general support
Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for your group/ organization. You will be guided by the Program Coordinator to set clear goals and objectives.
6 cohort learning sessions (2 in-person, 4 virtual) to grow knowledge and skill on pertinent topics as dictated by participants; to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Cohort learning sessions will begin in September 2023 with one 2-hour meeting running approximately every other month through July 2024.
Four 1:1 check ins between participant organizations and the Program Coordinator
Peer-to-peer feedback from other arts professionals in Baltimore
Opportunity to collaborate and exchange with cohort members based in New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore
Chicago
With the support from the Walder Foundation, this first Chicago-based program will combine flexible financial support with professional development opportunities made available to twelve Chicago-based organizations, who are committed to the program’s activities for the duration 18 months. Selected groups will receive:
$8,000 grant for general support (two installments over 18 months)
Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for the organization. You will be guided by the Program Coordinator to set clear goals and objectives.
8 cohort learning sessions (2 in-person, 6 virtual) to grow knowledge and skill on pertinent topics as dictated by participants to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Cohort learning sessions will begin in September 2023 with one 2-hour meeting running approximately every other month through October 2024.
Four 1:1 check ins between participant organizations and the Program Coordinator
Peer-to-peer feedback from other arts professionals in Chicago
Opportunity to collaborate and exchange with cohort members based in New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore
New York City
With the support from The New York Community Trust, this second New York City-based program will combine a general support grant with professional development opportunities made available to ten NYC-based organizations, who are committed to the program’s activities for the duration of 18 months. Selected groups will receive:
$10,000 grant for general support (two installments over 18 months)
Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for the organization. You will be guided by the Program Coordinator to set clear goals and objectives.
8 cohort learning sessions (2 in-person, 6 virtual) to grow knowledge and skill on pertinent topics as dictated by participants; to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Cohort learning sessions will begin in September 2023 with one 2-hour meeting running approximately every other month through October 2024.
Four 1:1 check ins between participant organizations and the Program Coordinator
Peer-to-peer feedback and guidance from other arts professionals in NYC
Opportunity to collaborate and exchange with cohort members based in New York, Chicago, and Baltimore
Eligibility
New Music Inc does not aim to provide long-term financial support. Instead, this program aims to reserve as a catalyst for change, supporting collaboration, and new ways of working which assist organizations with long term planning, and sustainability. Successful applicants in each city where the program has already taken place may not apply again.
Music organizations can be based in any neighborhood or borough of New York City, Chicago, or Baltimore. We invite applications from any kind of small to medium sized organization including performance groups, music organizations/ collectives, ensembles, festivals, presenters, venues, and more
All Applicant organizations must:
have been working together as a collective/organization for 3 years
have an annual budget under $250,000
demonstrate financial stability
have the capacity to participate in the program fully including staff and/or Board resources
be able to track and articulate outcomes be able to contribute strongly to the cohort
be self-motivated and enthusiastic to work with others on the stated program’s challenges
Other considerations:
You do not need have a 501(c)3 status
For NYC applicants, organizations awarded in the initial New Music Capacity Building Program are not eligible to apply
Review Criteria
Impact, quality and breadth of program/content
History of performing or programming new music in your organization’s city
Commitment to music by living music creators
Role in the applicant’s community/borough/neighborhood
In a position to move to the next level through track record of gradually building audiences, growing profile and developing the organization
Learn about our review criteria on our FAQ’S and Guiding Principles
Application Materials
provide an organizational/collective bio or mission (limit 150 words).
Written/video/audio narrative outlining the following points (written narrative or up to 5 minute video)
The work that you do including your commitment to music by living creators. Please explain how your approach different or similar to other organizations (Limit 150 words or brief video/audio)
Describe how your collective/ organization engages with and includes the local community. Who, what, when, where? (Limit 200 words or brief video/audio)
List the three biggest challenges for your organization at this time and explain why. (Limit 250 words or brief video/audio)
This program includes a grant to be used to build the capacity of your collective/ organization. Please summarize where the organization currently is in development and describe how it intends to use this funding. (Limit 250 words or brief video/audio)
Provide a brief outline of how you address equity, diversity, and inclusion within your collective/ organization and programming. (Limit 150 words)
2 to 3 work samples; demonstrating the work of living creators
Programming list that articulates organization’s role as presenters or promoters of new music
Most recent budget
Last year’s financial statement/ budget
Deadline/timeline
Deadline will be June 12, 2023. Awards announced in mid-August. Convenings will occur every other month throughout the duration of the program and attendance will be required. Our first convening will begin in September 2023.
For further information or questions register for our free webinar May 25, 2pm ET.
Contact: grants@newmusicusa.org , please allow 2-3 business days for a response due to high volume
New Music Inc - Baltimore, Chicago, & NYC
New Music Inc Program
New York City, Chicago, or Baltimore
Funding, mentorship, and cohort learning for small-budget, artist-led music groups and organizations.
About the Program
New Music Inc is an incubator program that helps small-budget, artist-led new music groups and organizations in New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore to generate new ideas, strategies and collaborations at pivotal stages in the group or collective’s development. The program provides each participating organization with financial support coupled with 12 to 18 months of hands-on skill-building in a cohort environment intended to foster collective learning and collaboration. In each city, a locally based Program Coordinator will facilitate the program, working closely with participants in helping them reach their goals.
New Music Inc is open to organizations, collectives, or groups working in any music style. Each cohort will consist of 50% BIPOC-led organizations to reflect the diversity of creators and artists who are contributing to each location’s music community. A 501(c)3 status tax status is not required.
The program will explore themes and challenges identified by participating organizations in collaboration with our Program Coordinators and New Music USA staff. We anticipate that this may include audience development, fundraising, marketing, equity and diversity, board development and other areas of strategic planning. Our overarching goal is to create a supportive space through which a cohort of artist-led organizations can learn together, sharing the unique challenges and opportunities they face.
Our New Music Inc program is based on the New Music Capacity Building Program that we launched in 2020 with support from The New York Community Trust. It includes core elements of our capacity building program model with new opportunities for inter-city exchange generated by the program’s delivery concurrently in three cities – Chicago, Baltimore and New York City.
Regional New Music Inc programs are funded and made possible by The New York Community Trust (New York City) and the Walder Foundation (Chicago). The Baltimore program is supported in part by grants from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation.
Who can apply?
We welcome applications from small-budget music organizations - including performance groups, ensembles, collectives, recording labels, festivals, presenters, venues, and more – with an operating budget of less than $250k. Applicant organizations can be based in any borough or neighborhood of New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore. All applicants must confirm their ability to fully commit to program activities, during the proposed timeframe of each program (see below).
Summary of program activity
Our flexible program will be shaped to meet the needs of the selected groups or organizations; each will receive unrestricted financial support in order to implement organizational plans that they will design in consultation with New Music USA staff, the Program Coordinator and industry experts. We will provide recommendations for resources, peer mentors or advisors, and consultants to help them implement their plans. The content of our cohort learning sessions will also be dictated by the participating organizations. In these learning sessions, participants will have an opportunity to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Program details for each city are as follows:
Baltimore
Supported in part by grants from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation, this first Baltimore-based program will combine flexible financial support with professional development opportunities made available to eight Baltimore-based organizations, who are committed to the program’s activities (12 months). Selected groups will receive:
$6,000 of general support
Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for your group/ organization. You will be guided by the Program Coordinator to set clear goals and objectives.
6 cohort learning sessions (2 in-person, 4 virtual) to grow knowledge and skill on pertinent topics as dictated by participants; to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Cohort learning sessions will begin in September 2023 with one 2-hour meeting running approximately every other month through July 2024.
Four 1:1 check ins between participant organizations and the Program Coordinator
Peer-to-peer feedback from other arts professionals in Baltimore
Opportunity to collaborate and exchange with cohort members based in New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore
Chicago
With the support from the Walder Foundation, this first Chicago-based program will combine flexible financial support with professional development opportunities made available to twelve Chicago-based organizations, who are committed to the program’s activities for the duration 18 months. Selected groups will receive:
$8,000 grant for general support (two installments over 18 months)
Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for the organization. You will be guided by the Program Coordinator to set clear goals and objectives.
8 cohort learning sessions (2 in-person, 6 virtual) to grow knowledge and skill on pertinent topics as dictated by participants to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Cohort learning sessions will begin in September 2023 with one 2-hour meeting running approximately every other month through October 2024.
Four 1:1 check ins between participant organizations and the Program Coordinator
Peer-to-peer feedback from other arts professionals in Chicago
Opportunity to collaborate and exchange with cohort members based in New York City, Chicago, and Baltimore
New York City
With the support from The New York Community Trust, this second New York City-based program will combine a general support grant with professional development opportunities made available to ten NYC-based organizations, who are committed to the program’s activities for the duration of 18 months. Selected groups will receive:
$10,000 grant for general support (two installments over 18 months)
Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for the organization. You will be guided by the Program Coordinator to set clear goals and objectives.
8 cohort learning sessions (2 in-person, 6 virtual) to grow knowledge and skill on pertinent topics as dictated by participants; to share progress and ideas, and to hear from guest speakers and experts in response to needs expressed by members of the cohort. Cohort learning sessions will begin in September 2023 with one 2-hour meeting running approximately every other month through October 2024.
Four 1:1 check ins between participant organizations and the Program Coordinator
Peer-to-peer feedback and guidance from other arts professionals in NYC
Opportunity to collaborate and exchange with cohort members based in New York, Chicago, and Baltimore
Eligibility
New Music Inc does not aim to provide long-term financial support. Instead, this program aims to reserve as a catalyst for change, supporting collaboration, and new ways of working which assist organizations with long term planning, and sustainability. Successful applicants in each city where the program has already taken place may not apply again.
Music organizations can be based in any neighborhood or borough of New York City, Chicago, or Baltimore. We invite applications from any kind of small to medium sized organization including performance groups, music organizations/ collectives, ensembles, festivals, presenters, venues, and more
All Applicant organizations must:
have been working together as a collective/organization for 3 years
have an annual budget under $250,000
demonstrate financial stability
have the capacity to participate in the program fully including staff and/or Board resources
be able to track and articulate outcomes be able to contribute strongly to the cohort
be self-motivated and enthusiastic to work with others on the stated program’s challenges
Other considerations:
You do not need have a 501(c)3 status
For NYC applicants, organizations awarded in the initial New Music Capacity Building Program are not eligible to apply
Review Criteria
Impact, quality and breadth of program/content
History of performing or programming new music in your organization’s city
Commitment to music by living music creators
Role in the applicant’s community/borough/neighborhood
In a position to move to the next level through track record of gradually building audiences, growing profile and developing the organization
Learn about our review criteria on our FAQ’S and Guiding Principles
Application Materials
provide an organizational/collective bio or mission (limit 150 words).
Written/video/audio narrative outlining the following points (written narrative or up to 5 minute video)
The work that you do including your commitment to music by living creators. Please explain how your approach different or similar to other organizations (Limit 150 words or brief video/audio)
Describe how your collective/ organization engages with and includes the local community. Who, what, when, where? (Limit 200 words or brief video/audio)
List the three biggest challenges for your organization at this time and explain why. (Limit 250 words or brief video/audio)
This program includes a grant to be used to build the capacity of your collective/ organization. Please summarize where the organization currently is in development and describe how it intends to use this funding. (Limit 250 words or brief video/audio)
Provide a brief outline of how you address equity, diversity, and inclusion within your collective/ organization and programming. (Limit 150 words)
2 to 3 work samples; demonstrating the work of living creators
Programming list that articulates organization’s role as presenters or promoters of new music
Most recent budget
Last year’s financial statement/ budget
Deadline/timeline
Deadline will be June 12, 2023. Awards announced in mid-August. Convenings will occur every other month throughout the duration of the program and attendance will be required. Our first convening will begin in September 2023.
For further information or questions register for our free webinar May 25, 2pm ET.
Contact: grants@newmusicusa.org , please allow 2-3 business days for a response due to high volume