Amphion Foundation Grant: Performing Ensembles Grants ( Spring cycle)

The Amphion Foundation Grant supports performing organizations in the Spring cycle, focusing on contemporary concert music, particularly by American composers. Eligible applicants include orchestras, opera companies, and dance groups with a history of artistic excellence. The grant offers general operating and project support for performances and presentations, aiming to enhance the performance of contemporary music.

NOTE: Performing Organizations must apply to the Spring grant cycle. Such organizations may also apply to the Fall grant cycle only if they operate a discrete and substantial standalone program that qualifies for Fall grant cycle eligibility. All requests to apply to both cycles must be approved by the Foundation in advance. Please contact the Grants Manager for further information.
The Program’s Objective
To encourage the performance of contemporary concert music, particularly by American composers, through support to performing and presenting organizations that have demonstrated sustained artistic excellence, in addition to service organizations.
Performing groups such as orchestras, opera companies and chamber music groups with a consistent core membership, as well as ”flexible” ensembles with consistent artistic leadership and identity, are considered performing ensembles. Dance companies are also eligible to apply for projects that involve live performances of contemporary concert music.
Types of Support
General Operating Support is available for organizations with a history of substantial commitment to contemporary American concert music and with plans to continue that commitment.
Project Support is also available for exceptionally important activities relating to contemporary concert music that are out of the scope of an organization’s regular programming, and often (but not necessarily) a discrete initiative.
Please note that organizations based outside of the United States and its territories may apply for support exclusively for contemporary concert music by American composers.
The following activities will be considered eligible in the Spring cycle:

• Performances by organizationsPresentation of performances
• Deadline: The Spring grant cycle has an annual deadline at the end of February.
• Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

All applicants must meet the following requirements:501(c)(3) non-profit status (or foreign equivalent), or fiscal sponsorshipTwo or more years of performance or program history as an organizationEligible applicants must:Be a publicly supported non-profit or fiscally sponsored organization with a history of substantial commitment to contemporary concert music (music written within the last 50 years);Have a minimum of two years of performance or, for groups other than performing groups, programmatic activity prior to the time of application (except for special projects of extraordinary significance: please contact the Grants Manager for approval); andHave an operating budget of $10 million or less.Organizations with budgets over $10 million may apply for project support with the approval of the Grants ManagerWhat is eligible?The Amphion Foundation provides funding to performing and presenting organizations and various music service organizations for the performance and dissemination of contemporary concert music.Funding is available for eligible activity occurring between September of the current year and August of the following year. The period for the current cycle is September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.Organizations that are part of a commissioning consortium and wish to apply for support for the performance of the commissioned work should contact the Grants Manager for further information.

Ineligibility

The Amphion Foundation does not provide funding for the following:Applications from individualsUnincorporated or for-profit organizations except via a fiscal sponsorEndowment fundsMusic publishing projectsStudent ensemblesVolunteer, community, and amateur ensemblesEducational institutions*Composer commissioning fees and/or honoraria**Composition competitions (except as part of a larger program of support for composers)Programming outside the field of contemporary concert music; this includes commercial, pop, jazz, Broadway-style musical theater, sacred, holiday, and traditional concert band music.Note: The Amphion Foundation is dedicated to the support of performances at a professional level. Generally speaking, educational institutions and organizations (like schools and universities) may not apply for activities involving school-aged students, student ensembles, or credit-bearing university activities. However, such organizations may apply for performances or other eligible projects that present professional musicians to the public, such as faculty ensembles and concert series.
While the Foundation does not provide funding for programs presented by or for school-aged students, youth choruses that perform contemporary concert music specifically composed for children’s voices may be considered (please inquire with the Grants Manager).