Grant and Collaborative Initiatives: Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship

The Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship, offered by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, supports doctoral candidates conducting research on topics related to composer Kurt Weill, his wife Lotte Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein. With an emphasis on groundbreaking scholarship, the fellowship is designed for candidates with significant potential as indicated by academic endorsements. The foundation has awarded over $5 million since its inception in 1983, fostering the exploration of musical theater and its historical context.

NOTE:
The annual application deadline is 1 November for proposals for projects and performances taking place on or after 1 January of the coming year and before 1 July of the year following. For example, the application deadline is 1 November 2025 for proposals for projects and performances taking place on or after 1 January 2026 and before 1 July 2027. (Proposals for retroactive funding of projects or performances will not be accepted.)
An additional application deadline of 1 June is primarily intended for College/University Performance grants for productions taking place in the following academic year, however applications in all categories are welcome at this time.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Director of Programs and Business Affairs to discuss their proposal prior to submission.
About the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music
Chartered in 1962 as a not-for-profit private foundation, the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music preserves and perpetuates the legacies of composer Kurt Weill (1900-1950) and his actress-singer wife Lotte Lenya (1898-1981). Based in New York City, the Foundation encourages appreciation of Weill’s music through support of performances, recordings, and scholarship, while nurturing talent more generally in the creation, performance, and study of musical theater. Through its Grants Program, the KWF funds projects and productions involving the work of both Kurt Weill and Marc Blitzstein in a number of categories, including both professional and amateur performance. As counterparts to the Grants Program, Collaborative Initiatives foster partnerships to realize projects that advance the strategic goals of the Foundation.
Grants Program & Collaborative Initiatives
The Foundation's Grant and Collaborative Initiatives Programs award financial support to individuals and not-for-profit organizations for projects related to Weill, Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein. Since 1983 the Foundation has awarded more than $5,000,000 in grant funding to hundreds of organizations and individuals worldwide. Proposals are accepted in the following categories: Professional Performance, College/University and Amateur Performance, Media, Scholarly Symposia and Conferences, Publication Assistance, Research & Travel, and the Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship.
Grants Program: Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship
Doctoral candidates may apply for dissertation fellowships to assist in research activities on Weill, Lenya and/or Blitzstein-related topics. Fellowships are reserved for candidates with extraordinary potential for contribution to the field evidenced by recommendations from the academic community. The applicant’s project should address significant lacunae in Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein research.