The Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research is a division of the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music. The Center’s research and programming emphasizes the 21st Century evolution of the innovative ensemble, influenced by both the symphony orchestra and the chamber music traditions, with a focus on creative, artist-centered ensembles that reflect new models of artistic innovation, organizational relationships, and operational sustainability.
The Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant provides funding for research and innovative projects. The October 2021 grant cycle is open to all applicants. The March 2022 grant cycle will be reserved for Eastman students, alumni, faculty and staff, and the organizations they represent. Grants will range from $500-$2,000. Grant proposals for $2,000 or less are most likely to be funded, but in special circumstances, higher grant proposals will be considered.
October 2021 and March 2022 Funding Priorities:
The PRJC recognizes that the music profession must engage in systemic and transformational change in pursuit of a more just and equitable arts ecosystem. The time is now for all musical arts organizations to take bold and decisive actions to enact structural change. The integrity of the entire music profession – from the individual musician to the largest orchestra – is dependent upon these actions. To that end, the 2021-22 PRJC grant program will support innovative projects and research focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in all elements of our profession, with a prioritization of projects that advance anti-racism work in the arts. The PRJC seeks projects and research that have potential for lasting and sustainable change in our field.
Grant Program Categories:
Research Support. Interested individuals may submit a proposal to support a research project that aligns with the stated funding priorities. Funding may go toward travel, lodging, or other costs in order to complete the project. [But not food] Research papers/articles produced through a research grant will be eligible for publication in INNOVATE. MUSIC. LEAD., a semi-annual publication by the Eastman School of Music. Below are examples of recent research topics:
Hipster Opera: Research on The Industry
Megan Steigerwald Ille (St. Louis, MO)
Indy Classical: Hip Consumerism and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra/New Amsterdam Partnership
Natalie Farrell (Indianapolis, IN)
New Music Theater and the New Music Ensemble
Ryan Ebright (Perrysburg, OH)
The Aesthetics of “Indie-Classical”: Music in the Age of Post-Postmodernism
Anna Reguero (Stamford, CT)
Innovative Projects. Individuals, ad hoc groups, and pre-formed ensembles may apply for support for a project that aligns with the stated funding priorities of the PRJC Grant Program. This category is intentionally broad and may encompass a wide range of activities. A few examples of projects include educational outreach programs, concerts, and recording projects. Below are three examples of past grant winners, with links to more information about their projects.
International Contemporary Ensemble
OpenICE, a new international initiative offering free programming in three major areas: Live Concerts, Online Innovation, and Education
Third Coast Percussion
March, 2015 performance at Constellation in Chicago, featuring the premiere of three new percussion quartets
Who Can Apply
The October 2021 grant cycle is open to all applicants. The March 2022 grant cycle will be reserved for Eastman students, alumni, faculty and staff, and the organizations they represent. There is no restriction in terms of age or professional level. Students are encouraged to apply. Previous grantees are eligible to apply and receive awards each year; there is no restriction on the number of consecutive awards a group or individual can receive. However, priority will be given to groups and individuals who have not previously received an award from this program.
Instructions for Applying
All proposals must be submitted via the form at the bottom of this page by October 1, 2021 at 11:59pm eastern time or March 1, 2022 at 11:59pm eastern time. Please note: The Paul R. Judy Center is interested in supporting creative and innovative projects by funding expenses that are directly related to the proposed project. Funding for capital expenses such as technology purchases are possible but less appealing to the grant committee.
Judging Process / Notification of Awards
A panel of judges will review the submitted proposals and make recommendations for awards. The Paul R. Judy Center reserves the right to not select any grantees. For the October 1 deadline, applicants will be notified by November 1. For the March 1 deadline, applicants will be notified by April 1. Successful grantees will receive an explanation of the amount of their grant, as well as an explanation of specific expenses indicated in the grantee’s budget proposal that the money is intended to support. Thus, the submission of an accurate and detailed budget is very important. Under no circumstances will food or beverages be considered a reimbursable expense. Grantees will receive half of the grant amount upon acceptance of the award, and the second half of the grant amount upon submission of a post-project report. The post-project report must be submitted within 30 days of completion of the project.
Requirements of Grantees
If awarded a grant, the project should be completed within one year of signing the grant agreement. The post-project report should be 1-2 pages, which recaps the project, lists any relevant statistics regarding the project, outcomes, and lessons learned. In addition to the post-project report detailed above, all grantees will be required to submit a short article or blog post based on the project, to be published on the Paul R. Judy Center Website. For recipients of research grants, the article produced should be 3-5 pages in length and will be considered for publication in INNOVATE. MUSIC. LEAD., a semi-annual publication focused on presenting research related to innovation in the music field. The article must be accepted for publication by the review committee, who may request changes/revisions. For recipients of innovative project grants, the blog post should be 2-3 pages, and blog post topics can be discussed with Paul R. Judy Center representatives once the project is complete.
Note: An asterisk next to any form item means an entry is required.