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 projects related to innovative ensembles. Anyone based in North America may apply. A number of Paul R. Judy Circle Grants will be reserved for and awarded to Eastman School of Music students, alumni, and faculty. These awards are available in both research and innovative projects categories, and will comprise no more than 25% of the total grant funds awarded by the program. The 2018 deadlines for application are March 1, 2018 (Eastman students alumni and faculty applicants only) and October 1, 2018 (all applicants). 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.
Grant Program Categories:
Research Support. Interested individuals may submit a proposal to support a research project with a focus on creative, artist-centered ensembles that reflect new models of artistic innovation, organizational relationships, and operational sustainability. 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.
Innovative Projects. Individuals, ad hoc groups, and pre-formed ensembles may apply for support for a project structured around the concept of an innovative ensemble. 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
In addition, a number of Paul R. Judy Circle Grants will be reserved for and awarded to Eastman School of Music students, alumni, and faculty. These awards are available in both the research and innovative projects categories, and will comprise no more than 25% of the total funds awarded in the grant program.
Who Can Apply
Anyone based in North America may apply (projects must take place in North America). 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 one of the following two deadlines: March 1, 2018 at 11:59pm eastern time (first deadline, Eastman School of Music students, alumni, and faculty only) or October 1, 2018 at 11:59pm eastern time (second deadline, all applicants). 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 first grant deadline, applicants will be notified of the results by April 1, 2018. For the second grant deadline, applicants will be notified of the results by November 1, 2018. 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.
What is an “innovative ensemble?”
An innovative ensemble is a musical group that explores new and creative models of operation, programming, and presentation, which are a crucial part of the ensemble’s identity. The Paul Judy Center finds that innovative ensembles typically embody one or more of these new models:
- Non-traditional instrumentation, or instrumentation that is flexible
- Artist centered, possibly artist-run, and/or innovative methods of organization and management (these ensembles typically do not have collective bargaining agreements)
- New and engaging ways of connecting with audiences
- Participatory concert atmospheres
- Performances in unique venues and drawing in new concert-goers
- Multimedia or interdisciplinary components
- Innovation in music programming (Not necessarily focused on new music; can combine musical genres or show unique threads and themes between works, or present unique perspectives or concert formats of music old or new)
Note: An asterisk next to any form item means an entry is required.