Music Matters Grants
At the University of Minnesota, we know that music has the power to transform lives. We also know that our students and faculty have the creative skills to harness this power to improve our region, nation, and world. This is why we support students and faculty as they envision new projects, identify partners, refine their engagement skills, and think critically about how the arts intersect with the most challenging issues facing our world, from combating gun violence to promoting health equity, from supporting our neighborhoods to tackling climate change. We do this work in reciprocal relationships with our partners across the communities we share.
Music Matters Grants provide seed funding for student-, faculty, and staff-led projects that take the power of music into our communities or invite our communities more fully into our spaces. Special consideration will be given to projects that connect in meaningful ways with Minnesota communities beyond our campus. We are especially interested in projects that promote social or environmental justice, combat racism, promote equitable healthcare, or enrich neighborhoods. These grants come in several forms.
Funding Opportunities
Music Matters Student Grants are designed for student-led projects that leverage the power of music in the service of a community. These are usually pilot projects that can be completed in a single academic year.
-
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students who are currently pursuing a degree in the School of Music and are in good academic standing. The awardee must be enrolled in the School of Music at the time of the award.
-
Amount: Up to $1,000.
-
Uses: Students cannot be paid for engagement work, but may use grant funds to reimburse travel or purchase supplies and equipment. In limited cases it may be possible to use grant funding to pay collaborating musicians. Any purchased equipment is the property of, and must be returned to, the School of Music. All expenses must be individually pre-approved.
-
Application: Please apply for a Music Matters Grant using this form. You will be asked for a project narrative, an estimated timeline, an itemized budget, a letter of recommendation, and a resume.
Do you need funds for a run-out concert, a local guest artist or speaker, or other small project? A Faculty Micro Grant might be for you. These are usually small projects that can be completed in a day, week, month, or semester.
-
Eligibility: All teaching faculty and administrative staff in the School of Music. The awardee must have an appointment in the School of Music at the time of the award. Projects that assist in student learning or recruitment stand the best chance of approval.
-
Amount: Up to $700.
-
Uses: Faculty and staff cannot be paid for engagement work, but may use grant funds to reimburse travel, purchase supplies and equipment, or pay guest artists. In limited cases it may be possible to use grant funding to pay collaborating musicians. Any purchased equipment is the property of, and must be returned to, the School of Music. All expenses must be individually pre-approved.
-
Application: Please apply for a Music Matters Grant using this form. You will be asked for a project narrative, an estimated timeline, an itemized budget.
Do you have a larger project in mind? Would you like for your studio to visit a site multiple times, collaborate on a community-focused performance, or other larger project? A Faculty Engagement Grant might be for you. These are usually larger projects with wider reach or longer timelines.
-
Eligibility: All teaching faculty in the School of Music. The awardee must be a member of the School of Music faculty at the time of the award.
-
Amount: Up to $2,000.
-
Uses: Faculty cannot be paid for engagement work, but may use grant funds to reimburse travel, purchase supplies and equipment, or pay guest artists. In limited cases it may be possible to use grant funding to pay collaborating musicians. Any purchased equipment is the property of, and must be returned to, the School of Music. All expenses must be individually pre-approved.
- Application: Please apply for a Music Matters Grant using this form. You will be asked for a project narrative, an estimated timeline, and an itemized budget.
Guidelines for Writing Your Proposal
Narrative
Write a three-page, single-spaced narrative that describes your project, explains how it is innovative or creative, how it will benefit a community or communities, and why you are the right person to carry it out. Please also explain what you or your students will learn from the project. Be sure to specifically name your community partners (including individual people) and describe who will be responsible for logistics, who will benefit from the project, and who will take charge of planning.
Timeline
Please describe a few important milestones of your project that connect to your overall goals, and when you expect related components to be completed. Your final milestone must include when you will submit your final report back to the School of Music. Please describe the steps you will take to complete your project, the milestones you will need to meet to be successful, and the metrics you will use to measure success. We understand that your timeline may change as the project progresses.
Budget
Provide an itemized budget and narrative justification for your expenses. Please be sure to include only necessary expenses and explain any additional sources of funding you will pursue.
Students
Please include a brief resume and a letter of support from your advisor.