Opera Grants for Women Composers - Discovery Grants (USA)

Opera America invites applications for the Opera Grants for Women Composers - Discovery Grants. These grants support the development of new operas by women composers, aiming to advance gender parity and diversity in the field of opera.

Purpose

Discovery Grants are designed to support women composers in exploring opera as an artistic medium. The grants fund activities such as:

• Libretto Reading: A reading of the devised literature for evaluation.
• Workshop: An informal performance of the work to receive feedback on specific elements, possibly with piano and/or instrumental accompaniment.
• Working Performance: A partial or full run-through of the work with piano or instrumental accompaniment to gather feedback for further development. An audience may or may not be present.

Other eligible expenses include costs for creating new musical materials, production design development, and dynamic promotional materials. Priority will be given to projects that are more fully developed.

Funding Information

Grants of up to $15,000 are available. Funding may not be applied to expenses incurred before April 1, 2024. Grant activities must be completed by June 30, 2026. Recipients will also receive:

• Up to $15,000 to support Discovery Grant costs
• Complimentary registrations, transportation, and housing stipend (valued at $2,250) for attending OPERA America’s 2025 and 2026 Opera Conferences
• Access to professional development programs such as the New Works Forum and Opera Entrepreneurship Workshops
• Recognition in Opera America Magazine
• An OPERA America individual membership

Grants cover up to 100% of eligible expenses, not exceeding the grant award amount. Additional project expenses are the responsibility of the creators.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be cis or trans women composers
• Have U.S. citizenship, permanent residence, or DACA status (proof may be requested)
• Demonstrate ability to write music and/or text with work samples
• Ensure funding is not applied to expenses incurred before April 1, 2025
• Complete grant-funded activities by June 30, 2026
• Be the fiscal agent for the project, handling all funds and documentation

Previous recipients of Commissioning Grants or Discovery Grants from OPERA America are ineligible. Only one proposal per cycle is allowed, and the same work can be submitted for consideration for up to three cycles, with substantive changes detailed in the intent to apply.

For More Information

For further details and to apply, visit the Opera Grants for Women Composers - Discovery Grants page on the Opera America website.

Keep up with the latest grants and opportunities at GlobalGrantHub.org.