Artist Grants Program
The collaborative’s primary goal is to create opportunity for our musicians and music workers. We believe the biggest challenge to the local music scene is the lack of a substantial income for independent artists. Our vision is to one day have the opportunity to support hundreds of musicians in our area. For now, the number is much smaller as we begin the work of becoming a nonprofit. We hope to have a select number of individuals as we grow in year two, and prove that with a little extra love and support, we can take our music community to new heights. Click the video to learn more about the AGP!
2024 applications are closed. More updates coming soon!
What is the Artist Grants Program?
This is a guaranteed income program meant to financially subsidize and assist independent musicians.
The Artist Grants Program (AGP) will provide 12 regular, no strings attached monthly payments to artists who have financial need.
Grant funds will be distributed on a monthly basis. Payments will be $200 per month for 1 year starting on December 1st 2024.
AGP is based on a Universal Basic Income (UBI) model. This stipend is yours to spend however you may choose: for groceries, sound equipment, or your electric bill.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Live in the Greater Rochester, NY area
- 18 years of age or older
- Identify as a member, worker, and/or participant within the local music community (live musician, studio musician, production engineer, sound technician, etc) and demonstrate financial need
Why a Universal Basic Income program?
These programs build safety nets to ensure artists do not fall below a defined income floor over time. They enable folks to plan for the future, and foster a music industry that is often incorporated with a high degree of financial risk and uncertainty.
Our program takes influence from the most recent Creatives Rebuild New York initiative as well as other economic and racial justice movements of the past/present.
“Guaranteed income programs build safety nets to ensure that no individual falls below a defined income floor over time. They enable people to weather crises and plan for the future. CRNY’s Guaranteed Income for Artists program takes inspiration from economic and racial justice movements of the past, government actors, reparations-focused philanthropists, and recent pilots and programs across the world.”
Additional information on our decision making process:
In our second year of this program, we will be able to offer 6 spots for musicians and/or music industry workers. We hope to offer more spots the following year!
The selection of the 6 artists will be made in tandem with our board of directors, artist grants committee, and collaborative director.
We are prioritizing a diverse group of candidates to fill the six spots available for our first cohort of artists. The musicians that will receive this grant will reflect the community we intend to serve. (Specifically, 3 spots will be reserved for artists of color)
Lastly, make sure you really take time to share with us the work you are currently involved in/creating! You can help grow this program for years to come, and it will happen by showing our city the awesome music that comes from artists like you. We expect any artist who receives this grant to be willing to partner with us to grow the LSC for other musicians in our area.
