CFAs: Opera Grants for Women Composers – Discovery Grants (USA)

Discovery Grants support women composers in their exploration of opera as an artistic medium, providing funding for activities such as libretto readings, workshops, and working performances.

Purpose 

• Opera Grants for Women Composers: Discovery Grants support the exploration of opera as an artistic medium by women composers through such activities as:
  • A Libretto Reading: a reading in which the devised literature is read aloud for evaluation.
  • A Workshop: an informal performance of some or all of a work to obtain feedback on specific elements of the piece. Workshops might be performed with piano and/or instrumental accompaniment.
  • Working Performance: a partial or full run-through of a work, with piano or instrumental accompaniment, to obtain feedback for the further development of the piece. An audience may or may not be present.
• Projects that are more fully developed will be given priority in determining funding.

Funding Information

• Grant recipients will receive:
  • Up to $15,000 per applicant to support costs associated with the Discovery Grant;
  • Complimentary registrations, transportation, and housing stipend (valued at $2,250) for the applicant to attend OPERA America’s 2025 and 2026 Opera Conferences;
  • Access to professional development programs for artists, including the New Works Forum and Opera Entrepreneurship Workshops.
  • Recognition through Opera America Magazine.
  • An OPERA America individual membership.
• Funding may not be applied to expenses incurred before April 1, 2024.
• Grant activities must be completed by June 30, 2026.
• Grants will cover up to 100 percent of eligible expenses, not exceeding the amount of the grant award; no matching funds are required. Additional expenses to complete the project are the responsibility of the creators.

Eligible Expenses

• Other eligible expenses include but are not limited to:
  • Costs incurred to create or prepare new musical materials, such as expanded or reduced orchestrations and copyist expenses for the creation of parts;
  • Other specific expenses associated with the development of a new opera;
  • Production design development; and
  • Dynamic promotional materials.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be individual artists who identify as cis or trans women composers.
• Applicants must have U.S. citizenship, permanent residence, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.(Proof of citizenship may be requested.)
• Applicants must demonstrate their ability to write music and/or text by providing work samples.
• Funding may not be applied to expenses incurred before April 1, 2025.
• Grant-funded activities must be completed by June 30, 2026.
• This program is open to creators from all performing arts disciplines.
• An artist can be a member of only one applicant team with one project.
• The applicant must serve as the fiscal agent for the project. The composer must apply for the grant, disburse all funds received, and provide all required financial and narrative documentation. The fiscal agent will receive a 1099 tax form at the end of the calendar year(s). This is for tax purposes. Awardees should consult a tax professional as necessary. The work of each applicant remains the property of the composer.
• Applicants whose work received a Commissioning Grant from OPERA America in any previous cycle are ineligible to apply for a Discovery Grant.
• Applicants who were awarded a Discovery Grant in any previous cycle are ineligible to apply for additional Discovery Grants.
• Applicants may only submit one proposal per cycle.
• Applicants may only submit the same work for consideration for three cycles of this granting program. Applicants who have applied unsuccessfully in two cycles with the same piece must articulate the substantive changes made since the last cycle in their intent to apply. Changes may include but are not limited to:
  • Rewriting of the text and/or music;
  • Restructuring of the dramatic arc; and
  • Change in librettist or other key personnel.
• A piece that has already had its premiere may be considered for a Discovery Grant provided the submission represents a substantial reworking of the piece.

For more information, visit Opera America.