Kurt Weill Foundation Grant Guidelines

In light of social distancing restrictions imposed by coronavirus that many performing arts organizations will continue to face in the upcoming season, the Kurt Weill Foundation is pleased to announce that it has temporarily expanded its list of works eligible for either Professional or College/University and Amateur Performance Grants to include a number of authorized versions of pieces by Weill and Blitzstein that call for smaller-sized ensembles. Grant proposals in support of performances of the following authorized versions of works will be accepted for the KWF's 2021 grant cycle:

• two-piano (with optional percussion) arrangement of Die sieben Todsünden (The Seven Deadly Sins)
• reduced orchestration (14 players) of Lady in the Dark
• reduced orchestration (10 players) of One Touch of Venus
• piano-only version of Walt Whitman Songs
• piano-only version of The Cradle Will Rock
• LoveMusik (2007 musical based on the lives and letters of Weill and Lotte Lenya)
• Lenya Story: Ein Liebeslied (2017 play with music based on the lives of Lenya and Weill; German language only)
• The Next Whisky Bar (2015 all-Weill revue)

Applications for certain types of appropriately licensed video presentations of performances of concert works or new productions of stage works may be considered for Performance Grants during the 2021 grant cycle, depending on the applicant's particular circumstances regarding coronavirus-imposed restrictions.

Additionally, in September 2019 the list of works eligible for either Professional or College/University and Amateur Performance Grants was permanently expanded to include:

• Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera)
• 15-player version of Die sieben Todsünden (The Seven Deadly Sins)
• Symphonic Nocturne from Lady in the Dark
• Chansons des quais (Songs of the Waterfront)
• Kleine Zaubernachtmusik
• Trains Bound for Glory
• Kleine Dreigroschenmusik

Description of Funding Categories

• Professional Performance
• College/University and Amateur Performance
• Media
• Scholarly Symposia/Conferences; Educational Outreach; Community Engagement
• Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship
• Publication Assistance
• Research and Travel

Performance

A. Professional Performance
Funding of up to $50,000 may be requested by professional opera companies, theater companies, dance companies, orchestras, ensembles, and other concert groups for performances of musical works by Kurt Weill and/or Marc Blitzstein.

B. College/University and Amateur Performance
Funding of up to $15,000 may be requested by colleges, universities, and amateur performing arts organizations in support of general production expenses for performances of Kurt Weill's and/or Marc Blitzstein's stage works, and to cover musical expenses in connection with performances of Weill's or Blitzstein's concert works.

Professional Performance Grant: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Jeffrey Kahane conducted Weill’s Symphony no. 2 with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He subsequently conducted the work with the New York Philharmonic. Photo: Lee Salem

Please note the following for both Professional and College/University Performance and Amateur proposals:

• All works must be presented in their original versions and orchestrations or in authorized arrangements, which include Chansons des quais/Songs of the Waterfront, Kleine Zaubernachtmusik, Symphonic Nocturne from Lady in the Dark, and Trains Bound for Glory.
• Performances of Die sieben Todsünden are fundable only in Weill’s original orchestration and keys, or in the 2019 version for 15 players arranged by HK Gruber and Christian Muthspiel. (The arrangement for low voice by Brückner-Rüggeberg is thus ineligible.)
• Compilation properties consisting of individual Weill or Blitzstein songs do not qualify for support.
• Musical adaptations and proposals in which the music serves in an incidental or background capacity are not eligible for funding.

College/University Performance Grant: Manhattan School of Music. Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater presented Rise and Fall of the City Of Mahagonny, directed by Dona D. Vaughn and conducted by Kynan Johns. Photo: Carol Rosegg

• Costs of new translations or adaptations of dramatic works are not eligible for funding (although the productions themselves may be).
• "Indirect costs," administrative expenses, and institutional overhead are not eligible for funding.
• Only productions which utilize casts and orchestras consisting primarily of students will be eligible for a College/University Performance Grant. Those which supplement casts and/or orchestras with professionals in an appropriate but sparing manner may be considered on a case-by-case basis for financial support.

Media
Support may be requested for radio, television, video, film, audio, or multimedia projects that feature Kurt Weill's, Lotte Lenya's, or Marc Blitzstein's life and/or music.

Scholarly Symposia/Conferences; Educational Outreach; Community Engagement
Performing and educational organizations may request funding for scholarly or educational activities (workshops, symposia, scholarly conferences, secondary and college-level educational initiatives, etc.) focusing on Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein. Support may be requested for payment of honoraria and travel expenses, preparation and printing of supporting materials, etc.

Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship
Doctoral candidates may apply for dissertation fellowships to assist in research activities on Weill, Lenya and/or Blitzstein-related topics. Fellowships are reserved for candidates with extraordinary potential for contribution to the field evidenced by recommendations from the academic community. The applicant's project should address significant lacunae in Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein research.

Publication Assistance
Funding may be requested by authors and not-for-profit publishers to subvent expenses related to preparing manuscripts for publication in a recognized scholarly medium, including editing, indexing, design, and reproduction fees. Topics must be related to Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, and/or Marc Blitzstein. All publications must have been subject to peer review. Publication Assistance may be awarded to scholars previously funded with a Research and Travel Grant or a Dissertation Fellowship.

Research and Travel
Funding may be requested to support research and travel expenses to the Weill-Lenya Research Center and other locations of primary source material. Applicants must be researching a topic related to Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, and/or Marc Blitzstein.

Application Requirements

All proposals must include:

1. A completed Application Form (in English).
2. A detailed description of the project (in English).
3. Organizations should provide a mission statement and summary of activities and past achievements. Individual applicants should submit an up-to-date biography or curriculum vitae.
4. Proof of not-for-profit standing (for organizations only).
5. An itemized budget showing entire project expenses, income, and projected sources of funding. Applicants must notify the Foundation if other grants are awarded.

 

The following additional materials are required for specific funding categories:

Professional or College/University and Amateur Performance

• Work sample: a video or audio recording of a past performance, not to exceed 20 minutes in length, demonstrating the artistic merit of the applicant's previous performances.
• Select reviews of recent presentations by the applicant.

Media Grant: Michael Lasser, WXXI. Michael Lasser, host of the popular public radio series "Fascinatin' Rhythm," devoted three programs to Weill's career in the U.S., entitled "Kurt Weill, American." Photo: Dave Sluberski

Media
A complete description of the project must be accompanied by a written commitment from the broadcaster, label, etc.

Scholarly Symposia/Conferences; Educational Outreach; Community Engagement
A detailed description of the educational or scholarly activities and curriculum vitae for participants.

Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship
Applications must include a copy of the doctoral dissertation proposal, at least one writing sample, and two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant's thesis advisor.

Publication Assistance
Peer reviews must be submitted in support of the application, along with a copy of the manuscript. Normally conference proceedings are ineligible unless the essays have undergone significant revision and editing as components of a book.

Research and Travel
Applicants must submit a detailed research prospectus, a writing sample and at least one letter of recommendation.

Application Deadlines

The annual application deadline is 1 November for proposals for projects and performances taking place on or after 1 January of the coming year and before 1 July of the year following. (Proposals for retroactive funding of projects or performances will not be accepted.)

An additional application deadline of 1 June is primarily intended for College/University Performance grants for productions taking place in the following academic year.

Applications for support of major professional productions/festivals/exhibitions, etc., may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis without application deadlines. Organizations are encouraged, however, to apply well in advance of the event.

Application Form

For further information, contact:
Brady Sansone, Director of Programs and Business Affairs
The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music
7 East 20th Street
New York, NY 10003-1106
Telephone: (212) 505-5240 x 204
Fax: (212) 353-9663
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.