Live Music Society, a non-profit organization that has supported small venues and listening rooms across the U.S. since 2020, announced that applications are open for its second annual Music In Action grant program.
from Celebrity Access
Music in Action grants are intended to support initiatives that will improve experiences at venues for musicians, audiences, and staff, cultivate connections with the community, and which foster long-term health and business growth.
Venues submitting successful grants can request up to $50,000 for use in projects in two categories, including project support for new one-time initiatives or program support to grow recurring annual efforts.
To be eligible for a grant, venues and grantee businesses must be located within the U.S. and its territories, have a legal capacity of 50-300, including standing room, and have been operational on or before January 1st, 2020. Additionally, eligible venues are required to have a focus on live music (featuring solo artists or bands), host a minimum of 50 annual music performances, and be managed or owned by the grant applicant.
Music in Action grants will be evaluated based on five general criteria
• Innovation/Technology: The selection committee will evaluate whether projects are novel, solve a meaningful problem, and/or create value for the venue.
• Feasibility: Can the program be implemented and evaluated during the grant period?
• Relevance: To the venue, to the audience, or to the local community.
• Reach/Inclusivity: How might the project increase accessibility for historically marginalized groups?
• Potential Impact: What’s the hope for long-term impact? (e.g., increased visibility of the venue, repeat visitors, more new visitors, higher ticket revenue, more community support/membership?) How will the impact be evaluated?
The 2024 grant initiative follows the successful debut of the program in 2023, awarding small venues a total of $500,000 to support community engagement, audience expansion, and new revenue streams.
In the program’s inaugural year, grant recipients included Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL, which staged its second annual Women’s Jazz Festival from January 4-7, 2023, and Happy Dog in Cleveland, OH, which launched a month-long concert series, Live from the Underdog, which showcased 14 up-and-coming women-led bands.
Applications for 2024 grants are open from January 10th through February 15th at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Additional information is available at: https://www.livemusicsociety.org/grantinfo
Grant recipients for 2024 will be announced in June.
