American Composers Forum (ACF) has announced the opening of applications for the 2024 McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies, McKnight Composer Fellowships, and innova Recordings’ National Call. Applications for all programs will be reviewed by panels of artist-curators to be announced soon on ACF’s website and social media platforms.
ACF envisions a world where living music creators are celebrated as essential to human culture. Each year, we support and celebrate music creators who demonstrate compelling artistic work through our funded programs and recordings. We encourage applications from a broad range of musical perspectives, and we are committed to supporting projects that represent a diversity of creative approaches, ethnicities, races, genders, and geographic locations.
For more information about each opportunity, visit the individual program pages linked below. Each page includes archived recordings of information sessions that discuss best practices and review successful applications from previous winners.
ACF MCKNIGHT VISITING COMPOSER RESIDENCIES – NATIONAL CALL
For Music Creators Living Outside of Minnesota
Application Deadline: Friday, December 1, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. Central
The ACF McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies invites music creators living outside of Minnesota to respond to or reflect on the unique qualities of people and communities in our home state. ACF believes in the power of music creators to be storytellers, connectors, or catalysts through their art. Visiting Composers will spend approximately 30 days in Minnesota over an 18-month period, fostering connections and taking part in creative projects that engage the local community. While new work may be part of the residency, it is not a requirement, as the emphasis is on artistic exploration within the Minnesota community.
Two residencies of $10,000 will be awarded. All funds are distributed directly to the selected music creator across four installments and can be used for travel, lodging, partnerships, etc.. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
For application and complete details, visit https://composersforum.org/programs/mcknight-visiting-composer-residencies/
ACF MCKNIGHT COMPOSER FELLOWSHIPS
For Music Creators Living in Minnesota
Application Deadline: Friday, December 1, 2023 11:59 p.m. Central
The intent of the McKnight Artist and Culture Bearers Fellowship is to recognize and support artists and culture bearers who are beyond emerging and have sustained experience in their area of practice. Fellows demonstrate achievement, commitment, and high level proficiency in artistic and/or culture bearer practice that contributes to their field and impacts and benefits people in Minnesota.
ACF will award four McKnight Composer Fellowships consisting of $25,000 in unrestricted funds. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines. Fellows have an opportunity to attend an artist residency program coordinated by the Alliance of Artist Communities within two years of the fellowship program. Fellows will also have an opportunity to present their work as part of an ACF-produced showcase event, and will receive consultation, time, and resources from Springboard for the Arts.
For application and complete details, visit https://composersforum.org/programs/mcknight-composer-fellowships/
INNOVA RECORDINGS – NATIONAL CALL
For U.S.-based artists, including composers, creators, and performers (as individuals or groups).
Application Deadline: Friday, November 17, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. Central
innova Recordings, the in-house recording label of American Composers Forum, invites artists to apply with their recording projects for this year’s Fall National Call. We welcome projects representing a variety of musical approaches and at various stages of the recording process. We are grateful for the continued support of the Sorel Organization to support the advancement of women on the label.
Selected artists receive distribution, licensing, promotion, and maintain ownership of their music, plus 100% of sales profits. Artists will receive support from innova for both the production and promotion of their music, at no cost, at every step of the process. Artists join as a cohort with facilitated guidance from innova and connection to ACF’s large artist community.
ACF/innova provides introductions and referrals to a broad affiliate network interested in supporting diverse artists, including mixing/mastering, design, videographers, public relations and marketing, recording studio time, and physical manufacturing of CDs and vinyl. Naxos distributes recordings and works with multiple streaming platforms and media partners to ensure visibility.
For application and complete details, visit https://www.innova.mu/apply-0.
ABOUT AMERICAN COMPOSERS FORUM
ACF supports and advocates for individuals and groups creating music today by demonstrating the vitality and relevance of their art. We connect artists with collaborators, organizations, audiences, and resources. Through storytelling, publications, recordings, hosted gatherings, and industry leadership, we activate equitable opportunities for artists. We provide direct funding and mentorship to a broad and diverse field of music creators, highlighting those who have been historically excluded from participation.
Founded in 1973 by composers Libby Larsen and Stephen Paulus as the Minnesota Composers Forum, the organization continues to invest in its Minnesota home while connecting artists and advocates across the United States, its territories, and beyond. ACF frames our work with a focus on racial equity and includes within that scope, but does not limit it to: diverse gender identities, musical approaches and perspectives, religions, ages, (dis)abilities, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and broad definitions of “American.” Visit www.composersforum.org for more information.
ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION
The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.
ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT ARTIST & CULTURE BEARER FELLOWSHIPS
Founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists and culture bearers thrive, the McKnight Foundation’s arts and culture program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Support for individual working Minnesota artists and culture bearers has been a cornerstone of the program since it began in 1982. The McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists in 15 different creative disciplines. Program partner organizations administer the fellowships and structure them to respond to the unique challenges of different disciplines. Currently, the foundation contributes about $2.8 million per year to its statewide fellowships. For more information, visit mcknight.org/artistfellowships.
ABOUT THE SOREL ORGANIZATION
The Elizabeth and Michel Sorel Charitable Organization Inc., a 501(c)(3) private foundation, was established in 1996 by pianist Claudette Sorel and named for her parents. The Sorel Organization (www.SorelMusic.org) is committed to expanding opportunities for women in music, amplifying the voices of underrepresented composers, advancing gender and racial equity, and broadening the classical music canon for future generations.
I CARE IF YOU LISTEN is an editorially-independent program of the American Composers Forum, and is made possible thanks to generous donor and institutional support. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and may not represent the views of ICIYL or ACF.
You can support the work of ICIYL with a tax-deductible gift to ACF. For more on ACF, visit the “At ACF” section or composersforum.org.